Last week, the Premier continued with his grandstanding and twitter tantrums. While other premiers negotiated benefits for their own provinces, Brad Wall threw away Saskatchewan’s voice and what was left of the Sask. Party’s credibility on the national stage. This week, more issues were revealed about the growing problems and costs of the Sask. Party’s $1.5 billion carbon capture scheme.
“The Sask. Party government continues to arrogantly brag about their Carbon Capture project at Boundary Dam, pretending it is somehow a solution for all of their problems but it keeps failing and the costs keep going up,” said Environment and SaskPower Critic Cathy Sproule. “Saskatchewan ratepayers have seen rate hike after rate hike after rate hike.”
This year, the extreme cold weather has meant that families are using power in record amounts but, instead of getting support from the Sask. Party, in the New Year, Saskatchewan people will be facing another increase in the rates. That is after bills already went up 5 per cent once this year, and 5 per cent last year as well.
At a meeting of the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies, more technical problems with the project were outlined. Specifically, issues with the amine solution, which is central to the chemistry of capturing carbon, cost Saskatchewan people $18.5 million this last year, and $17 million the year before. To make matters worse, it is expected to cost over $20 million to address these issues in the upcoming year, which is four times what was budgeted. On top of technical setbacks, Saskatchewan people had to pay $1.2 million in penalties because not enough carbon dioxide was captured and delivered to the buyer. The president and CEO of SaskPower, even mused about having to shut down the plant more often in the future.
“This has been a costly boondoggle from the start, and this job-killing carbon capture tax will only continue to cost Saskatchewan ratepayers,” Sproule said. “It has failed as a means of addressing climate change, it costs way more than what it brings in and, on top of that, neither the government nor anyone in Saskatchewan owns the technology. The only thing that Saskatchewan people are getting out of it is the right to pay the bill.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.