S4P 0M8
Attention: Mr. Alan G. McIntyre
Dear Sirs:
Re: PC Party Trust
Your Reference: 546668.1
Your letter dated September 10. 2009, addressed to various individuals whom you referred to as “the Trustees of the PC Party of Saskatchewan as of 1997” has been forwarded to myself as President of the Party, and to the Leader, Mr. Rick Swenson.
In my capacity as the President of the Party, I wish to point out that I, Lori Isinger, am the registered President of the Party in accordance with the Elections Act. At the Party’s A.G.M. in 2006-not 2004 as you allege, both Mr. Swenson and I, were legally elected by the respondents to a mass mailing of 1996 P.C. members. Our mandates have been extended in the election held in conjunction with the Party’s 2008 A.G.M.
Persons purporting to act for the PC Party have misconstrued, misrepresented and amended the terms of the Trust. Your office and you, Mr. McIntyre, appear to continue this procedure thus causing undue and inappropriate costs. Monies have been spent, which the duly constituted Party, of which I am President and Mr. Swenson is the Leader, has not received proper accounting. This also is an infraction against the terms of the Trust.
The Trust was set up with one purpose, namely, to provide for the continuance of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, [PC Party] .It appears several of the Trustees have been acting in manners which are contrary to that intention and for the interests of the PC Party of Saskatchewan. Some of the Trustees have acted as Campaign Managers, Fundraisers, and Campaign Workers for members of a different provincial political party. Many of them are also over the retirement age of 70-a term of the Trust
This is clearly and unequivocally contrary to the spirit and intention with which the Trust was set up. They therefore have disqualified themselves as ‘Trustees”. They have also ignored notice of their retirement and replacement as Trustees of the Trust as legally rendered by the President and Leader in compliance of the Trust’s terms.
For you to suggest that the Trust would fund a meeting with one of its intentions being that of the “dissolution of the PC Party of Saskatchewan” is obviously contrary to the purposes and intention of the Trust Fund. It is not only a breach of trust, but also a blatant provocation to dishonour the moral and legal obligations of the Trust and the Trustees who swore/affirmed their commitment upon accepting the responsibilities as Trustees.
The fact that the individuals controlling the Fund had previously provided funds to flow to the PC Party of Saskatchewan with some of the present officers and suddenly, provocatively and without just reason, caused the flow of these funds to cease, doesn’t make sense. This was contrary to any reasonable protocol. At the very least it is questionable procedure and at most it appears to be illegal and morally reprehensible. To purport that the present Party is not a continuation of the pre 1997 Party is nothing more than a flimsy alibi., and a stalling tactic.
Let us suggest to you, Mr. McIntyre, that the Party has always continued and, is legally constituted. For reasons set forth at a meeting, members of the Party chose not to run a full slate of candidates in the last election. We now intend to be involved in every riding and to put forth reasonable and proper policies which will provide the citizens of the province a choice, and will justify the election of a PC Government in Saskatchewan.
Accordingly, we ask that funds from the PC Party Trust be provided to the PC Party of Saskatchewan, of which I have the honour of being elected President, in accordance with tradition and terms of the Trust.
We agree that the Trustees are “in a no-win situation” This has been a self-inflicted situation as they have continued to act long after they have defiled the terms of the Trust. On behalf of the Party I demand that you advise your clients to cease and desist and to officially resign by informing the Party thus allowing the democratic process to prevail.
Yours truly,
Lori Isinger, President
Thank you Mr. Perrins for giving myself as Leader, and the members of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, the opportunity to express our views on the development of our rich uranium resources.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, both in government and out, has had firmly held views and beliefs for a long period of time on this subject. During this presentation, I will elaborate on those views and bring some historical perspective to back-up our presentation.
Our members have attended some of the open public meetings, spoken at them and read the material provided by the Uranium Development Partnership.
Mr. Perrins, you should be congratulated for guiding a public process handed down to you by the current provincial government. You have led by example – it’s too bad the Saskatchewan Party government did not do the same. It almost seems the government wanted the process to turn into a confrontational gong show between its supporters and the long-standing anti-nuke crowd which has deep roots in this province and which in the past, has successfully stopped various forms of development of our uranium resource. In fact, it seems the whole process has devolved into arguments for or against a nuclear power plant somewhere in the province owned and operated by Bruce Power.
