Our Blog
Topic: News
11
OCT
CBC News reported today that the Sask party government is considering the sale of another Crown Corporation, Information Services Corporation (ISC).Information Services Corporation (ISC) is the provincial Crown Corporation responsible for the administration of land titles, vital statistics, survey, personal property and corporate registries, as well as related geographic information.Current legislation in Saskatchewan prohibits the sale of any major Crown including utilities, however, ISC is not protected under the Crown Corporations Public Ownership Act. SOS Crowns will be following as this s...
11
OCT
News ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 11, 2012Threat to Saskatchewan security and privacySOS Crowns is concerned about our current government’s disregard for the privacy and security of Saskatchewan residents and businesses in their ongoing partnership with Chinese-based Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Huawei has been under scrutiny around the world for a number of years for issues with intellectual property theft, security, and privacy concerns. Following a significant investigation by the United States government, Chinese-based Huawei has been deemed a security risk. In 2011 the ...
1
OCT
It seems as though the residential and business customers in rural Saskatchewan who require access to High Speed Internet services have been given a second chance by Industry Canada. Following two years of consultation with business, government, and residents, Industry Canada made the decision to change the way that spectrum, or radio frequency, is allocated between network providers across the country. This means that SaskTel would no longer be able to provide Wireless Broadband Internet (WBBI) service to rural customers across the province. Access to, and ownership of, the Canadian wir...
6
SEP
Later this fall, the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel (SRRP) will hold public meetings regarding the proposed rate increase at SaskPower that would take effect in the beginning of next year.Saskatchewan residents will have the opportunity to hear from SaskPower regarding the pending rate increases but you can also submit your personal comments in person, by mail, or electronically. The following meetings will be held:
Saskatoon – Sept 19, 1:30pm at the Delta Bessborough
Regina – Oct 2, 7:30pm at the Ramada Hotel
According to the rate application, SaskPower is “recommendi...
17
AUG
SOS Crowns recently learned that effective November 30, 2012, SaskPower will be closing the doors to the public in another 19 offices throughout the province. Walk-in customer service will only remain available in 5 locations including Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Yorkton, and North Battleford. Tens of thousands of SaskPower customers, both urban and rural, will no longer have the ability to make statement inquiries, book service calls or complete bill payments in their own community. In addition, the Regina cash payment drive through window will be closed permanently. Almost two years ag...
30
JUL
For those of you that have not had a chance to catch some of the newspapers throughout the province this month, here are a couple of articles involving our Crown Corporations that might be of interest to you:“Energy tale of two provinces” by Bruce Johnstone was printed in the Leader-Post on July 14, 2012. In a comparison between Saskatchewan and Alberta, Johnstone explains, “Remember when energy deregulation was all the rage? The old monopoly utilities were going to go the way of the dodo. In their place would be efficient, profit-driven private companies competing for consum...
11
JUL
This week SaskPower announced that they will be seeking a 4.9 per cent rate increase that would be effective at the beginning of next year if approved. Rural residential, farm, and commercial customers will be hit the hardest with the proposed increases, while all customers across the province will see some level of increase.In yesterday’s news release SaskPower noted, “The increase is needed to fund investments in the province’s electrical system to keep up with our growing economy and maintain electrical reliability.” The people of Saskatchewan should be asking themse...
2
MAY
The results are beginning to roll in from our Crown Corporations about their performance and successes over the last year. It is undeniable that 2011 was an excellent year for Crowns in Saskatchewan, many posting higher profits than previous years. SaskPower posted record profits while SaskTel reached $1 billion in revenue for the sixth consecutive year.Crown Investment Corporation (CIC) predicts that 2012 will see a $273 million dividend to the provincial government, including a special dividend from SaskPower.What you might find in the fine print is that the government has increased Crown Co...
20
MAR
In less than 24 hours the Saskatchewan government will publicize their next provincial budget. Premier Brad Wall has already made a number of announcements preparing the people of Saskatchewan for a ‘budget of cuts’. In fact, Wall warned that “nothing is off the table,” in terms of this year’s budget, including social programs, according to the Brandon Sun. In a province that has apparently been booming, it is interesting that the government is now warning everyone that it is time to tighten our belts. Last year the provincial budget heavily favoured business owne...
