Sask. to scrap law allowing for partial sale of Crown corporations

Saskatchewan's premier says his government will repeal a controversial law that would have allowed for the partial sale of Crown corporations.

Brad Wall made the announcement on his social media feeds, on the eve of the fall sitting of the legislature. 

"We've heard you, Saskatchewan," said Wall in the video posted to Facebook and Twitter. 

The Opposition says the premier is not a very good listener if he is only realizing now the extent of people's anger with the controversial legislation.

"You know it's something we've been hearing loud and clear from Saskatchewan people since the moment this bill was tabled," said Nicole Sarauer, interim leader of the Saskatchewan NDP.

"So it took the premier 363 days to finally listen to Saskatchewan people."

'We have heard you': Wall

Bill 40, introduced by the government in the assembly nearly a year ago, created a legal definition of privatization.

It would have allowed for the partial sale of a Crown without requiring a vote of support from the people of the province.

Up to 49 per cent of each Crown, such as SaskTel and SaskPower, could have been up for grabs to private shareholders, without technically being "privatized."

Wall said that definition simply mirrored the World Bank definition of "privatization," but Saskatchewan people did not approve.

"Our MLAs have heard directly from you and I have heard directly from you that you don't agree with that definition," Wall said.

"You believe the sale of any stake, any part of a Crown corporation, is privatization and that that would be counter to an important promise we've made in three different election campaigns. And I just want you to know that we have heard you."

Wall said the throne speech on Wednesday will confirm that Bill 40 is being scrapped.