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March 27th, 2003
Southwest Pouring Money Into
Provincial Coffers: Sask Party MLA's
One day prior to the provincial budget,
Saskatchewan Party MLA's from the southwest are reminding the NDP
government of the huge oil and gas revenue it takes in from the
region.
"We know that last year alone the government
cashed oil royalty cheques from our corner of Saskatchewan to the
tune of $130 million." said Brad Wall, MLA for Swift Current.
"That doesn't event take into account gas royalties, oil and gas
land sales or the general taxes that are sent to Regina."
Wall, Cypress Hills MLA Wayne Elhard, Thunder
Creek MLA Lyle Stewart, Wood River MLA Yogi Huyghebaert and
Kindersley MLA Jason Dearborn joined forces to make the case that
while the southwest doesn't expect any special treatment from the
government, it does deserve a government that pays attention to its
needs.
Wall said that the NDP government seems to have
no problem cashing the cheques but has not been responsive to the
needs of the region.
"Whether it's the downloading of education
funding to local property taxpayers, the crown land lease
renewal/treaty land entitlement issue, the lack of infrastructure
funding for local municipalities or the compelling need for a new
regional health care facility, the people of the southwest feel
ignored by this NDP government."
Wall told the Legislature today that the
southwest region sends enough money in oil royalties to Regina in
just 45 days to pay for the NDP government's $16 million share of
the funding for a new regional hospital in Swift Current. He
said that fact, combined with ongoing mechanical, mold and
structural problems of the current facility leaves this government
with little choice but to do the right thing in the budget.
Wall added that the southwest Sask Party MLA's
will be watching the budget closely to see if the NDP government is
prepared to pay attention to the needs of the region.
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