“This is pay-to-play politics, plain and simple,” said Erika Ritchie, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for the Crown Investments Corporation. “Sask. Party insiders donate to Scott Moe’s election fund and Scott Moe turns around and gives them high-powered positions on the boards running our precious Crowns.
“This has to stop. The future of our province shouldn’t hang on who hands over the biggest cheque to the Sask. Party. We are calling on them to immediately cancel these appointments.”
Last week, the province announced a new round of appointments to Saskatchewan’s Crown boards. Appointees to Crown boards have now collectively given a total of $170,001.61 to Sask. Party coffers. The boards include some of the Sask. Party’s biggest donors, such as Bryan Leverick ($18,990), Terry Bergan ($23,479.55), and Tyler Willox ($17,485).
Crown Annual reports indicate the mismanagement of key Crown corporations like SaskPower, SaskTel, and SGI by Sask. Party insiders continue to drive down profits, drive up debt, and will lead to higher bills.
The Sask. Party has long tried to privatize the province’s crowns, most recently selling off the SLGA’s retail division in 2023. Last week’s appointees contain many conservative insiders with a history of pushing crown privatization. John Gormley has long spoken about the idea of privatizing SaskTel. Shannon Andrews, Scott Moe’s former Chief of Staff, was a key player in the Wall government that brought forward Bill 40, a bill that aimed to privatize 49 per cent of the province’s crowns. Tom Lukiwski, former Conservative MP, was the Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates who commissioned a survey to privatize and close public Canada Post offices.
Gormley, specifically, was appointed to the SaskPower board. In 2016, he wrote an op-ed supporting rumours the Sask. Party was looking to sell SaskTel, specifically asking, “If SaskTel can be sold and the province can become debt-free and get good or better service, why not?”
Gormley added: “But the best part is that after a generation of silencing anyone who would dare question the Crowns, it is a debate worth having.”
“We can’t trust the Sask. Party to protect our Crowns,” said Aleana Young, Saskatchewan NDP SaskPower Shadow Minister. “This is a government that will sell off our province piece by piece to the highest bidders.
“It’s everyday Saskatchewan people that will pay the price — literally — if this happens.
“We don’t have to settle for this. We can fight back — let’s kick this tired and out-of-touch Sask. Party to the curb and focus on building a future where our Crowns are being managed properly for the greater good of us all.”
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