SASK. PARTY WILL BE FORCED TO HIKE HOUSEHOLD POWER RATES BY 10 PER CENT... AND THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING

Total Hole Blown In Crown Corporation At More Than $1.1 Billion And Climbing

REGINA – Unprecedented financial mismanagement of SaskPower by Scott Moe and his Ministers is going to hammer household budgets for years to come.

The mid-year financial report released by Scott Moe’s failing Sask. Party Government last week shows SaskPower is on pace for a $166 million loss this year — a $292 million swing from the surplus projected in the budget. Even more damning, the Minister responsible, Jeremy Harrison, has also tried to desperately ram through an $813-million spending addition for the utility and couldn’t even be bothered to show up to answer questions about the massive request for taxpayer money at a committee meeting the government itself scheduled Tuesday night.

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An initial analysis conducted by the Official Opposition has determined that, conservatively, power rates will need by to be hiked by at least 10 per cent to cover off the $292 million gap — and that doesn’t do a thing to address the additional $813 million the Sask. Party will try to ram through during the legislative session Thursday afternoon.

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“What we’re seeing here is historic failure to manage our money — and a desperate government coverup. This is a billion dollars and it can only come from one place. Everyday people are going to be paying the price for years to come,” said Aleana Young, Saskatchewan NDP SaskPower Shadow Minister.

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“The Minister said Wednesday he hadn’t ‘given consideration to rates,’ and I’m here to say they’re going to skyrocket because he’s spending nearly a billion dollars without any accountability – I’ve never seen anything like this.

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“Household budgets are already being hammered by Sask. Party taxes on groceries, clothes, tires and they’ve piled onto property taxes too. Now, it’s power bills that are the latest money grab and I just don’t know how much more people can take.”

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Saskatoon Stonebridge MLA Darcy Warrington joined a senior in his constituency Thursday who is already concerned about rising costs for her rent. The Saskatchewan NDP also has a bill to bring long-needed rent control to the province.

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“We’re hearing everyday from people in Saskatoon and right across the province that they can’t make ends meet,” Warrington said. “The decisions people are being forced to make are awful — between eating and paying rent, between taking on a second credit card or emptying out a dwindling savings account.

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“Now, power bills are in the Sask. Party crosshairs and we must take a stand against Scott Moe and his incompetent, lying Ministers. The Saskatchewan NDP will fight this power rate hike tooth and nail, and we will not stop until life is more affordable for every person that calls this province home.”

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