Latest news with #JeremyHarrison
Cision Canada
04-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada expanding high-speed Internet access in Saskatchewan Français
Federal investment of up to $105 million will connect more than 6,500 homes PRINCE ALBERT, SK, July 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Reliable and affordable high-speed Internet is essential for all Canadians. It enables access to important online resources, connects friends and families, and drives economic growth and innovation. Today, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development), announced up to $105 million in federal funding for three high-speed Internet projects being delivered by Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel). These projects will bring high-speed Internet access to 6,522 households in 35 rural and remote communities across central and northern Saskatchewan, including over 4,800 Indigenous households. The Government of Canada's investment is provided through the Universal Broadband Fund, a program designed to ensure that Canadians in rural, remote and Indigenous communities have access to reliable high-speed Internet. The government remains on track to meet its goal of providing high-speed Internet to 98% of Canadian households by 2026, and 100% by 2030. With these investments, the government is helping to create new opportunities for rural and remote communities—ensuring that all Canadians, no matter where they live, can fully participate in the digital economy and benefit from everything Canada has to offer. Quotes "In today's day and age, every corner of Saskatchewan should have access to reliable, affordable high-speed Internet—whether that's in Sweetgrass or all the way in Black Lake. Today's announcement of up to $105 million in new funding to connect 6,522 rural households in the province is a major milestone for Saskatchewan. Investments like these create jobs, improve access to health care and online learning services, and keep us connected to our loved ones." – The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development) "The Government of Saskatchewan appreciates the federal government's investment to help expand connectivity across the province. These funds will add to the nearly $1 billion that SaskTel has invested to bring fibre-powered Internet connectivity to communities throughout Saskatchewan. These investments are strengthening our communities by delivering the high–speed Internet that families and businesses need to thrive in today's increasingly connected economy." – The Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Crown Investments Corporation and Minister Responsible for SaskTel "We at SaskTel, Saskatchewan's homegrown communications leader, understand the incredible impact that high-quality and reliable Internet services can have on a home, business and community. We're thrilled to utilize funding from the Universal Broadband Fund to bring the incredible speed and power of our infiNET network to residents and businesses in more than 30 northern and Indigenous communities. For SaskTel, this initiative is not just about delivering fast Internet speeds—it's about supporting local businesses, empowering students, strengthening communities and enriching the lives of our customers." – Charlene Gavel, President and CEO, SaskTel Quick facts Funding for this project was initially highlighted in June 2024. Today's announcement provides details of the 35 Saskatchewan communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds. Canada's Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadian households by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030. Today, 95.8% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014. In Saskatchewan, 84.4% of households currently have access to high-speed Internet. Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $215 million in connectivity projects in Saskatchewan. Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people are more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women. Better connectivity means more tools in moments of danger, helping victims of violence access critical online resources and get help when they need it most. The Government of Canada works in partnership with Internet service providers (ISP) to offer discounted Internet services to eligible Canadians through the Connecting Families Initiative. SaskTel is a participating ISP. Associated links Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. For easy access to government programs for businesses, download the Canada Business app. SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Sask. tables all seven crown corporation financials on same day
WATCH: All seven provincial crown corporations released their financials together Monday, in a move that's drawing criticism from the opposition NDP. The province made the unusual move of tabling all crown corporation year-end financial reports at the same time Monday — criticized as a way to downplay the material by the official opposition. Flanked by representatives of all seven crown corporations — SaskEnergy, SaskTel, SaskPower, SGI, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, SaskWater and the Crown Investments Corporation — Minister Jeremy Harrison spoke about crowns as a whole, after seeing more than $2.2 billion spent on infrastructure combined across all companies, resulting in $240 million in dividends sent back to the provincial general revenue fund. 'Our crown corporations are vital in sustaining a high standard of living in this beautiful province,' Harrison said during his initial address. But the Saskatchewan NDP said the decision to publish all seven annual reports at the same time on Monday afternoon in Saskatoon — rather than spacing each report over multiple days in Regina, as is customary — was purposeful, and an attempt to minimize the negative aspects of each report. 'The Sask. Party is trying to bury bad news, quietly dumping all Crown Corporation annual reports at once in an unprecedented move, as opposed to staggering their release, hoping Saskatchewan people wouldn't see just how bad things have gotten,' Erika Ritchie, the opposition critic for crown corporations. 'We've read the reports, and the bottom line is this the Sask. Party is mismanaging our crowns and families across the province are going to be paying the price.' When asked, Harrison found it interesting that the NDP's strategy was to criticize the unveiling and not the subject matter. 'I find it very, very interesting that the NDP have not criticized anything in the actual reports, but instead they criticize the process. I think that says a whole lot right there, because this is a very, very strong report that is showing very healthy crown corporations that are doing incredibly good work and providing incredible benefit for the people of the province,' Harrison said. Much of the attention Monday was on SaskPower after Harrison announced plans to extend the province's coal-powered electrical stations beyond their lifespans last week, as a bridge to nuclear energy generation by 2050. 'We are going to be taking an all of the above approach to power generation,' Harrison said. 'This isn't ideological. If we had hydro, we'd be doing more hydro.' The federal government passed regulations in 2016, and later altered them in 2018, requiring all coal-fired power plants to be closed down by 2030, whichever came first. Harrison said the decision is the province's alone and the federal government has no standing in the discussion of how provincial power is generated. He also said conversations with the federal government have been 'very different' under Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership than they were the past nine years under Justin Trudeau. 'The announcement last week, I guarantee, was no surprise at all to the federal government,' he said. Harrison said Saskatchewan currently imports 90 per cent of its natural gas from outside the province. He also said extending the life of coal-powered plants would cost less than half of what it would cost to build new natural gas plants as demand on the power grid is expected to surge over the next three decades. 'If you're deploying less capital, the cost curve in terms of both rates and the impacts on ratepayers — the steepness in that cost curve will be shallowed out,' SaskPower CEO Rupen Pandya said. SaskPower reported a net income of $76 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, compared to $184 in net income the year prior. Pandya says that was largely because Alberta's inter tie, which connects its power system to other jurisdictions, was down for a period of time last year and limited the amount of electricity Saskatchewan could sell to its western neighbour. Despite this, Pandya says SaskPower's plans to nearly double its capacity by 2050 is ambitious, since the demand for electricity is expected to climb as reliance on electric vehicles and artificial intelligence may use much more electricity over the coming years. 'Between 2025 and 2050, to deploy another 5,000 megawatts or 6,000 megawatts of power will be an unprecedented challenge,' Pandya said.
Global News
24-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Saskatchewan Crown corporations raise $510 million
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Saskatchewan's Crown corporations are reporting consolidated net earnings of $510 million for this year, slightly lower than last year. Among the province's largest money-makers was Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, bringing in $223 million. Saskatchewan's big four — SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskEnergy and SGI Canada — raised $291 million before adjustments. Story continues below advertisement Consolidated net earnings were $578 million last year. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy This year, the corporations will pay $240 million in dividends to the province's general revenue fund. Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison says the companies made record investments in infrastructure while maintaining low utility rates. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan Crown corporations raise $510 million in consolidated net earnings
REGINA — Saskatchewan's Crown corporations are reporting consolidated net earnings of $510 million for this year, slightly lower than last year. Among the province's largest money-makers was Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, bringing in $223 million. Saskatchewan's big four — SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskEnergy and SGI Canada — raised $291 million before adjustments. Consolidated net earnings were $578 million last year. This year, the corporations will pay $240 million in dividends to the province's general revenue fund. Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison says the companies made record investments in infrastructure while maintaining low utility rates. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025. Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
Global News
19-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Saskatchewan government extending life of coal-based power plants
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The province of Saskatchewan has been touting a nuclear-based net-zero power grid to come online by 2050. In order to get there, the government is extending the life of coal-based assets. Jeremy Harrison, minister responsible for SaskPower, said the province has been working on what power generation will look like in the future, even though these assets are on the list of federal government phase-outs. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The constitutional authority for power generation is squarely under Section 92-A of the constitution within provincial jurisdiction,' Harrison said. 'There's no question about that, there's no debate.' Check out the video above for more details.
