REGINA — Attempts by the Opposition to force a vote on their private member’s bill against SaskPower and SGI rate hikes have gone nowhere so far this week.
On Monday, NDP SaskPower critic Aleana Young, the mover of Bill 612 — the Lower Power Bills and Car Insurance Act, moved for the Assembly to consider immediate second reading in the Legislature.
However, that motion needed unanimous consent to proceed, and the Sask. Party majority voiced “no,” ending that attempt.
Those with the NDP said this was an attempt to bring the issue to a recorded vote that day. In a news release, they characterized what transpired in the Assembly as Sask. Party members having “blocked” an attempt by Young to seek leave and force a vote on the bill.
In speaking to reporters afterwards, Young called it “another example of how terrified the Sask Party government is” to allow Bill 612 to come to the floor for a vote.
“We see a government that is terrified to do anything to address the cost of living, and frankly is scared to touch this piece of legislation because they know there is widespread support for in the public, and they know their members are hearing it the same as ours.”
Another attempt fails Tuesday
Despite the setback on Monday, the NDP were back again Tuesday with Young attempting another emergency motion to bring her bill against rate increases immediately to the floor. Once again the reaction from the government was the same, with members saying no to the unanimous consent required.
That day, Young also produced numbers from Statistics Canada claiming there were 500 fewer businesses than there were when Premier Scott Moe took office, and told reporters that power bills in the province were the "second highest among provinces in Canada."
Those comments drew a reaction from Minister of Trade and Export Development Warren Kaeding who questioned the NDP numbers.
"I would really like to know the source of the information that they're getting those types of stats from because all indications that we've got in the last 10 years, the small business numbers that we've got have gone up, they've gone up every year," said Kaeding. "Small business is really the backbone to our economy here and we'll do whatever we can to support them."
Rate review panel set to meet March 26 on auto rates
This series of events came just days after first reading was delayed by one day on procedural grounds, after Government House Leader Tim McLeod had objected to the bill, claiming that it required royal recommendation before it could be considered in the Assembly. Speaker Todd Goudy ultimately ruled the following day that the bill could proceed to first reading.
Young’s motion was particularly aimed at preventing the government moving ahead with a Feb. 1 interim rate increase of 3.9 per cent before a decision could be made on SaskPower’s application to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel. SaskPower is seeking 3.9 per cent increases in 2026 and 2027.
An application has also been made to the Rate Review Panel for the Saskatchewan Auto Fund rate increase of 3.75 per cent that is due to take effect in June, followed by another 3.75 per cent increase the following year.
It looks like the auto rate increase will be considered very soon. On Monday came word in a news release that the Rate Review Panel had scheduled a public meeting for March 26 at 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Regina to consider the Saskatchewan Auto Fund rate increase application. There is no word yet on a date when the Rate Review Panel will meet on the SaskPower application.
In speaking to reporters last week about the auto rate increase, Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison said Saskatchewan has "the most affordable auto rates in the entire country." He pointed to rates in Alberta in particular as much higher than Saskatchewan.
"I think we've been very well served by the Auto Fund and the process we have," Harrison told reporters, who also spoke of why an increase was needed.
"We are going to make decisions that are the correct decisions from the perspective of keeping an Auto Fund in a viable long-term place and where we are at right now, given the increase in cost of repair per vehicle and the pressure that's putting on the Auto Fund, is that we've had to make that rate application, which is the responsible thing to do."
As for the state of her bill, Young acknowledged on Monday it was uncertain when it would be back for second reading or a vote, but vowed not to give up the fight.
“There is nothing that we can do in opposition to force the government to vote on this,” said Young. “We will continue to use every tool that we have at our disposal to keep this bill alive and do what we can to motivate the Saskatchewan Party and all MLAs is in good faith to allow this bill to come to a vote and hopefully ultimately to pass. The bill is still alive on the order paper and as long as that bill is on the order paper, you can expect Carla Beck’s team to continue pushing for the implementation of this important piece of legislation.”
