Latest news with #SaskatchewanNDP
Global News
4 days ago
- Business
- Global News
SaskTel sees income dip for a 4th year in a row
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 Crown corporations have released their annual fiscal reports, and SaskTel is down over 10 million in net income from the previous year. For the 2024/25 fiscal year, net income was $82.2 million. Net income for 2023/24 was $95.4 million. The Saskatchewan NDP claims the decrease will drive up prices for consumers. Erika Ritchie, Saskatchewan Crown Investments Corporation critic, said this is the fourth year in a row net income is down. 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 'That's not a blip, that's a pattern of decline under this government's watch,' said Ritchie. Total revenue was up $16.4 million from the previous year at $1,364.9 million, however it was below target. Jeff Welke, SaskTel's Corporate Affairs Director, said this is due to competitive pressure in areas such as wireless networks, MaxTV and fixed broadband data services. Story continues below advertisement 'We are well-positioned. We're keeping our market share quite strong, and we do compete in a very, very hot telecommunications marketplace,' said Welke. At the close of the fiscal year, SaskTel's debt ratio also increased to 56.5 per cent, an increase of 50 basis points. The overall level of net debt increased primarily to fund continued investment in its fibre and 5G networks. The company invested $398.5 million in SaskTel InfiNet service in 2024/25. 'We're going up to communities, quite frankly, that none of our competitors would,' said Welke. 'I mean, Starlink is a competitive offering out there, however, fibre is the gold standard.'
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Sask. NDP claims of ‘inflated' local procurement misguided, province says
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building as seen on Aug. 26, 2024. (David Prisciak/CTV News) The Saskatchewan NDP is alleging that the province has been misrepresenting its procurement practices by classifying out-of-province enterprises as Saskatchewan-based businesses. The government says the Opposition's assessment is flawed. The Saskatchewan NDP shared documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request on Tuesday. The documents showed that SaskBuilds awarded 666 contracts for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Among the companies listed as 'local' were Crumb Rubber Manufacturing – based in Newport Beach, Calif. and Mitsubishi of Canada – headquartered in Ontario. The Opposition claimed that only 51 per cent of contracts went to companies headquartered in Saskatchewan – and only 58 per cent of total contract dollars flowed to Saskatchewan-based firms – which is down from the Saskatchewan Party's claims of 90 per cent local procurement. In a response Tuesday afternoon, the province called the NDP's allegations 'an irresponsible attack on Saskatchewan workers.' It went further, saying under the Opposition's definition of local businesses, Evraz wouldn't be considered a Saskatchewan company and would be excluded from government contracts – despite having a heavy presence in the province. 'They say they support Saskatchewan steel workers, but don't think they should be allowed to bid on Saskatchewan work,' the government's response read. According to the province, businesses are classified as Saskatchewan businesses if they follow certain criteria, including: Have a place of business in Saskatchewan. This place of business refers to an establishment where regular business activities are conducted on a permanent basis, is clearly identified by name and is accessible during normal business hours Employ Saskatchewan residents or sole proprietorship owned by a Saskatchewan resident Be a registered business in Saskatchewan with an Information Services Corporation profile or equivalent. The definition of a Canadian business is dictated from the federal government in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). The criteria includes: A Canadian supplier means a supplier that has a place of business in Canada A place of business means an establishment where a supplier conducts activities on a permanent basis that is clearly identified by name and accessible during normal business hours. According to the Investment Canada Act, a business carried on in Canada requires: A place of business in Canada An individual or individuals in Canada who are employed or self-employed in connection with the business Assets in Canada used in carrying on the business The province maintains that SaskBuilds awarded more than 650 procurements valued at approximately $689.5 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Around 90 per cent of that value ($617.6 million) was awarded to Saskatchewan-based companies – around 10 per cent of that value was awarded to businesses from other provinces in Canada – and around 0.1 per cent of procurement was sourced from companies in the United States. 'The NDP position on procurement would exclude many Saskatchewan companies from bidding on Saskatchewan work,' the government's response read. 'These companies employ thousands of Saskatchewan employees that build our province, pay taxes and invest in local communities.' The NDP maintained its stance in its comments Tuesday – saying that with tariff threats from both the U.S. and China – the province needs to be more committed to defending local businesses. 'You can't call a company 'Saskatchewan-based' just because they have a local mailing address,' NDP MLA Aleana Young said. 'This is a betrayal of the hardworking local businesses that support our communities and create good jobs right here at home.' The Opposition also highlighted the provincial government's decision to cease its 'Sask. First' procurement policy earlier this month. 'A move that, combined with today's revelations, confirms that they were never committed to supporting local businesses,' the NDP added.