23
FEB
Today, the union representing workers at both SaskTel and Jump.ca, called into question the government’s decision to work in direct opposition of their own Sask First Policy. Mere weeks ago, SaskTel announced that Ledcor was the successful bidder on an upcoming contract for residential install and repair. Ledcor, which is headquartered in B.C., had been doing install work for SaskTel since September 2011. What we know for a fact is that SaskTel was paying Ledcor obscene amounts of money to complete installs during their six week contact last fall. Although it is complicated to explain th...
2
FEB
Once again, a number of our Crown Corporations made the list for Saskatchewan's Top Employers including:
-Information Services Corp. of Saskatchewan (ISC)
-Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)
-SaskEnergy Inc.
-SaskPower Corporation
-SaskTel
With a total of 9,003 full-time employees between the 5 organizations, Crown Corporations play a huge role in many Saskatchewan communities.
In October of last year, both SaskTel and SGI were also honoured as two of Canada's Top 100 Employers.
...
1
FEB
Today SOS Crowns will join thousands of students, working men and women, and community members across Canada to raise awareness about issues relating to post-secondary education.Skyrocketing tuition, mounting student debt, and the chronic underfunding of Canada's post-secondary institutions are just some of the issues that will discussed at the event.SOS Crowns is supporting the National Day Of Action because we believe that post-secondary education should be available and accessible to all people, so today we will stand in solidarity so that students' voices across the country can...
31
JAN
CEP Press ReleaseCommunications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 31, 2012One of Canada’s largest unions says SaskTel’s announcement of Saskatchewan work going to an out-of province Company is very suspicious timing considering the union has collective agreement talks and an arbitration case pending on the jurisdiction of the work Ledcor was awarded.SasTel announced last week that residential install and repair work is going to Alberta construction giant Ledcor. The work was formerly done by SaskTel employees and currently by Saskatchewan-based J...
27
JAN
News ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 27, 2012Saskatchewan LAST policy...or at least SaskTel lastEarlier this week SaskTel announced that Ledcor Technical Services, headquartered out of Vancouver, BC, would be partnering with the Crown utility to complete residential install and repair services in Regina and Saskatoon as well as seven other major districts. Ledcor will be bringing employees in from other provinces and taxpayers will be contractually obligated to adhere to a more expensive model than if SaskTel employees were completing the work.SOS Crowns was recently made aware Ledco...
The Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) has been serving the people of Saskatchewan for over sixty years. Currently the STC provides passenger transportation and parcel express services to nearly three hundred communities in Saskatchewan. Aside from their three main terminals in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert, STC also has nearly 200 rural agencies across this great province.Questioning whether transportation and parcel services should be in the hands of the private sector, rather than a publicly-owned Crown is not a new discussion. Our Crown corporations were designed and cu...
18
JAN
Yesterday, Rogers Media Inc. announced that they would be acquiring Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN) and launch Citytv Saskatchewan. The deal is pending approval from the CRTC, with a decision expected in Spring 2012, according to SCN.This announcement comes on the heels of the affiliate agreement between Rogers and SCN that was signed in December 2011.According to the Financial Post, in 2007, Rogers paid $375-million in cash to buy five Citytv stations from CTV, then known as CTVglobemedia. They also report that SCN was previously owned by Bluepoint Investment Corp., a Toronto-based ...
Our neighbours in Alberta are being told once again to expect rate increases for their monthly residential electricity - directly on the heels of an approximately $25 increase in December 2010.
Proponents of deregulation commonly tell consumers that increased competition in markets such as electricity will provide the lowest rates. Unfortunately for our neighbours in both Alberta and British Columbia, this simply has not been the case.
It was just over a year ago that residents in B.C. were told to expect rate increases that were directly related to the costly Power Purchase ...
2
NOV
Aside from the outright sale of Crown Corporations and their subsidiaries, the Brad Wall government has made significant policy changes that affect the future of Crowns in Saskatchewan.Sask First Policy One of the first major attacks on the future of our Crowns was the adoption of the Sask First Policy in late 2008. Although it is called a ‘policy framework’ according to a news release, it is unclear whether a formal written policy as even been produced. A CIC representative stated “There is no written policy available...Cabinet’s direction on the policy framework is es...
