Cheaper utilities and a 'new vision' for Crowns
REGINA - - Premier Lorne Calvert is spreading around the responsibility for Saskatchewan's Crown corporations and promising cheaper natural gas, electricity, and telephone rates.
As part of a new strategy announced recently, responsibility for Crowns has been moved from one Cabinet minister to several.
Calvert also said his new vision of the role of crowns involves a promise of the most inexpensive utilities in the country.
Premier Lorne Calvert
"My government commits that Saskatchewan families, homes and households, today and into the future will receive the package of basic utilities--including home electricity, home natural gas, basic telephone rates and auto insurance--will receive the package at a total annual cost which is as low, or lower than, any other province in Canada, period," says Calvert.
A new independent board will now be responsible for deciding on Saskatchewan investments, rather than the current board of cabinet ministers; however, the ultimate responsibility still rests with the government.
Maynard Sonntag remains the minister responsible for the Crown Investments Corporation and Sasktel. He also chairs the Crown Investments Corporation board.
Health minister John Nilson is the new vice-chair of the board; Industry minister Eric Cline is now responsible for Information Services Corporation; Labour minister Deb Higgins takes on Saskatchewan Government Insurance; and Finance minister Jim Melenchuk will handle SaskEnergy.
Opposition MLA Brad Wall
Government relations minister Ron Osika is now responsible for Sask Water and Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation.
Public safety minister Andrew Thomson takes over responsiblity for SaskPower.
The Opposition calls today's announcement much ado about nothing. Brad Wall, with the Saskatchewan Party, says the government must stop using public money to invest in the economy.
"We're really left at a loss in terms of what material difference this makes for the crown corporation policy of saskatchewan," says Wall.
The Premier says if the Opposition thinks today's announcement is just tinkering, then what it must really want, is to simply sell off the crowns.
The Saskatchewan Party says that is just one option it would consider, after doing a complete review of the government-owned companies.
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