We in the Progressive Conservative Party believe the uranium-nuclear debate must be much broader in perspective and at the end of the day, should focus on the economics of this resource which is owned by the people of this province and should be developed so that the greatest amount of economic reward is spread among the people of this province. Simply building a nuclear power plant will not accomplish this by itself and in fact, may simply result in high power bills for the average Saskatchewan family, farmers and smaller communities which already struggle with their bills.
The Progressive Conservative government of 1982-1991 saw the need to expand their uranium mandate that had been in place under previous NDP governments. That focus was very narrow and restricted to mining with a large government presence in the industry headed by a crown corporation called SMDC.
Saskatchewan taxpayers could not afford to foot the entire bill to expand the uranium business. The decision to create a new entity – a public company called Cameco to combine the assets of Eldorado Nuclear and SMDC was made to allow the uranium industry to grow and prosper combining the best of public ownership and the disciplines of the marketplace.
I, as Minister of Energy and Mines, had the privilege and responsibility to work with the President and Board of Directors of Cameco to make sure the first public offering on the TSE was successful. It was, as was the second offering. The people of Saskatchewan received nearly a billion dollars in shares – shares which were sold off by successive NDP governments primarily to bring about balanced budgets before elections – but monies returned to the people of Saskatchewan nevertheless. This does not include the taxes and royalties generated by the uranium business on an annual basis or the employment created. Saskatchewan has clearly been a winner on all accounts by the creation of Cameco, a Saskatchewan-based company now working around the world.
Finally, after 18 years, a Saskatchewan government has decided it is time to look at the future of the uranium industry and for the first time since 1991, talk about more than mining. The PC Party thought this discussion should have taken place before the last election and attempted to organize a Leaders’ Debate so that all the Party Leaders could lay out their prospective positions before Saskatchewan voters went to the polls to elect a new government. Unfortunately, that debate did not take place. In fact, nuclear issues were all but ignored and shoved under the carpet of political double talk.
The PC Party’s position on uranium development has appeared in print and on our website at pcsask.ca under the title Sask Uranium – The Power of Change – in a comprehensive look at the industry.
We in the PC Party like to refer to it as an “Earth-to-Earth” policy because it covers the industry from exploration and mining, refining and manufacturing, power generation and environmental stewardship to reinturnment in eco-friendly storage facilities all to the benefit of Saskatchewan people.
The PC Party of Saskatchewan believes firstly, Saskatchewan must grow its economy and create long-term, well-paid employment to keep our sons and daughters living here, raising families here and being the taxpayers of the future in a growing province. Uranium could be a large part of that puzzle. The technology required in this endeavour means our universities and technological institutes will need to produce a constant stream of highly trained and motivated professionals and trades people to handle the challenges of this endeavour. The returns to government through taxation and royalties where you can punch the cash register through the entire uranium cycle ensures that there is a continuing return to the people of Saskatchewan for health, education and the services we all wish to enjoy.
Secondly, this uranium cycle management would put Saskatchewan squarely at the forefront of combating climate change and nuclear proliferation. We have all heard the predictions of the dire consequences to our world if we don’t do something about greenhouse gases and the pollution of our atmosphere caused by the over use of fossil fuels on this ever more populated planet. The spectre of persistent famine, drought, drowned coastlines and the disappearance of dozens of animal species like our wonderful and magnificent polar bears means we have an obligation to our children, to our country and to our world to do things differently. Nuclear power is one way we can dramatically begin to alter that balance back to a manageable level because of the zero emissions to the atmosphere of greenhouse gases. New technologies in nuclear power plants around the world such as the “Pebble Bed Reactor” will ensure the growth of the industry in a safe environment.
Thirdly, by signing contracts with governments and companies around the world that would see Saskatchewan mined, refined and packaged uranium used to generate electrical power and then returned to a jurisdiction committed to nuclear non-proliferation, we can ensure that none of the by-products of nuclear power could be used by the nutcases of the world to commit nuclear blackmail or worse yet, use the technology to settle ideological or religious scores with the rest of us.