12
OCT
NEWS RELEASE - OCTOBER 12, 2011
Once again the people of Saskatchewan are being short-changed for the policy decisions made by the Brad Wall government. Using Crowns like their own cash cows and selling off subsidiaries for prices far below market value.Following the adoption of the Sask First policy, the Brad Wall government began the process to divest of a number of Crown Corporation subsidiaries including Navigata in 2009. Although Navigata did not provide SaskTel with steady income, the organization including their physical assets was sold for only $1.25 million. At that time, the...
27
SEP
It is clear that the people of Saskatchewan are being deceived. Our current government has made many claims regarding the future of Crown Corporations in Saskatchewan. One of which was a statement from our current Premier stating “Crowns are not going to be privatized and (subsidiaries) are not going to be wound down.” Our current government`s actions have been nothing but contrary to this statement.Merriam Webster defines the word privatize as the process “to make private; especially to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership.&rdq...
1
SEP
In this episode, Chris, Mike, and Amy attend the 7th Annual Gateway Music Festival inBengough, Saskatchewan. Did you know that Crown Corporations helped sponsor this event,among others? And that’s just one of the ways that crowns give back to the province, and help support the arts in our communities.
What do you think of our video series so far? Feel free to comment on our Facebook Page....
29
AUG
In this episode, Chris, Mike, and Amy head to Humboldt in the hot tub truck for the Canada Day
celebrations. Along the way, they sing a song about their experiences so far. Plus, the water in
the hot tub truck is finally hot.
What do you think of our video series so far? Feel free to comment on our Facebook page....
24
AUG
In this episode, Chris, Mike, and Amy go kayaking on beautiful Kenosee Lake in Moose
Mountain Provincial Park. In between, they ask people why Crown Corporations matter to them.
In 2010, 23 rental cabins at Greenwater Lake Provincial Park were sold to a Regina-based
property management company. The new private owner will add 10 more cabins.
At Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a private company is developing a new campground.
Services that used to be provided by park staff, such as cutting firewood, maintaining hiking
trails, and sanitation services, are being turned ov...
6
APR
At a news conference on Tuesday, president and CEO of SaskTel, Ron Styles announced the Crown Corporation will be spending $670 million over the next 7 years to expand bandwidth and SaskTel services throughout the province. This ambitious plan, according the Leader Post, includes spending $199 million in 2011 in the following areas:
$52 million to continue construction of 4G (fourth generation) wireless network, which will increase bandwidth by four times up to 21 Mbps download speed;
$27 million for a rural infrastructure program, including $15 million to upgrade highspeed Internet serv...
24
MAR
Yesterday the Saskatchewan government announced the 2011-2012 Provincial Budget. Upon reading the budget in its entirety, it does not take long to realize that this budget is aimed to support one group of people; business owners and corporations. As expected, Crown Corporations will take more significant hits as a result of the current budget. Some highlights include:
The government intends to continue "to partner with the private sector" for producing power, shifting control and ownership to private companies
Discounted beer rates for commercial permittees, shifting the expense to Saska...
25
FEB
This morning the Saskatchewan NDP released their draft of the final report on policy consultations entitled "A Rooted and Growing Vision." A specific section is dedicated to improving public services and Crown Corporations. Click here to read the full report....
1
FEB
In March, 2010 SaskTel announced the divesture of Hospitality Network (HospNet) and AgDealer. As well, SaskTel will be selling its real estate investment in Saskatoon Square and remain a tenant of the property. According to the Leader-Post, HospNet, also known as Hospitality Network, rents TVs and phones to hospital and nursing home patients across the country. Hospitality Network Canada Inc. had operating revenues of $29.4 million, in 2008. AgDealer, which is a trader-type magazine and website for agricultural equipment produced through DirectWest, while Saskatoon Square is a commercial bui...
6
JAN
Campaign co-ordinator Jennifer Britton joined John Gormley live to discuss the "Hey Buddy, This Isn't Alberta" billboards which are being displayed throughout the province including Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Moose Jaw currently. Minister Ken Chevaldayoff responded to the interview, followed by comments from various callers....
20
AUG
At the end of this month SaskPower will permanently close their office doors to walk-in customers in over 20 percent of their office locations across Saskatchewan.
Customers in Assiniboia, Biggar, Humboldt, Kamsack, Rosthern, and Weyburn as well as the thousands of people in surrounding areas, will no longer have the ability to make statement inquiries, book service calls or complete bill payments in their own community.
