We have a choice by Doug Taylor

We have a choice

Saskatchewan citizens have a tradition of supporting policies which keep profits and jobs here. These policies create more equal access to services and a fairer division of our collective wealth. Crown Corporations – Through our elected repre sentatives we have owned and still control some of the development of our resources such as: electricity, gas, water, telephone, oil, potash, pulp and paper, car insurance, and crop insurance. As a result, citizens in remote and rural areas have better access to our public goods and services. Those profits make services like healthcare, education and highways more affordable for all. Provincial Public Services – Through our own people working for us we built and maintain: universal healthcare, hospitals, long-term care facilities, primary and secondary schools, universities; regional colleges and technical institutes, social services; roads and highways, prisons and courts. Local Public Services – Rural and urban municipal governments developed services which are delivered by our neighbours, including: garbage collection, water treatment and sewer systems, streets and traffic signs, snow removal, public transporta tion, firefighting and police. Co-operatives – People formed collectives, particularly in rural Saskatchewan, to manage and provide goods and services such as groceries, fuel, childcare, farm production and distribution (like the former Wheat Pool and Wheat Board). When development is in the hands of the private sector, we support collecting royalties, fees and taxes from corporations for the privilege of taking our resources. These returns help to pay for a variety of things, like highways, schools and hospitals.

Saskatchewan is: • Rich in natural resources • Covered with precious wildlife habitat • Well positioned to develop renewable energy • Built on a strong tradition of cooperation and community spirit • Committed to solutions that benefit us all, regardless of where we live So why are we increasingly allowing corporations and their CEOs to take the profits of their operations, and the benefits from those profits, outside of Saskatchewan, while poverty and homelessness increase?

ses sines u b big f llow pieces o a e w l l ld se see Shou buy and as they of to ince ople at v e o p r e e th our p ould th eopl rst h p s e r h he fi fit, o ewan, t s in t ions? h e c c t r a Sask he resou se decis t o own make th , e plac

Heads up A social or green economy puts people and our choices first — we can have a say about economic development and the preservation of the environment. A free market economy leaves those decisions and power in the hands of corporations whose reason to exist is to maximize private profits.

The government is shifting public policy to the private sector Saskatchewan signs NWP

CETA: another trade deal

In 2010, the Saskatchewan government signed the New West Partnership (NWP), an agreement with B.C. and Alberta. It allows private businesses from B.C. and Alberta to sue Saskatchewan if we decide to make laws and policies that those companies don’t like (e.g. environmental and procurement policies). Financial penalties can be up to $5 million.

At a time when many European countries are in financial crisis, the Canadian government is about to further integrate the economies of Canada and the European Union by signing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). It could allow European corporations to sue the government of Saskatchewan for rights to our natural resources. The Saskatchewan government is actively participating in 2011 CETA negotiations.

Tilma 2: The NWP is virtually identical to the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) that the current government said it would not sign when still the Official Opposition.

Who wins in a free market economy?

The NWP also: • sets rules specifically for Saskatchewan Crown Corporations that do not apply in Alberta or B.C. • forces Saskatchewan small businesses to compete with large corporations from the other provinces for contracts with Crowns or municipalities in our own province. • harmonizes workplace training standards and regulations, effectively reducing them to the lowest level. (The New West Partnership Trade Agreement: Something New, Borrowed, or Blue? cupe.ca)

NWP and the tale of shale The gap between the rich and the poor is growing more than ever.

As part of the NWP, in December 2010 the Saskatchewan government agreed to collaborate with Alberta and B.C. on the expansion of hydraulic fracture technology. In the wake of widespread concerns that this shale gas drilling technology results in major groundwater and land contamination, the Alberta government colluded with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, one of Canada’s most powerful lobby groups, to “manage public opinion” about the risks of shale gas drilling. This technology requires massive amounts of fresh water, yet best practices and regulations for it don’t really exist. (thetyee.ca/News/2011/08/19)

Did you know ? 3

received Canada’s top 100 CEOs pay an average 13 per cent included increase in 2010. This increase an average 20 per cent s. Did in annual cash bonuse nt pay you receive a 13 per ce e and increase last year? (Glob Mail, May 29th, 2011)

Saskatchewan has a Saskatchewan government focuses on nuclear energy

Saskatchewan’s most prominent sources of energy including oil and natural gas are in decline, even as our population grows.