Saskatchewan people can harvest riches beyond our wildest dreams with this resource for hundreds of years to come. We only need to use the common sense, innovation and strong work ethics which built this province to succeed. We must accept our responsibility to the rest of Canada and the world when we profit from our resources by being part of the solution in a larger world drive for sustainable energy supplies and security.
The Uranium Development Partnership and its government backers have let the public of Saskatchewan down by not having a greater discussion on the economic potential for Saskatchewan taxpayers and the advances in nuclear technology which are occurring around the world. No one explained what the potential price of a pound of Saskatchewan-produced uranium could be if that product were sold with the clear understanding that the product would be returned to Saskatchewan once its use in a nuclear power plant was finished.
We in the PC Party of Saskatchewan believe a significant premium could be extracted from the market place by offering what would be a one-of-a-kind contract to potential buyers of Saskatchewan uranium. We believe, and my own experiences as Minister of Energy and Mines while touring most of the uranium mining and milling operations in northern Saskatchewan including a ride down in the two-man bucket to the original test mine at Cigar Lake tells me that Saskatchewan is ideally suited to be the site of a comprehensive nuclear storage site.
In fact, Saskatchewan can do very nicely economically, create thousands of jobs and be a world leader by simply mining and storing its own products.
In our view, the relationships that are necessary for constructing a comprehensive, eco-friendly storage facility should be a combined public-private endeavour so that all the social safety concerns and appropriate regulatory regimes are covered off.
First Nations and Metis people in northern Saskatchewan must have the opportunity for jobs, technological training and the ability to become shareholders. A strong economic stake goes a long way to mitigating the old adage “not in my backyard”.
Because the Saskatchewan Party government has not led by example i.e. where was the Minister of Energy and Renewable Resources and now Minister of SaskPower been while the public meetings like the one in Saskatoon last week were taking place? Would not that have been a good opportunity to go and listen, watch and learn about Saskatchewan people’s concerns and dreams? You do not have to speak and offer an opinion to be leading, just show that you are at least interested in other people’s opinions.
In conclusion, the PC Party of Saskatchewan is extremely happy that the government has finally found the courage to discuss this very important issue with its citizens. Hopefully, the results of this commission will lead to an open and honest appraisal of all the opportunities that await Saskatchewan’s uranium resource and that we as a people and a province, can truly be leaders and not fall back into our old ways of political gamesmanship and special interest politics.
The $1.6 billion dollar sale of the Saskferco Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant at Belle Plain fulfills the strategy of the former Progressive Conservative government to build on one of Saskatchewan’s natural strengths – natural gas - and turn it into a world-class provider of fertilizer, high quality jobs and a long-term provider of royalties, taxes and economic activity for the people of Saskatchewan. The vision was always to build the plant in partnership, see it through to profitability and then divest the province’s share and reinvest the profits into another capital project and repeat the process again, building our economy and providing opportunity to our people. The NDP said it was the worst financial initiative the province ever entered into but once in government, they hung onto it for 16 years because Saskferco was a “cash” cow for the government of Saskatchewan. Perhaps instead of appointing former NDP Finance Minister Janice MacKinnon to the Chairmanship of the Crown Corporation board to fulfill a cheap political debt, Brad Wall should open the books and tell the truth about when Saskferco and other PC initiatives reached profitability. Saskferco paid for itself many years ago with dividends of over $200 million, the millions in royalties on natural gas, taxes, income taxes and goods and services purchased within our province. The $750 million in profit from the government’s 49% of the sale should now be used to develop other capital projects which over a period of time will build on our natural strengths and provide income and employment for our people for decades to come. There are many to choose from. This money should not be used to fill holes in the roads, the Sask Party government’s high fuel taxes will do that, or contribute to Brad Wall’s personal legacy plan. The best legacy we can leave our children is to continue to build on our natural resources too long ignored and create long-term, stable employment opportunities which will withstand the vagaries of international commodity markets. Saskferco and many other projects were built for “The Right Reasons” by a Progressive Conservative government. We look forward to doing more in the future for Saskatchewan.
