Despite claiming to know nothing about plans to sell off SaskTel, it is now clear that the Sask. Party know more than they are letting on.
In a late August scrum, the Premier said, “there is no particular proposal on the table, as far as I know.” However, a freedom of information request filed by the NDP shows that between May and mid-August there are hundreds of pages of correspondence related to offers and purchases of SaskTel.
“Since before the election, when they promised the Crowns were not for sale, it’s been nothing but backroom deals, secret meetings, and Sask. Party denials,” said NDP Leader Nicole Sarauer. “First they scrapped STC, and then there was the cover-up of meetings in a Minister’s office, now the denial of deals that have led to hundreds of pages of paperwork. It’s way past time the Sask. Party come clean.”
According to officials responding to the NDP’s request, the related documents were “not extremely difficult to find and verify.” It was also estimated that it will cost nearly $600 to get the approximately 450 pages of documents, the Sask. Party claim to be unaware of, printed and redacted.
“Even though the Sask. Party is again promising to protect the Crowns, the fact is, we’ve heard that line from them before and then they scrapped the STC,” said Sarauer. “On the same day that the Premier last claimed to be reconsidering their legislation to allow for the sell-off of 49 per cent of each of our Crowns, the Minister who oversaw scrapping STC was put in charge of other Crowns, including SaskTel. Actions speak louder than words, and that appointment speaks volumes.”
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.