SASKATCHEWAN NDP INTENDS TO BRING PUBLIC ACCOUNTS MOTION CALLING FOR INVESTIGATION INTO SASKPOWER OVERSPEND

REGINA — Later today, at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, the Saskatchewan NDP intends to bring forward a motion to compel a special emergency audit of SaskPower.

The motion will come following major public outcry over revelations last week that the Sask. Party intends to spend hundreds of millions more than budgeted on the public utility — a week of questioning has led to zero details about why nearly a billion dollars is needed by Scott Moe or his incompetent ministers.

“Saskatchewan people are already facing financial stress unlike any seen in a generation — and the inevitable power rate hike of 10 per cent at the least — thanks to the Sask. Party is going to make things that much harder,” said Aleana Young, Saskatchewan NDP SaskPower Shadow Minister.

Young will be taking the place of a colleague at PAC with the intention of bringing her motion.

“We’re not hiding this motion — in fact, we’re telling the Sask. Party MLAs out here in the open that we intend to seek this investigation today,” she said. “Power corrupts. And absolute power? The Sask. Party thinks they have it. Their MLAs can either vote for transparency and accountability for their constituents, or they continue with this desperate cover up that has been directed by Premier Scott Moe and his irresponsible Minister, Jeremy Harrison.”

Harrison ducked a committee scheduled by his own government, where he was to face hours of questioning about the overspend. A day later, he argued with reporters and refused to provide specifics on what the additional $813 million was for.

The Government of Saskatchewan’s mid-year report, released Nov. 25, found SaskPower is on pace for a $166 million loss — a $292 million downward adjustment from the surplus projected in the provincial budget.

Young already wrote the Provincial Auditor last week seeking the investigation. The vote at PAC could compel it to be undertaken.

Specifically, Young asked the Auditor to consider the following:

· Is SaskPower in compliance with its legislated obligations? If not, why not?

· What specifically has drawn down the government’s initial surplus estimate for SaskPower to now be in a position of significant loss?

· What is the breakdown of spending for the additional $813 million being provided to SaskPower through the Supplemental Estimates process?

· What practices and procedures are necessary to ensure such substantial adjustments or additions to spending for SaskPower are avoided in the future?

“We’re not going to let up,” Young said. “There is so much at stake for families and for our future. What we’re looking at here is really unprecedented mismanagement and lies from an 18-year-old Government that clearly stopped caring about the people it was elected to serve long ago.

“One way or another, we will get to the bottom of this — Saskatchewan people are counting on us.”

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