Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd has announced that The Conference Board of Canada will be conducting an independent analysis of a proposed takeover of Potash Corp.
"No matter who owns the potash mines, the people of Saskatchewan own the potash," Boyd says. "It is our job as government to protect the best interests of Saskatchewan people and to be sure the province and Saskatchewan residents receive the maximum benefit from this valuable resource."
The Conference Board will provide a report identifying the risks and opportunities this development presents. The report will include an assessment of what governments can do to lower risk and increase opportunities.
The report will be completed and made public by September 30, 2010 and will be used as the basis for Saskatchewan's submissions to Industry Canada, the agency responsible for analyzing transactions under the Investment Canada Act.
The Conference Board is widely regarded as Canada's foremost independent, not-for-profit applied research organization. The organization's mission is to build leadership capacity for a better Canada by creating and sharing insights on economic trends, public policy and organizational performance.
