Council joining fight to stop privatization

Prince Albert city council is joining the fight to stop the province from selling off Crown assets.

Residents submitted letters to council asking them to take a stand against the province selling-off Crown assets like SaskTel to help reduce the projected $1.2-billion deficit. Councillors stood up in chambers on their constituents’ behalves.

Ward 5 Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick explained the reason Crown services exist in the first place was to ensure amenities were provided to residents; amenities that can sometimes cost money. He said the city should send a strong message to the province.

“When I looked at the services, looked at all the Crowns and looked at what we have in this province, getting rid of them will affect the residents of my ward and the residents of this city,” he said. “If we’re going to get rid of our Crown corporations for economic reasons that doesn’t make sense.”

Ogrodnick said if there’s other reasons for selling off Crown corporations, he would like to know what they are and welcomed a debate on the subject.

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Ward 7 Coun. Dennis Nowoselsky said Crown corporations are intended for the benefit of all in the province.

“They bring in a stack of resource revenue back to the province that helps in every department especially in health and education,” he said. “I think it is a little bit about fairness for all.”

Nowoselsky called on the mayor to stand strong for everyone in Prince Albert.

Council agreed the mayor’s office would speak on behalf of concerned residents.

The province has yet to announce how it will address the budget shortfall.

Jeff.Labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter