‘We’re not selling SaskPower’: Moe rejects NDP’s privatization claims

The Saskatchewan NDP warns the government may privatize SaskPower, citing a report on nuclear power ownership. Wayne Mantyka reports.

The Saskatchewan NDP is accusing the provincial government of laying the groundwork for the privatization of SaskPower.

The allegation surfaced during the first question period of the fall sitting of the legislature, as SaskPower reviews its plans for nuclear energy development in the province.

“This is actually sincerely something that I’m quite concerned about,” said NDP MLA Aleana Young. “We saw the Sask. Party roll out a report on SaskPower and right there on page seven is a commitment to review the ownership of power generation here in Saskatchewan.”

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The NDP points to a SaskPower governance review that includes examining future ownership of nuclear power production.

The government says it’s too early to make decisions and that options remain open — including having SaskPower or a private company build a small modular reactor.

“We have natural gas plants today that are owned by SaskPower. We have natural gas plants where we simply buy the power from. Largely, the renewable sector is not owned by SaskPower,” said Premier Scott Moe.

“We are not selling SaskPower. We are not selling the major Crown corporations at any time, nor have we ever discussed it. The NDP may have discussed it, but we have not.”

While nuclear power remains years away in Saskatchewan, Moe says it’s premature to determine what ownership model might be used.