To the Editor:
Murray Mandryk's 700 word rebuke of Brad Walls crown privatization record leaves much to be desired (Leader Post Feb. 13 2012).
Let's get Wall's record straight:
2009, Direct West Canada - sold ($31,732.28); Heritage Gas - sold ($109.8 million 75 per cent); SaskTel Operator Services contracted out; Rural Internet Stop-Sell in 15 communities.
2010 Stripped Crown of 100 per cent of annual dividends (394.8 million) forcing a debt of 317 million onto the Crowns; Northland Power - Power Purchase Agreement (PPA);
SCN sold ($350,000.00; signed New West Partnership Trade Agreement; SGI General License Plates contracted out: 20 per cent of SaskPower offices closed; AgDealer sold; SGI Canada shares in Charlie Cook Insurance, Western Financial Group, AAA and MFAC sold.
2011 Hospitality Network (Made 3 million profit 2009) sold ($36.6 million); Saskatoon Square sold ($50 million; Algonquin Power PPA; Gas Sur sold; Igasamex sold (40.1%); SaskTel's SAP contracted out; SaskTel, SaskPower, and SaskEnergy line locations contracted out.
2012 Television and Internet installations contracted out; Wireless Broadband Internet contracted out; Rural Internet and Telephone Infrastructure contracted out (Chinese-based Huawei) All but five SaskPower walk-in locations closed to the public. 120 million siphoned from SaskPower forces a 4.9 per cent increase in residential rates.
And of course 2013 - three private liquor stores approved plus 60 per cent of ISC Privatized.
Prior to the 2007 election, Wall said "the Saskatchewan Party will not be privatizing Crowns or their subsidiaries - not in whole or part". Was he lying or hiding his true colors.
Joyce Neufeld, Waldeck, SK.
