Released on May 8, 2007
Frustrated with the “deafening silence from Ottawa” on the Equalization front, Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert is continuing the province’s call for the federal government to meet its promise to Saskatchewan to remove non-renewable resource revenue from Equalization so that it can be retained for the benefit of Saskatchewan residents.
“We’ve tried professional dialogue, with letters and discussions and formal presentations,” Calvert said. “We’ve tried public awareness, with two different ad campaigns aimed at having the federal government live up to its election promise. We’ve tried discussions through bureaucratic channels as a mechanism. But still, we have heard nothing from the federal government about a fair Equalization deal that would let us keep $800 million annually of our money – non-renewable resource revenue from Saskatchewan resource developments – to reinvest in Saskatchewan’s economic future.
“And now, it appears that the Prime Minister is apparently worried about losing seats in Nova Scotia and having that province take a more aggressive tack alongside Newfoundland and Labrador in withholding support for the recent federal budget,” Calvert said. “Apparently the Conservative Members of Parliament in the Maritimes have come to their senses, and are realizing there are consequences to not fighting for their provinces’ rights to keep their non-renewable resource revenue – meanwhile, I have to wonder aloud once again, where are our MPs in Saskatchewan on this issue?”
Premier Calvert said a promise made--should be a promise kept. His most recent March 20 letter to the Prime Minister on this issue has to date gone unanswered. In addition, Calvert points out that his Finance Minister has also been endeavouring to get a meeting with his federal counterpart to discuss the issues surrounding Equalization. So far, that meeting hasn’t been agreed to by the federal minister either.
“If the Prime Minister is so concerned about seats, he might want to pay attention to Saskatchewan,” Calvert said. “We have 12 Conservative MPs who clearly recognize – whether they admit it publicly or not – that their broken promise to Saskatchewan is on the minds of voters in this province.
“We will continue to push the federal government on this. Our government is making life better for Saskatchewan people. A fair deal for Saskatchewan residents that could include an Energy Accord will mean the retention of our natural resource revenues to make Saskatchewan an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
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For more information, contact:
Jay Branch
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6349
Email: jay.branch@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-539-3994