Rejecting PCC rubber stamp, NDP lays out path for developments in Wascana Park

Indicating that the proposed Brandt project in the park should not be allowed to go forward, the Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Saskatchewan government and Provincial Capital Commission to commit to the following steps to ensure the integrity of developments in Wascana Park, including the future home for CNIB:

Amend the legislation to re-establish the previous Wascana Centre board structure in order to ensure equal decision-making power for the province, the city, and the university.
Full, meaningful public consultations on the design of the future home of CNIB.
Full transparency on PCC board discussions of the proposed CNIB/Brandt project, including the release of meeting minutes previously refused to the NDP.

“The Sask. Party is doubling down on a failed model to ram through a project that only benefits the wealthy and well-connected” said NDP Deputy Leader and Provincial Capital Commission Critic Nicole Sarauer. “We need to be clear that this flawed project can’t go ahead in its current form. None of the Auditor’s concerns have been addressed, and now they’re trying to rush through an approval before her report can be scrutinized.”

Seeking transparency, the NDP submitted an FOI requesting meeting minutes from each meeting of the PCC board where the CNIB building or the CNIB/Brandt proposal were considered since January 1, 2013, but the request was refused.

Sarauer underscored the Sask. Party needs to re-establish the previous Wascana Centre board structure and must give members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts the opportunity to scrutinize the Auditor’s report before anything moves forward. The Public Accounts Committee will meet to consider the Auditor’s Report on February 26.

“Anyone who looks at the process that led to this point would conclude that it’s seriously shady,” Sarauer said. “To reward that mess with a rubber stamp and a go-ahead for an office tower in a public park for one of the Sask. Party’s biggest donors is letting down the people of this province.”

Latest posts

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED The Moosomin-Montmartre MLA Continues Hiding From Media As Questions Grow

REGINA – Today, more questions about embattled MLA Kevin Weedmark have been raised following the release of an article from Grasslands News about his privately owned and operated newspaper, The World Spectator.

BRIGHTON RESIDENTS LEFT IN THE DARK: CARLA BECK'S TEAM CALLS OUT MLA KEN CHEVELDAYOFF OVER PHANTOM SCHOOLS

SASKATOON— Carla Beck's team, joined by local Brighton resident Dr. Sarah Chomicki, is calling on Scott Moe to fulfill his government's broken promises and immediately get to work on a neighborhood school for the rapidly growing community of Brighton.

NEW DATA SHOWS THAT SASKATCHEWAN HAS THE HIGHEST CHILD FOOD BANK USAGE IN CANADA

Beck Commits To School Nutrition Program, Doing All She Can To End Child Poverty
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is sounding the alarms on new data showing more children in Saskatchewan are forced to rely on the food bank than anywhere else in Canada.

CARLA BECK GOVERNMENT WOULD RESTORE DIRECT-TO-LANDLORD RENT PAYMENTS AS MOOSE JAW FACES RISING HOMELESSNESS

More Affordable Housing, Rent Control Also Part Of Plan Being Developed By Beck’s Team
MOOSE JAW – Carla Beck’s team is in Moose Jaw today committing that, should they form the next provincial government, her team will restore direct-to-landlord rent payments for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients.

NDP Caucus Office