When the government was elected in 2007 it implemented a pro-nuclear agenda. It explored a public-private partnership with Bruce Power out of Ontario to build nuclear reactors here. The province spent millions of dollars on feasibility studies and recommendations, much of which was spent prior to holding any form of consultation with the public. When the government was pushed to hold public meetings on nuclear expansion, the community said ‘no’. The people of the province weren’t willing to spend $16 billion, or 1.5 times the provincial annual budget, on a technology they did not have confidence in. (www.cleangreensask.ca)

Alert! Saskatchewan faces major energy challenges as a party to the Canada-U.S. free trade agreement. Under the agreement, American companies are entitled to a fixed share of all energy extracted in our province. Even when supplies go down, we have lost the ability to make sure our own local needs are met. American corporations have been shipping our oil and natural gas south across the border as fast as they can ever since the agreement was signed.

Did you know ?

Newsflash: pipeline protests

Many nations, including Japan , Germany, Chin a, Indonesia, Switzerland, an d Italy, are turning away from nuclear power, especia lly in light of the meltdown s at Fukushim a in Japan.

Facts Nuclear waste from reactors is extremely hazardous now and for hundreds of thousands of years. The radioactive and chemical hazards will outlast the containers and, over time, the wastes — which even the nuclear industry agrees must be strictly isolated from the environ ment — will be released. Transportation of nuclear fuel waste will come with its own set of hazards and risks.

National environmental groups and unions, Aboriginal communities and prominent celebrities are staging one of the most significant protests in decades at the White House. They are trying to stop the proposed dirty oil pipeline, allowed under NAFTA, which will run from the Alberta Tar Sands to Texas. They warn it will lead to massive contamination of water, natural habitats, conservation lands and potentially one of the most serious environmental disasters in North America. They are calling instead for resources to be used to create jobs building clean water and distribution systems for local communities.

The concept of burying nuclear waste failed an environmental assessment review in Canada. No other country has actually built, approved and begun to use such a facility. (Know Nuclear Waste: A Public Interest Project, knownuclearwaste.ca) 4

serious energy crisis: Nuclear waste storage dump in whose back yard?

Saskatchewan’s oilsands? An estimated 27,000 square kilometres of north western Saskatchewan — an area larger than Lake Erie — has oilsands potential.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), an Ontario company, is targeting Aboriginal communities in Saskatchewan as possible sites for nuclear waste storage dumps. The waste would have to travel from Ontario across our highways.

“Since 2004, Oilsands Quest has been focusing on aggressive exploration and delineation pro grams on its oilsands exploration permits and licences in northwestern Saskatchewan. We are conducting the first major oilsands exploration program in the province’s history, and we are leading the development of an oilsands industry in Saskatchewan.” (www.oilsandsquest.com/our_ projects/sask_oil_sands.html) Exploration in northwestern Saskatchewan near La Loche has proceeded in the absence of a regional land use plan and before regional environmental monitoring is in place or rules to protect air, land and water have been identified. Because Saskatchewan’s oilsands deposits are in situ, too deep for surface mining, environmental impacts will include: very high greenhouse gas emissions; major impacts to forests and wildlife; use of large stores of water; large-scale water contamination.

Walk Against Nuclear Waste, August 2011: The Committee for Future Generations marched from Pinehouse to the legislature in Regina, to demand a provincewide ban against nuclear waste storage and transportation.

Did you know ?

