REGINA – Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall doesn’t see a problem with trying to make equalization part of the 2015 federal election campaign, despite other leaders being loath to talk about it.
The premier vowed Monday to continue pushing for change to how the federal government shares revenues between the “have” and “have-not” provinces, saying he has sent a letter to the three major federal party leaders asking for a position on equalization and other issues.
Wall has been critical of the $17-billion program because it doesn’t include hydro revenues and doesn’t take into account changes to resource prices. Wall suggests it should be halved – and then be doled out differently.
“I believe we would benefit more if we took at least a portion of equalization and used it for infrastructure,” Wall said again Monday. “That would be a huge national program.”
“It’d be nice if the feds said, ‘Here’s your dollars, work with your municipalities, and close the infrastructure deficit.’ ”
The $17-billion equalization program is the federal government’s way of ensuring every province is able to provide comparable public services.
Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Newfoundland pay into the pot – the remaining six provinces receive transfers ranging from $361 million for Prince Edward Island to more than $9 billion for Quebec.
“We want far greater federal dollars into infrastructure, so here’s an idea where we could perhaps achieve that,” Wall said.
Other premiers have bristled at the notion of examining the formula. Despite paying billions into equalization over the years, even Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci suggested Wall wouldn’t find an ally in that province.
During a stop in Regina last week, Conservative leader Stephen Harper brushed the topic aside.
“I think that is not really the central question (in the election) that the premier – and frankly, for that matter, most people in Saskatchewan – should be concerned about,” Harper said.
‘Questionable timing’
University of Regina political scientist Tom McIntosh sees equalization as a difficult issue to bring up before Canadians go to the polls on October 19.
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“Telling the prime minister he needs to completely re-jig the equalization formula in the middle of an election campaign is an odd request from a premier generally seen to be something of an ally,” McIntosh said. “I’m not sure that’s something you want to go out and sell at election time.”
READ MORE: Wall’s equalization comments divide the country, says N.S. premier
Wall says he “wasn’t under any illusions this would be a popular position,” but he believes some eastern provinces could get on board because a growing list of infrastructure needs across the country.
“If you can’t talk about even minor improvements in an interminable federal election, then when can you?”
Saskatchewan was a benefactor of equalization until 2008.
“We want to make sure people understand we’re grateful to have received equalization,” Wall said. “By the way, there’s no indication (Saskatchewan) will ever be heading back to have-not status.”
With files from The Canadian Press and Global’s Tom Vernon
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