NDP Caucus

Sask. Party raid forces power rate hike

Posted: December 13, 2012 | E-mail this to a friend | Print view

The Sask. Party’s approval of a five-per-cent power rate hike is a direct result of its raid on the Crown last year.

The Sask. Party government took $120 million from SaskPower’s bank accounts last year. Now, businesses and families will pay $90.8 million more for power in 2013.

Trent Wotherspoon, the NDP’s critic for SaskPower, said the out-of-pocket increase is a sneaky way of taking more from businesses and families.

“SaskPower has been forced to turn to the wallets of everyday families,” said Wotherspoon. “The Sask. Party’s surprise, last-minute cash grab from the Crown is another way of getting more money from Saskatchewan people -- not to improve SaskPower, but to cover for the Sask. Party’s budget mistakes.”

Wotherspoon said that current demands on SaskPower mean the Crown should retain its own funds to reinvest in infrastructure and improved services to promote smart growth.

The dividend raid was a last-minute surprise, after a budget-time Sask. Party promise not to strip SaskPower’s profits.

“Unfortunately, taking an extra five per cent from your pocket won’t get SaskPower ahead,” said Wotherspoon. “The rate increase is necessary only to pay off part of the Sask. Party’s raid.”

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