Should we start calling Brad Wall a liar?

Should we start calling Brad Wall a liar?

Postby Oscar » Fri Aug 04, 2017 4:33 pm

Should we start calling Brad Wall a liar?

[ https://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/new ... all-a-liar ]

July 18, 2017

Regina—The steady flow of rumours about privatizing Saskatchewan’s beloved Crown corporations is making it increasingly difficult to conclude that Brad Wall was truthful during the 2016 election, says Unifor.

“Brad Wall misled voters,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “If the Sask Party wants to dismantle public services and sell off Crown corporations that took generations to build, they should have the decency to run an election on the issue.”

On April 26, 2016 the Sask Party promised the CBC in writing [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3492114 ] that no Crown corporations covered under The Crown Corporations Act would be privatized, but later amended that legislation with Bill 40 [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.4087682 ] to enable unprecedented privatization. This week Minister Dustin Duncan confirmed that backroom talks are underway to privatize Sasktel. [ http://regina.ctvnews.ca/preliminary-di ... -1.3508201 ]

“Brad Wall has no mandate to sell off public assets that generate millions in dividends for the people of Saskatchewan,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Selling-off Crown corporations would be a disaster for the long-term health of hospital and school funding.”

Among other sectors, Unifor represents thousands of Crown corporation workers at SaskTel, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, and SaskWater.

For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at ian.boyko@unifor.org or 778-903-6549 (cell).

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'Really bothered about this': Potential sale of gov't-run low-income housing units raises concern - August 3, 2017
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.4233185 ]

Sask. budget hikes sales tax to 6%, kills provincial bus company - March 22, 2017
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.4035092 ]
Oscar
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Re: Should we start calling Brad Wall a liar?

Postby Oscar » Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:08 pm

NDP asks about province's plans to sell off low-income housing

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.4116713 ]

Opposition wants to know how many units being sold

CBC News Posted: May 16, 2017 5:00 AM CT Last Updated: May 16, 2017 5:00 AM CT

Saskatchewan's Opposition wants to know if the government is looking to sell off low-income housing units to help balance its books.

The government owns about 18,000 units through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

According to officials, it has been government policy to sell units which have been vacant for at least six months and are deemed to no longer be needed.

NDP urges caution

But Saskatchewan NDP MLA Ryan Meili says the government should be cautious before selling too many units.

At the legislature on Monday, Meili said it could be difficult to get back any housing that is sold, adding that markets and public needs change.

"We might have a period of vacancy right now, that doesn't necessarily mean that will persist," said Meili.

"And it also takes away the flexibility of doing anything more interesting with housing, like housing first projects."

'Chronic vacancies' in some areas, says minister

The government said 600 units have been sold since 2003, adding that housing that is no longer needed is sold at fair market value.

Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said there were "chronic vacancies" in some rural Saskatchewan communities with less than 300 people.

"Those are some that we will look at selling, if we can sell them at all," said Beaudry-Mellor.

"But we would certainly like, if they are going to be chronically vacant as they continue to be, we'd like to get rid of those for sure."

Some units could be repurposed

She added that the government was also considering repurposing some of its units.

The province has also been approached by municipalities that want to expand the criteria attached to the housing so it can be opened up for professionals such as nurses or teachers, said Beaudry-Mellor.

She said she did not have a number for how many of the 18,000 units the government might want to sell.

"We're looking at the whole portfolio and seeing if there's potential there to right-size, repurpose, refocus," said Beaudry-Mellor.

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'Really bothered about this': Potential sale of gov't-run low-income housing units raises concern

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.4233185 ]

Province says social housing rental rates would still apply if properties sold

By Stephanie Taylor, CBC News Posted: Aug 03, 2017 5:00 AM CT| Last Updated: Aug 03, 2017 11:10 AM CT

The province is considering selling off some of its low-income housing units —a move that bothers some Saskatchewan residents.

According to an email sent Wednesday by Kathy Young, a spokesperson for Premier Brad Wall, the province regularly evaluates its stock of low-income housing units managed by Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

The government owns about 18,000 low-income units through the corporation. It has sold more than 650 units since 2003.

"Prior to divesting, we will first initiate conversations with local housing authorities and municipalities, and then, as soon as possible, meet with any tenants," Young's email states.

Fred Dulmage, a resident of Lemberg, Sask., said his mother-in-law lives in one of the senior complexes that could be up for sale.

"I am really bothered about this. I think government sort of takes advantage of people in rural Saskatchewan you know, people don't really know what's going on right now," he said.

"A lot of these seniors that are in there, they don't understand what's going on."

He said he heard whispers about the potential sale of these properties months ago, but was informed that a representative from the corporation recently addressed the town council on the issue.

In her email, Young said the province in talks with municipalities and local housing authorities "to discuss opportunities for them" in regards to the properties.

Rents won't rise

Young said if a building is sold into private hands, the new owner would have to uphold the existing tenancy agreements.

She also said the price of rent would remain the same for current tenants covered by the provincial social housing rate, which is 30 per cent of their income.

Dulmage doesn't buy that.

"If you believe that, I've got some sea-side land in Arizona I'll sell you," he said.

"What private entity's going to come in under those kind of conditions?" Say you're investing money in a corporation like this or senior complexes, hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly into the millions and you're restricted on not making a profit — I don't think that works in a free enterprise society."

Vacancies targeted

The province also says tenants will not be evicted and only vacant buildings which don't meet safety requirement could be demolished.

Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor previously said there were "chronic vacancies" in some rural communities with less than 300 people, adding those complexes would be the focus of potential sales.

Cash grab

The NDP called the province's potential sale of low-income units a cash grab by the Sask. Party government that could evict seniors from their homes.

It also criticized the government for attempting to offload these units onto municipalities by inquiring about opportunities to buy them.

"They're looking under every possible rock they can to find enough dollars to prop up the budget to make it look good in 2020," said Dulmage.

Dulmage said tenants in his mother-in-law's complex are set to discuss the issue with an official from the province Thursday, but he hopes the idea will be scraped altogether.
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