The government’s record on oilsands development

ec have and Queb a b o it n a lear M ort of nuc p im e th d banne wan Saskatche e h T . te s a rule w refusing to is t n e m govern storing sibility of s o p e th t vince. ou in our pro te s a w r a nucle the petition in a e it p s e D that d the fact n a re tu la legis s across mmunitie o c l ra e v e have s katchewan s a S rn e h Nort uclear ppose a n o to d te o v ergy dump, En e g ra to s te was ter Bill rces Minis and Resou nd ’s a wait a It “ s y a s , d Boy News, ach.” (CBC see appro , 2010) August 17

1. The mandate letter from the Premier to the Minister Responsible for Energy and Resources states as its first priority the government’s commitment to developing Saskatchewan’s conventional oil and oilsands resources. 2. The government has not adequately consulted the people of Saskatchewan on their vision for oilsands development in the province. He Said It: When Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the U.S. House was critical of oilsands develop ment because of the immense impact on the environment, Premier Wall said, “There’s export markets for our oil other than America” (thesheaf. com, December 4th, 2010).

Should our environ Column of doom

Which Way Forward?

A Heavy Price: Not only does deep extraction take an extremely heavy toll on the environment, it also consumes huge amounts of energy. Alberta, for example, is even talking about building a nuclear reactor just to power their oilsands development. (reuters.com, March 15th, 2011)

“At a time when the international scientific consensus recognizes the need to make reductions in greenhouse gas pollution, oilsands development in Saskatchewan would mean we would be heading in the opposite direction.” (Peter Prebble, Saskatchewan Environmental Society)

Keep Your Garbage In Your Own Province! 70 per cent of the 150,000 tonnes of pollution that causes acid rain, produced in the oilsands, blows into Saskatchewan each year. (ctv.ca, December 22, 2010).

“Saskatchewan is already feeling the effects of Alberta’s oilsands boom, as lakes and forests are exposed to acid rain that is brought in by prevailing winds. This could be magnified if Saskatchewan oilsands development proceeds in the absence of appropriate rules to protect the environment.” (Carbon Copy: Preventing Oilsands Fever in Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) in conjunction with the Pembina Institute and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, August 2009)

A Sad Fact: The Alberta oilsands development represents the single largest industrial contribution to climate change in North America. (oilsandstruth.org) Toxic Ponds: In October of 2010, oil joint-venture project Syncrude was fined almost $3 million for the massive duck kill of April 2008. In a single month 1600 ducks were killed after landing on the toxic tailing ponds in northern Alberta, which are an unavoidable consequence of oilsands extraction in its current form.

Can we learn from Alberta’s mistakes? Prior to development, the Carbon Copy authors recommend that Saskatchewan should: • undertake regional land use planning and establish conservation areas in northwest Saskatchewan • map aquifers near potential oilsands develop ment and put rules in place to prevent ground water contamination • implement a more effective regulatory system and a stronger greenhouse gas management plan • ensure development of a royalty regime that maximizes benefits to the Saskatchewan public

“Canada is a developed country with ‘high’ human rights standards yet the tar sands development is slow genocide for First Nations living within the extraction zone.” (Lionel Lepine, member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, during a First Nations delegation to France to discuss impacts of oilsands development on northern communities, May 2011)

• along with the federal government, genuinely fulfill its duty to consult affected First Nation and Métis people. (Carbon Copy, 2009)

ment pay the price? Is Saskatchewan a major polluter?

Why is the government selling off conservation land?

Canada’s greenhouse gas footprint: 20 tonnes per capita Saskatchewan’s greenhouse gas footprint: 71 tonnes per capita (CCPA Saskatchewan, 2011)

In 2010, the Saskatchewan government passed legislation that greatly reduces the amount of Crown land that is set aside specifically as wildlife habitat or as land to be conserved.

Saskatchewan

The legislation gives the Minister of the Environment the authority to abolish the conservation or habitat status of Crown land, and sell it off to private interests, without having to get the approval of the legislature.

has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any province

“We have been pushing to halt the sale of lands, for example, or put a moratorium on any new (oil and gas) permits in Saskatchewan until we talk about duty to consult and that’s not happening.” (Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN), Leader Post, June 16, 2010)

in Canada.

