The motion, brought forward by Saskatoon Silverspring MLA Hugh Gordon, called on the Provincial Auditor to conduct a special assignment investigation into the staggering increase in the projected cost of the government's coal refurbishment plan.
The text of the motion read:
That the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, pursuant to subsection 16(1) of The Provincial Auditor Act, requests that the Provincial Auditor perform a special assignment investigation to examine the increase in projected costs of the Government’s coal refurbishment plan from $900 million to $26 billion.
The cost of refurbishing Saskatchewan’s aging coal plants was initially estimated at $900 million before ballooning to $2.6 billion. However, internal Sask Power documents leaked to Carla Beck’s team reveal the true cost could reach $26 billion — nearly 30 times the original estimate.
Those same documents show the plan would force the cancellation of critical renewables projects, double power rates and leave Saskatchewan families and future generations with billions in additional debt. A SaskPower briefing note also makes it clear that the full power supply plan wasn’t to be made public, not even to SaskPower’s staff.
“This was the Sask. Party’s chance to show they have nothing to hide, that they’re on the up and up — instead, they voted it down,” Gordon said. “They used their government majority to cover up the truth.
“Saskatchewan people deserve to know who made this decision to pile unfathomable debt onto them for generations to come. They should know when this decision was made, what information was ignored and who stands to gain from this $26-billion coal catastrophe.
“The fact Scott Moe’s government has blocked every single attempt to get to the bottom of this of this financial disaster tells you everything you need to know.”
This vote is the latest in a growing pattern of secrecy surrounding Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison’s coal plan. The Sask. Party government has repeatedly refused to release key information about the project.
Last fall, it withheld key documents related to its decision despite clear legal obligations under provincial Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.
The Premier also rejected calls to release three reports referenced in SaskPower’s own documents that evaluated the province’s future energy options.
Jobs, Economy & SaskPower Shadow Minister Aleana Young was in Yorkton Thursday talking to people about the impact the catastrophe will have on communities across Saskatchewan and about the lengths Moe will go to lie and cover his tracks.
“At every turn, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party have chosen secrecy over accountability,” Young said. “The question Saskatchewan people should be asking is what are they trying so hard to hide?”
“Saskatchewan families are the ones who’ll pay the price for this $26-billion catastrophe. They deserve a government that’s prepared to level with them. It’s time for change.”
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