The first Sask Party budget is the same as the last NDP one – a chicken in every pot. The only difference is a little bigger chicken and a more expensive pot.
Leader Rick Swenson comments “The Sask Party government is spending 10% more than last year – something they always criticized the NDP for and yet this budget is without one new major capitol project, without reduction to personal income taxes, without significant revenue sharing for cities and municipalities, without expansion to irrigation development and value-added agriculture. Instead, we see a commitment to studying things already studied, raising salaries and benefits of boards and commissions which are rapidly being populated by Sask Party stalwarts and the continued low balling of Saskatchewan resource prices so that the government can look good six months from now. We have the continued commitment to buy Saskatchewan taxpayers’ votes with their own money by enhanced drug plans, dance lessons and new hockey equipment for their kids and poaching nurses from poor countries instead of educating our own”.
The monies received from the sale of the Co-op Upgrader (remember that awful PC investment), instead of being committed to bogus “green” initiatives by the NDP is now being spent by the Sask Party on filling holes in the roads in rural Saskatchewan to fulfill campaign promises instead of doing what it originally was designed for – to develop a Saskatchewan resource which would over the long-term contribute royalties, taxes and employment for Saskatchewan people. That money should go to develop another long-term Saskatchewan opportunity with the same goals in mind. For example, the proposed inland container port for Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina could be built in its entirety for less money and benefit all of Saskatchewan by offering container service to a booming economy. An economy which needs to value-add its products and ship them to our customers worldwide.
Swenson adds “I’m sure that there is a Saskatchewan resource with long-term benefits for Saskatchewan people that could be unlocked with the commitment of $350 million to help the project along. That’s not picking winners and losers – that’s simply looking after 50 years of pent-up demand”.
Saskatchewan taxpayers need less taxes, more educational opportunities, affordable housing and less government. This budget delivered none of the above in enough quantity to make a difference.
As the Chair of the Party’s environment group, I would be pleased if
people interested in this topic and the developing of green policies
please contact me at my email address - petermat@shaw.ca. Air, Water,
Earth and Fire would seem to cover the area fairly well’.
Saskatchewan has been a province for 102 years. Alberta with the same starting date and a similar starting population has had a similar period to develop. Which province has grown and provided a better environment for its population?
The answer to this question defines your political inclination. Alberta has had a fairly steady political climate of enterprise-friendly governments while Saskatchewan had had erratic governments with alternating socialist and capitalist orientations.
Observing the world scene, Cuba, Russia, Korea and communist/socialist states have a poor record of individual wealth production, personal freedom of choice and opportunity for their citizens. Success is measured by whom you know and discrimination rather than on demonstrated skills and education.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Sask. is an amalgam of anti-socialist groups and individuals who see varied paths to opportunity and provincial governance. They generally believe that less government is better than more government and that governments should concentrate on doing what is needed rather than interfering and negating individual ambition.
Through the years when capitalist politicians have been in charge there has been growth of individual and corporate ownership, more home ownership with an attendant pride of ownership, better communication and a feeling of greater security.
During socialist years there has been a dumbing down of education, lowering of rewards for creativity, loyalty and enterprise. Successful enterprises have been starved in favour of government-run “Crown Corporations’. These spurious ‘independent’ enterprises compete with genuine enterprise using tax-payers’ money.
A typical period of conservative politics was the Grant Devine era, which was voted in because of continuing failure by their NDP forbearers. The P.C.s supported the building of new enterprises, protected people from the effects of a national recession including a 22%interest rate on home mortgages which had been passively supported by the Blakney NDPs. Perhaps they expected citizens to live in government run apartment blocks as they do in Russia?
Older people who have been prevented from saving by the crippling taxes of socialism are forced to part with the little they have saved to cover their old-age care, while those who contribute no serious work during their life time, receive identical or even better treatment in the ‘special care’ homes available to them through subsidized care.
