Released on November 18, 1999
An interim panel has been established to conduct independent reviews of Crown
corporation monopoly rate change requests.
"The Saskatchewan Interim Rate Review Panel will be in place over the next few
months while options for a permanent rate review mechanism are being
developed," Crown Investments Corporation Minister John Nilson said.
The four-person panel will be chaired by Gerald Fiske of Regina, a consultant
and former Vice President of ISM. The other members are Bob Lacoursiere, a
consultant and business leader in Saskatoon; Joan Meyer, a farmer and mall
manager from Rush Lake; and Frank Degenstein, a former President of SaskTel and
Telecom Canada.
"The panel members have a wide range of experience and expertise and are well
qualified to review rate change requests," Nilson said. "The panel will
receive the views of customers through public meetings and other means and
engage consultants to provide expert analysis. It will prepare a report on its
findings for public release and provide our government with an opinion on
whether proposed rate increases are reasonable and fair."
A SaskEnergy rate change request which was received by Cabinet in October will
be the first to go to the panel for review. Details on the request and review
process will be announced as soon as the panel has an opportunity to meet and
begin its work.
"This interim panel is the first step in developing a permanent body for
independent rate reviews," Nilson said.
Crown Investments Corporation has been asked to look at rate review practices
in other jurisdictions and prepare an options paper for consideration by the
Crown Corporations Committee of the Legislature.
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For more information, contact:
Ted Boyle
Crown Investsments Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-9039
Biographies of Panel Members
Gerald Fiske, Chair
Gerald A. Fiske of Regina is a former Vice President and General Manager of ISM
(Information Systems Management Corporation) Saskatchewan who has more than 30
years of experience in senior management positions in the computer industry.
Since retiring from ISM in 1998, he has been President of Fiske Consulting Ltd.
Gerald Fiske was born near Elbow, Saskatchewan. He has a Business
Administration Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan and a Management
and Administration Certificate from the Canadian Institute of Management.
Fiske began his computer career at the U of S before joining SaskCOMP in 1974.
He was Operations Manager in the Saskatoon and Regina Regional Offices before
being named Vice President of Computer Services in 1984. When SaskCOMP was
integrated with Westbridge in 1988, he was appointed Vice President of Systems
Management.
Fiske's tenure with ISM began in 1991 when the company was formed through the
merger of Westbridge, IBM Canada and STM Systems Corporation. He was Vice
President of Systems Operations before becoming Vice President and General
Manager of ISM Saskatchewan from 1993 to 1997. He was ISM's national Vice
President of Customer Satisfaction and Business Excellence until his retirement
in 1998.
Frank Degenstein, Member
Frank Degenstein of Regina is a former President of SaskTel who was born,
raised and educated in Regina.
Degenstein began his 40-year career with SaskTel in 1947 as an apprentice
switchman. He rose through the ranks, spending 16 years in technical positions
and another 16 years in administrative positions. His senior management
experience includes service as Vice President of Network Services, Vice
President of Customer Services, and Senior Vice President of Corporate
Development. He was appointed President of SaskTel in 1983, and held that post
until the end of 1985.
From 1986 until his retirement in 1990, Degenstein was President of Telecom
Canada in Ottawa. Telecom was the consortium of all major telecommunications
companies in Canada, which later became known as Stentor. During his tenure at
Telecom Canada, Degenstein was also on the board of directors of Teleglobe,
Canada's only overseas telecommunications carrier.
Joan Meyer, Member
Joan Meyer of Swift Current has been a partner with her husband in a mixed
farming operation for 30 years and also has varied experience in
administration, business, and local and national organizations. Her education
includes Certificates in Administration and Local Government Administration
from the University of Regina, and a Class "C" Certificate from Saskatchewan
Rural Development.
Meyer has operated a home-based administration and accounting business since
1972, and has worked in municipal administration with the R.M. of Excelsior.
She later switched to property management and marketing, taking positions as
Marketing Manager and then most recently Manager, of the Wheatland Mall in
Swift Current.
Meyer is Vice President of the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan and is a
Member of the Board of Regents, Luther College, Regina. She has also been a
director of the Farm Credit Corporation and has served on the organizing and
host committees of several community, provincial and national conferences and
sporting events.
Bob Lacoursiere, Member
Bob Lacoursiere of Saskatoon is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years
of experience. He is also a Certified Management Consultant and a Registered
Financial Planner.
Lacoursiere started his own accounting firm in Saskatoon in 1972, and his own
financial management consulting business in 1991. He has been a Financial
Advisor/Planner since 1995, first with Independent Financial Services Ltd., and
now with Equion Financial Ltd. (Assante Group of Companies).
Lacoursiere has a long history of involvement in his community, serving as
President of the Family YMCA, Chair of the United Way campaign, President of
the Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of the management boards of both
Saskatchewan Place and SIAST. Lacoursiere is also a well-known sports figure.
He founded the Western Canadian Baseball Association and is a member of the
Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.