Closures of this nature signal the decline of equal Crown service levels for rural Saskatchewan and, furthermore, diminish the presence of our Crowns in rural communitie...
Today NDP House Leader Kevin Yates questioned why the Wall government is boasting of SGI license plate sales when it callously hurt a Saskatchewan small business in the process. Yates said the Wall Government failed to mention that the General License Plate Contract is no longer in the hands of a local Saskatchewan company which held the contract since 1971. SGI awarded the new contract to a larger company in Nova Scotia – Waldale Manufacturing Ltd. “We have seen this type of decision before with the Wall government in its tendering process. Instead of keeping jobs and work within...
10
MAY
On April 30th, 2010 the Brad Wall government along with British Columbia and Alberta, launched the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA). According to the government, “The New West Partnership is an ambitious agreement that will create Canada's largest interprovincial barrier-free trade and investment market.” In 2007, the people of Saskatchewan were against the province signing the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) with B.C. and Alberta, which premiere Brad Wall promised he would never sign. According to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Presiden...
30
APR
The Saskatchewan Party Government officially wound down our broadcast Crown Corporation, as more proof of its commitment to destroy the Crowns despite assurances it will not.Following the release of the 2010 provincial budget in Saskatchewan, the government announced their plan to sell off Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN). At that point, the broadcaster could be seen be seen in 90% of Saskatchewan households as well as attracting audiences throughout Canada.Once the sale was announced, the government stated, “Outstanding contracts with film producers will be brought to a conclus...
13
APR
The government is destroying our Crowns like SaskTel by taking 100 percent of their dividends and forcing them to increase debt, while selling off profitable assets.
Following a record breaking year of operating income SaskTel will be forced to increase their debt-to-equity ratio in 2010 from approximately 24 percent to 36 percent. As Sarah Mills reported, our current government is partially to blame.
Due to the mismanagement of Saskatchewan’s finances, our current government is making up for their mistakes by once again tying the hands of our Crowns. “The g...
23
MAR
Following a government mandate to sell off “non-core” businesses SaskTel announced last week it was dumping two companies and a real estate investment.Hospitality Network (HospNet) and AgDealer are on the sale block as well as SaskTel selling its real estate investment in Saskatoon Square while remaining a tenant of the property.This follows the Saskatchewan First Policy which was first adopted by our current government in 2008. Although it is called a ‘policy framework’ according a news release, it is unclear whether a formal written policy has even been produc...
2
FEB
In a new Canadian survey done by Consumer Reports, SaskTel scored extremely well compared to other large players in the cell phone industry including Rogers, Telus, and Bell Mobility. With some 14,000 Canadians surveyed, with the exception of SaskTel and Virgin Mobile the most common complaint from cell phone users was the price associated with their service. SaskTel also saw the highest ratings in areas including voice connectivity and customer service. According to Consumer Reports, "With standout service from SaskTel and solid service from MTS, prairie residents have fine choices." To v...
1
FEB
Saskatchewan is a very unique place to live, due largely to the foundation created by our Crown Corporations. Our provincial coat of arms includes a motto reading “Multis e gentibus vires” or “From Many People’s Strength”. It is very apparent that we have a history of doing things cooperatively in this province with the benefits reaching out to every single citizen. We don’t want to be any other province, and the grass truly may not be so much greener on the other side.
Billboards went up in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Moose Jaw in late December, ...
1
FEB
Throughout the month of January the Standing Committee on Crown & Central Agencies was accepting written submissions and presentations regarding the future energy needs of Saskatchewan. Public meetings were held in 6 Saskatchewan cities allowing interested parties to appear in front of the committee with their suggestions.
The following question was posed: “How should the Government best meet the growing energy needs of the province in a manner that is safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable, while meeting any current and expected Federal Standards and Regulations, a...
30
NOV
SaskTel has issued a “Stop Sell” on SaskTel Wireless Broadband Internet (WBBI) and SaskTel Satellite Internet in 15 communities across Saskatchewan, and has turned the business over to two private firms; YourLink Inc. and RFNow Inc.
In direct opposition to their own SaskFirst Policy, this government is allowing private companies based outside of Saskatchewan to reap the benefits of providing internet access to rural Saskatchewan customers. YourLink Inc. is a subsidiary of Vecima Networks Inc which has headquarters in Victoria, BC while RFNow is based in Virden, MB.
Following the ...
Topics
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