Sask. Party government retracts only 49% of Bill 40, doesn’t count as a repeal
Released November 21, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2017
Sask. Party government retracts only 49% of Bill 40, doesn’t count as a repeal
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) is calling on the Sask. Party government to fully repeal its unpopular and unnecessary Bill 40, including provisions that let the provincial government ‘wind-up’ or dissolve any Crown corporation and liquidate its assets – all without asking Saskatchewan people.
“By the premier’s own admission, Bill 40 is grossly unpopular with Saskatchewan voters. Brad Wall promised he would repeal the unnecessary bill, but with the half-measure we saw introduced today it appears as though he has broken yet another promise to protect our Crown corporations,” said Larry Hubich, president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), “I am calling on the Sask. Party government to actually keep a promise made to Saskatchewan voters by fully repealing Bill 40,” he added.
Bill 40, introduced just over a year ago, changed the definition of privatization to allow the Sask. Party government to sell-off 49% of any Crown corporation without asking Saskatchewan voters through a referendum. Bill 40 also allowed the Sask. Party government to privatize by ‘winding-up’ or dissolving a Crown, such as it did with STC.
Since then, the Own It! campaign – a coalition of workers’ groups and community groups – held dozens of rallies, town halls, and others events across the province. Own It! also fully supports a plebiscite petition effort on the matter being organized by a community group called Sask. Crowns.
These two initiatives led the charge against Bill 40, and forced the Sask. Party government to backtrack.
“We will never stop our efforts to protect Crown corporations from privatization,” said Hubich, “we will continue our education and outreach initiatives on Bill 40 until it’s completely repealed,” he added.
- 30 -
For additional information, contact:
Kent Peterson
Strategic Advisor
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
1 (306) 570-1855
e: k.peterson@sfl.sk.ca
