Yet another round of protests prompted by the 2017-18 provincial budget erupted around the province last week.
In Yorkton on May 25, a group organized by Unifor gathered outside MLA Greg Ottenbreit’s office on Broadway Street to rally against selling off parts of Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations.
In April, the Saskatchewan Party government passed Bill 40, which amended to the Crown Corporation Public Ownership Act (CCPOA) to “clarify” the meaning of “privatize” so the Province could sell off up to 49 per cent of Crowns, such as, Sasktel and to do so without a mandate from the public such as a referendum or election.
Premier Brad Wall has always maintained he would not privatize the Crowns without putting it to the people for a vote.
“Brad Wall lied during the 2016 election, pure and simple,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor’s western regional director. “He promised to keep his hands off our Crowns, but since the election he has done the opposite.”
Ottenbreit was not available for comment because he was having cancer surgery last week.
The government , however, continues to justify the possibility of private partnership in Saskatchewan’s Crowns by saying it could actually bring more benefits to the province.
In fact, just days after the new legislation was passed, Wall confirmed the government was in talks with a private entity about selling part of SGI and defended it saying, “it’s about strengthening that Crown corporation, that head office, maybe creating jobs in the province.”
The NDP has condemned the move as a cash grab.
“It’s a bald-faced lie when you see Bill 40 and the actions of this government with STC now through to SGI and SaskTel,” said Trent Wotherspoon, interim NDP leader.
“This is a government looking for cash.
Meanwhile, on May 24, the Saskatchewan Government Employees Union (SGEU) bussed people in from as far away as Prince Albert to rally against budget cuts in general. Hundreds showed up at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and marched on the Legislature.
Also last week, a judge denied a last ditch effort by the Amalgamated Transit Union to save the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.
Madam Justice L. M. Schwann said the government was within its rights under the amended CCPOA to shut down the money-losing bus service.
She said he found no evidence that the government was planning to transfer the business to the private sector.
The union said it has not ruled out a legal appeal and will continue to fight the battle in the court of public opinion.
The bus service is scheduled to end today.
