SASKATCHEWAN CALLS ON PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR FAIR ENERGY ACCORD

Premier Lorne Calvert today outlined the initial elements of the "Raise a Flag for Fairness" campaign for a fair Energy Accord for Saskatchewan.

"Saskatchewan deserves a fair Energy Accord with the federal government that allows us to keep our oil and gas revenue in the province," Calvert said. "The first objective is to report to the public on our progress toward an accord, and secondly to engage and mobilize our strongest asset – Saskatchewan people – in the effort."

On the weekend, the province launched a print media campaign and web site (www.raiseaflag.ca) designed to inform and make it easy for people to make their voices heard by sending a message to the federal government.

The campaign will include ads in Saskatchewan weeklies and national newspapers, including the Globe and Mail, and the Ottawa Citizen. Radio and television ads, webcasts, polling, an online petition, information flyers, decals and flags are planned.

Calvert said a Saskatchewan Energy Accord would exclude one-time oil and gas revenues from claw back through the current equalization formula, just as the Atlantic Accord does for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. An Accord for Saskatchewan could mean hundreds of millions of dollars every year would stay in the province rather than wind up in federal coffers.

"It is an issue of fairness. We believe it is appropriate for residents of Atlantic Canada to retain 100 per cent of their energy revenues. We believe that Saskatchewan residents should receive the same treatment. How are we different?" Calvert asked.

The federal government claws back, on average, about 90 per cent of all provincial royalties and taxes collected on oil and gas developments. In some years, Saskatchewan has lost in excess of 100 per cent of all provincial energy revenues. A Saskatchewan Accord, similar to the Atlantic Accord, would have meant over $4 billion for this province during the last 10 years.

"The Prime Minister and the federal Finance Minister are responsible for ensuring fair treatment for all Canadians when it comes to our resource revenue," Calvert said. "They delivered fairness to the people of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador through the Atlantic Accord. We are saying that Saskatchewan also deserves fairness."

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Jay Branch Media Services Regina Phone: (306) 787-6349 Cell: (306) 539-3994