How about renewable energy sources that pollute less? “The province could complement wind and solar power with other renewable energy options such as using fuels of biological origin like biomass and biochar, dammed and run-of-the-river hydroelec tricity, concentrated solar thermal technology, advanced energy storage and other hybrid systems.” (Plugging the Gap: Sustainable Power Options to Complement Wind and Solar, Mark BiglandPritchard, June 2011) “Our province is blessed with a remarkable array of wind, solar, small-scale hydro and biomass resources for our population size. The time has come to fully utilize these resources to build a renewable energy economy. Not only could this be an important source of job creation and community based economic development, but it could also be part of Saskatchewan’s larger plan to reduce its greenhouse gas pollution, something every jurisdiction on Earth must do if dangerous climate change is to be avoided.” (Transforming Saskatchewan’s Electrical Future: the Public Policies Needed to Build a Renewable Energy Society in Saskatchewan, Peter Prebble, July 2011) 7

Are we good stewards of our natural resources? Companies that extract natural resources in Saskatchewan, and elsewhere, are required to pay rent for profiting from them.

The story of potash • The Saskatchewan people owned the Potash Corporation until 1989 when it was privatized. The profits used to stay with the people; now they are in private hands.

Royalties and other fees and taxes that corporations pay to the province, for the privilege of taking our resources, help to pay for infrastructure, goods and services for everyone.

• In 2010, the (private) Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS) reported a gross margin of approximately $1.6 billion from Saskatchewan potash mines. But PCS paid only $77 million in royalties, or 5 per cent of what they took in.

As our natural resources are extracted from the ground, cut from the forests, or drawn from lakes, and sold, the people of Saskatchewan are entitled to a significant portion of the benefits.

• Today potash is six times as profitable as in the year 2000 and potash prices have tripled since 2004, but PCS continues to pay the exact same flat royalty rate of $77 million. PCS’s income from Saskatchewan potash has increased by $1.3 billion, but the people of the province are not receiving a dime more in royalties. (The Progressive Economics Forum, February 10th, 2011)

Private, for-profit companies will take as much profit as they can.

Did you know ?

ewan In 2007, Saskatch 4.4 billion companies sold $1 ince’s natural worth of our prov ly paid resources, but on yalties, or $1.8 billion in ro ’s like a real 13 per cent. That your house estate agent selling u 13 per and only giving yo ds! (The cent of the procee ics Forum, Progressive Econom 08) October 26th, 20

Ask the People: A January 2011 poll of Saskatch ewan residents found that nearly 70 per cent of people are in favour of raising royalty rates on corporations that extract resources in our province. Nearly 80 per cent of respondents favoured raising royalty rates on corporations that move head office jobs out of Saskatchewan (cupe.ca)

If we raised resource royalties … imaginewhatwecoulddo.com 8

Our most precious resource: water Does self-regulation work?

As economic activity continues to accelerate and our population continues to rise, water is increas ingly necessary. But supply is becoming scarce in some parts of the province.

