PUBLIC WORKS AND SERVICE ACT INTRODUCED

The Public Works and Services Act, 2004 was introduced today in the Legislature.

This Act, along with a companion Act, The Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation Repeal Act, will set the stage to transform Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation (SPMC) from its current Treasury Board Crown structure to that of a department of Executive Government.

"Today, departments of Executive Government can operate in ways that they were not able to back in 1986, when SPMC was created as a Treasury Board Crown. For example, departments are now able to amortize capital expenditures, which means the cost of acquiring or upgrading an asset is spread over the span of its useful life. When SPMC was formed as a Treasury Board Crown, this was not the case for departments," Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation Deb Higgins said.

"Another example is that the recent change to the Financial Administration Act now provides departments more financial flexibility to offer services and recover costs by charging for the services used. With these changes having taken place, it is no longer necessary for SPMC to be a Treasury Board Crown."

The repeal Act will transfer SPMC staff, as well as its contracts and obligations, to Executive Government, dissolve the corporation and repeal The Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation Act.

The new Public Works and Service Act consolidates and updates legislation dealing with land and buildings that were previously part of The Saskatchewan Property Management Act and The Public Works Act.

The transition to department status will take place April 1st, 2005, at which time the organization's name will change to Department of Property Management.

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For More Information, Contact:

Nadine Sisk Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation Regina Phone: (306) 787-9225