SASKATOON – The leaders of Saskatchewan’s two main political parties both say they hope the province receives a significant investment from Ottawa when it reveals its federal budget Tuesday.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall is calling on the federal government to send the province $570 million. That’s the same amount Saskatchewan will send this year to Ottawa for equalization payments that will eventually end up going to less wealthy provinces.
“Here’s a chance for Canada to say, it’s time for us to give back to the energy sector that’s been giving so much for the country for ten years plus,” said Wall to reporters at a campaign stop in Saskatoon.
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Wall said he’s “proposed a specific support plan the federal government could engage in with respect to the energy sector.” The effort would centre on cleaning up abandoned oil wells and would employ roughly 1,200 people.
“It’s strange that our taxpayers would be putting that much into a program supporting other provinces when oil’s at thirty-five or forty dollars a barrel,” said Wall.
“We’re saying to the federal government, we know that equalization’s not going to change, but you could use that number perhaps as a guide to reinvesting back in Saskatchewan.”
“I’d like to see a proper fix to equalization and I want to see federal dollars coming into Saskatchewan to fix and enhance the public services we need,” said Broten.
“I’d like to see dollars invested in the important public infrastructure that we need and that would provide the services we need and help the economy and help with jobs in this province at a time when many are looking for work.”
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