CBC
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Sask. Opposition decries grounded firefighting planes, government blames inspections and maintenance
Social Sharing Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP repeated criticisms of the provincial government's use of water bombers on Wednesday, with the province responding that planes were grounded due to mandatory inspections and necessary maintenance. At a news conference Wednesday, the NDP focused on four firefighting aircraft in the province's fleet that have been idle during recent firefighting efforts. "Frankly, it sounded unbelievable that in the type of fire season that we've seen that it could be possible that there were planes within the provincial fleet that weren't seeing service" Saskatchewan NDP Leader Beck said on Wednesday. "I can only imagine how incredibly frustrating that is to some of the folks who lost their homes." The Saskatchewan government has four Convair 580A land-based air tankers and six CL-215T Turbine powered water bombers in its firefighting fleet, along with a host of smaller aircraft used to guide the tankers. Four of those aircraft, two air tankers and two water bombers, have been idle during the province's firefighting efforts. The NDP also previously brought attention to an additional brand new water bomber, a Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker, that the province took delivery of on May 30, but has not used yet. WATCH | Sask. blames maintenance for firefighting planes left unused: Sask. blames maintenance for firefighting planes left unused 2 hours ago Duration 2:16 Saskatchewan's Opposition is criticizing the provincial government's use of water bombers. The province said some planes were out of service due to mandatory inspections, firefighting fatigue, and a lack of available parts. In a statement on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan government said the two water bombers were grounded due to required structural inspections and the two air tankers were not used due to a lack of available parts. It also said two other water bombers were unavailable for five days due to mandatory inspections that came sooner than inspected due to heavy usage. "This is a normal part of operating any air fleet," it said of the inspections and mechanical deficiencies. "Furthermore, there is a national, critical shortage of qualified and experienced aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs). We have filled some vacancies by partnering with schools to fill positions with apprentices to build our capacity in the future." That shortage was why the Dash 8-Q400AT air tanker was bought, the statement said. Responding earlier this week to criticism of that plane's lack of usage, Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said its pilots hadn't yet been certified to fly it. Trespassing allegations On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) announced that its front-line staff had reported "a group of individuals were found attempting to trespass at SPSA air operations base in La Ronge, disrupting the work of staff and increasing the risk of endangering themselves and others." "At any time — but especially during a wildfire crisis — it is unacceptable for anyone to interfere with wildfire and emergency personnel operations," the SPSA said. Soon after that, the Saskatchewan NDP released a statement that seemed to connect that announcement with the Opposition party. On Monday, Carla Beck shot a video outside of the La Ronge Airport calling attention to the grounded planes, which the NDP released on social media the following day. On Wednesday, the NDP called the SPSA statement a "desperate, ridiculous, and a blatant attempt to distract from the fact that nearly half of their air tankers were secretly grounded during the worst wildfires in a decade." Later Wednesday, during a daily update on wildfires in the province, SPSA's president and fire commissioner Marlo Pritchard clarified that the alleged trespassing was a separate incident and did not involve the NDP video shoot. He said it involved a group of people approaching and trying to walk through a gate to the airport during the late afternoon on Monday. Pritchard also said one of the grounded air tankers should be operational by the end of June, but did not provide a timeline for the other three aircraft. Moderate weather helps firefighters: SPSA The SPSA also said during the update that moderate weather had dampened the growth of the fires. There were 17 wildfires active in the province as of the update , with four listed as contained, four not contained, seven undergoing assessment, and two with firefighters focusing on protecting valuable buildings and infrastructure. "None of the four significant fires have grown in any shape or form or have posed any new risks or threats," SPSA vice president of operations Steve Roberts said. Five communities in the province are still under evacuation orders: Cumberland House, Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake and Whelan Bay. Pritchard said about 500 homes have been lost in the fires. About half of those are classified as primary residences, while the rest are cabins and mobile homes.
Global News
16-06-2025
- General
- Global News
Sask. NDP raise concerns over lack of pilots trained to fly new water bomber
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 Saskatchewan NDP says according to public flight logs, the recently-purchased Conair Dash 8-Q400AT Airtanker has been sitting at the La Ronge airport since May 30, 2025, and no pilots have been trained to fly it. 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 The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says they had pilots in training, but because of the intense fire season, they needed to stop to help on the front lines. Global's Nicole Healey has the full story in the video above.
Global News
24-04-2025
- Global News
Saskatchewan changes trespassing laws to allow quicker police response
The Saskatchewan government has passed new regulations aimed at giving police more power to enforce trespassing laws. Under the new rules, activities such as public intoxication and drug use will now automatically be considered trespassing in public spaces or businesses. Police will be able to remove someone and, if necessary, charge them with an offence such as public intoxication, use of controlled substance, threatening to cause harm and more. Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan's justice minister, said the new rules will ensure that police can act quickly when it comes to individuals who are posing a threat to themselves or others. 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 'This will allow police to immediately enforce the Act against individuals who are causing public disturbance or threatening public safety without seeking further information from owners and occupants of the premises.' Story continues below advertisement Anna Gardikiotis, who helps run the Copper Kettle in Regina, said the new rules could help deescalate situations for businesses. 'If it's just another tool that they can use to physically remove people from the situation, that is another way of deescalating the situation. But being judicious with the degree of force and things like that (are important) and part of what they can do.' She said increased police presence in the downtown area has helped customers and business owners feel more safe. The province hopes the new regulations help address addictions and protect businesses from drug use. The changes come after two library branches in Saskatoon were closed to the public last month due to overdoses inside and outside the library. The Saskatchewan NDP said the new legislation doesn't address the root cause of mental health and addiction supports. 'The whole reason that bus drivers and library workers are being forced to deal with drugs and addictions is because the Sask. Party is essentially defunding frontline services and local police,' they said in a statement
