Mayor Ryan Bater has gotten a response back from his correspondence to Premier Brad Wall on the provincial budget cuts.
But there was nothing earth-shattering about the response from the premier, who has referred the issue to the ministry of governmental relations.
Bater had written the premier following the April 24 meeting of council, proposing a “policy alternative” to the loss of SaskPower and SaskEnergy payments in lieu in the provincial budget. The city proposed a one per cent surcharge be placed on SaskPower and SaskEnergy bills in the province.
But in his response to the mayor dated May 9, which was received at council’s Tuesday night meeting, Premier Wall stated that “in order to better assist you, I have referred your email to the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister of Government Relations. The Minister or one of her officials will respond to you directly.”
There was no word at the meeting whether the city had in fact been in direct contact with Harpauer or her officials.
Related to the issue, Bater did confirm that he along with city manager Jim Puffalt planned to attend meetings later on in the week with the City Mayor’s Caucus of SUMA on the whole file.
“Our hope is that we can get back with some more information,” said Bater.