A University of Toronto study found “inadequate oversight and enforcement by local govern ment and a provincial regulatory agency, We also face serious threats to our water Saskatchewan and budget reductions imposed by the communities systems from agriculture, industry, provincial government” were among the under PDWAs domestic contamination, mining, biggest factors in the North Battleford or EBWOs forestry, and the effects of climate water disaster. (Journal of Reliability (as of August 2011): change. Abernethy, Atton’s Lake, Engineering and System Safety, June Ceylon, Coderre, Courtney Lake, 2003) Many areas, including a large Craik, Creelman, Cumberland House, number of Northern and Darling’s Beach, Dore Lake, Duck Lake, Should we allow industrial Duff, Grayson, Halbrite, Greenstreet, Hazlet, Aboriginal communities, have players to re-plumb our rivers Hillmond, Hepburn, *Humboldt, Huron Colony, contaminated water supplies. and watersheds — using up Kenaston, Khedive, Killaly, Kuroki, Livelong, Some have been under provin valuable water resources and *Lumsden, MacNutt, Manor, McCord, Maryfield, cial water advisories for more *Melfort, Meota, Minton, *Moose Jaw, Ormiston, forever affecting our natural than a decade. Patuanak, Paynton, Pleasantdale, Radville, *Redvers, environment — or do we Semans, Storthoaks, Stoughton, Tobin Lake, turn to other solutions, like There are currently 184 Tramping Lake, Turnor Lake, Uranium City, conservation efforts? active Precautionary Drinking Waseca, Welwyn, *Wilkie, Yarbo Water Advisories (PDWAs) *Sections only Saskatchewan is thirsty or Emergency Boil Water Advisories (EBWOs) in Saskatchewan for a solution that puts the (including those for individual wells, well-being of communities lodges, provincial parks, rural municipalities, before private profits. We can: water cooperatives, mining operations, and other • create jobs to build safe water supply and businesses). distribution systems

Water Threat

• create laws and regulations that preserve and protect our water

In 2009, the Saskatchewan government tried to undermine SaskWater’s regulatory authority by giving water providers the power to “self-regulate” (what it called “results-based regulation”).

Did you know ?

water? e v r e s n o c y h W so much. ly n o is e r e h T ed with ample

ss an we are ble ada’s fresh In Saskatchew n per ce t of Can n ve se — er ater in fresh wat all the fresh w f o t n ce er p water and 1.5 the world. available Earth’s water is e th f o t n ce Only 1 per ewan Eco ater. (Saskatch w g n ki n ri d h as fres net.ca) Network, eco

SaskWater is th e Crown Corporation re sponsible for providing and treating water in our province . They deliver water to comm unities to whic h it would not b e profitable to supply water if left to private companies.

The more power given to the free market, Recently, there’s been an immense increase in economic activity in some parts of the province, but for most of us, things in our everyday lives have simply become more difficult to afford. And for more and more of us, hunger, homelessness and poverty are a grim reality.

people of Saskatchewan at rates far below what exist in the private sector. Saskatchewan enjoys the lowest personal auto insurance rates in Canada and prior to 2007 the lowest utility bundle. Through public ownership, we are uniquely positioned in Saskatchewan to make economic decisions that are in the best interests of people and not a CEO’s bottom line.

The cost of housing is just one example. The aver age two-bedroom house in Saskatchewan rented for $600 in 2006 (just before the last provincial election), but now rents for around $880. That’s an increase of 47 per cent!

er g n u h , y t r e v o P s s e n s s e l e m o and h on the rise

The average cost to purchase a home in Saskatch ewan is about $251,000, while it cost only $132,000 in 2006, an increase of 90 per cent (CanEquity, March 11th, 2011 and Saskatoon Housing Bubble, April 16, 2011)

Food Banks: Saskatchewan assisted 18,875 people 9 in March 200 assisted 22,662 people 0 in March 201 increase That’s a 20% 2010 from 2009 to 0, In March 201 children assisted were 44% of those Canada) 0, Food Banks 1 0 2 t n u o rC (Hunge

The cost of fuel and food is also rising. As the cost of living continues to increase in our province, it will become more important than ever for our Crown Corporations, at the direction of the government, to be strong players in their respective markets and to continue to offer services to the

ce 2009 Privatized Singy and

SaskEner - SaskPower, ne locates li el T Sask Television - SaskTel Max lations Service Instal eed tellite High Sp - SaskTel SaSe e ic Internet rv ion power generat of - Nearly 10% os cl ed Power offices - 20% of Sask rator Services - SaskTel Ope - Heritage Gas ies - Some surger Canada - DirectWest - AgDealer uare - Saskatoon Sq ations an Communic - Saskatchew ) Network (SCN s ic L ense Plate - SGI General production lie shares in Char - SGI Canadaantic Adjusting (AAA) Cook, Atl e Finance (MFA) and Maritim Network - Hospitality - Navigata CUPE Saskatchewan

.ca SOSCrowns – courtesY

Did you know ? 10

In 2009, Regin a had the worst vacancy rate in Canad a at 0.6 per cen t. As of April 2011, at 0.7 p er cent, we still do (Canad a Mortgage and Housing Corporation). Students, senio rs and people on fixed incom es are squeeze d the most. The Saskatchewan government h as the ability to stabilize re nt increases through regula tions, but has done nothing about it.

the greater the strain on social conditions

Homelessness in Regina

Poverty costs us all

• The average number of occupied homeless shelter beds, on a daily basis, rose by 44.5 per cent between 2008 and 2010.

The private and social costs of poverty in Canada result in $7.6 billion in extra healthcare costs; $1-2 billion in costs of increased crime and $35-42 billion in lost productivity costs. In Ontario alone, the social and private costs of poverty are estimated to be equal to 5.5 to 6.5 per cent of the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (The Cost of Poverty: An Analysis of the Economic Costs of Poverty in Ontario. Ontario Association of Food Banks, 2008)

• 2,686 individuals stayed in a shelter in our province at least once during that time. • The number of unique individuals that accessed an emergency bed at least once increased 15.7 per cent between 2008 and 2010.

If, like in Ontario, poverty costs Saskatchewan around 6 per cent of GDP, then the overall cost of poverty in our province is around $2.2 billion and climbing.

• Those that stayed in a shelter only once during the specified period did so for an average of 56.2 days. • Women and men between the ages of 25 and 34 represented the largest group to access shelter beds in 2010.

Facts

• Among all shelter service providers studied, homeless shelters in Regina were operating at 92.9 per cent of capacity on average, regardless of weather conditions. (Homeless Individuals and Family Information System, www.hrsdc.gc.ca)

Did you know ?

“Poverty can be eliminated. Other provinces and countries have reduced economic inequality through the development of antipoverty programs. Since developing and implementing its 2006 poverty reduction action plan, Newfoundland and Labrador have taken the lead in poverty reduction, setting a new precedent for poverty reduction rates in Canada. Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario have also adopted comprehensive anti-poverty programs in recent years.”

ximately In 2008, appro ren chewan child 33,000 Saskat y. lived in povert Research (Social Policy ty of Regina, Unit, Universi 10) November 20

Saskatchewan has no legislated anti-poverty action plan. (Let’s Do Something About Poverty! PovertyFree Saskatchewan, October 2010, www. povertyfreesask.ca)

Our government’s policies determine what our economy and environment look like. These policies in turn affect our daily lives and those of future generations, in the most fundamental of ways. Do you support the government’s direction and choices? Saskatchewan does not belong to any politician, political party or government – it belongs to the people. If you don’t consent to the shift from public responsibility to private profiteering …

What can you do?

Become part of the SFL Labour Issues campaign at www.labourissues.sfl.sk.ca Visit us on Facebook: SFL Labour Issues Campaign Follow us on Twitter: @SFLLabourIssues

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Talk to your co-workers, friends and family about the issues. Contact your MLA and share your concerns (www.legassembly.sk.ca/members/mla_list.htm). Book a presentation for your workplace, union or community group about this booklet, and on the other booklets in our campaign, including: • • • • •

Labour Rights, Human Rights … What’s Happening in Saskatchewan? Healthcare … What’s Happening in Saskatchewan? Defending Our Crown Corporations & Public Services Education … What’s Happening in Saskatchewan? Act on the Facts (Anti-CLAC)

Order and distribute the booklets; available through the SFL office or online at www.labourissues.sfl.sk.ca.

We can come for lunch meetings or evening meetings … no matter the size!

The SFL represents approximately 98,000 workers in Saskatchewan. 220 – 2445 13th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 0W1 Phone (306) 525-0197 • Fax (306) 525-8960 Visit the SFL Labour Issues campaign website at www.labourissues.sfl.sk.ca or e-mail sfl@sfl.sk.ca

CUPE 4828 September 2011