The P.C. Government, through the ‘80s developed the structure of enterprise which despite the negative effects of socialism in the ‘90s has provided work, pride and even profits which were enjoyed by the NDP Government and this allowed them to pursue their spendthrift ways instead of investing in the people by lowering taxes and pauing down debts.
The P.C. Government headed by Grant Devine developed forestry resources, oil up-graders including the Coo-op Up-grader in Regina, encouraged oil, gas and mineral exploration, built water reservoirs and hydro power stations, and improved roads across the Province. The construction industry was supported during the recession and rates charged by Crowns were controlled. The P.C. Government was open in its dealing with the public. Accounts were not dishonestly presented by incorporating or concealing Crown debt or surplus, as has been the NDP way. The debt , [over $5 Billion], hidden in the Crowns, was brought out into the open and it became the basis of the Government debt.
The P.C Party was in favour of a nuclear [clean] option for Saskatchewan. Canadian CANDU reactors could supply clean energy; energy mined and refined in the province with the option to return spent fuels whence they came for either reprocessing in the future of permanent disposal in the deep recesses of the Canadian Shield. Only now are some of the NDP theorists reluctantly leaving their Luddite clothes behind and are thinking of refining here.
Ironically the crimes of which the PCs were accused-misuse of caucus funds were basically the purchase of modern office equipment, or the application of anachronistic rules. The PCs could be accused of not concealing their activities or of failing to hire assistants who could ensure that rules were updated to encompass computers in the riding offices. Is any office today without a computer? Ridiculous is it not? The NDP misrepresentation and political vendetta drove the PS Party into hiatus. It also drove an excellent MLA to undeserved guilt and shame and suicide.
The Federal Progressive Conservatives joined the Alliance[old Reform] Party to create a new Conservative Party of Canada. The Progressive Conservative Party of Sask thus have a natural affinity with the national Party and are not a political pressure group nor a nationalistic group devoted to a nation called Saskatchewan. PCs of Sask. were, are and will continue to be staunch defenders of Canada with Saskatchewan as an effective entity within the whole.
Saskatchewan voters and taxpayers were short-changed by tonight’s televised Leader’s Debate.
Swenson said, “The debate was significant for what was not said. The words agriculture, rural education, uranium, personal tax cuts and industrial development failed to cross the lips of Messrs. Calvert, Karwacki and Wall. The largest agricultural land base in Canada was ignored. One of the largest uranium resources in the world was omitted because of fear of voter backlash. The development of our resources and building of the industrial infrastructure to support that development would have meant talking about things like crown corporations and the success of Progressive Conservative initiatives like Saskferco and others. Saskatchewan needs more electrical power, high speed internet to rural areas and further natural gas distribution not dueling drug plans or grants for kid’s hockey equipment and dance lessons.
This debate should have been held on Halloween night with all the tricks and treats that were provided courtesy of the three Leaders with Saskatchewan taxpayers’ money.
It was obvious that Mr. Wall knows nothing about what his Party does. Why would this change if he is elected to the Premier’s chair? Only when he is confronted, does the truth come out in an attempt to save face.
Mr. Calvert continues to be in denial of his government’s lack of vision for Saskatchewan and Mr. Karwacki proved that he can talk above his two vertically-challenged colleagues.”
Saskatchewan voters were short-changed as they have been throughout this entire election campaign because other voices could not be heard. Saskatchewan voters deserve better.
They need Progressive Conservatives For The Right Reasons.
Today marks the first time since the 1995 election that the P.C. Party of Saskatchewan will be running active candidates in a general provincial election.
The Party is running candidates in the ridings of Arm River – Gord Pederson, Moose Jaw Wakamow – Tom Steen, Saskatoon Fairview – James M. Yachyshen, Saskatoon Nutana – Gwen Katzman and in Thunder Creek, Leader Rick Swenson.
Leader Rick Swenson congratulates this dedicated group of men and women for leading the return of conservative values and ideas to Saskatchewan politics.
Swenson said, “Conservative candidates will not be afraid to discuss all of the issues facing Saskatchewan voters in the upcoming vote. They will be promoting the Progressive Conservative agenda of government to their respective constituents. Unlike other parties, we will be talking about crown corporations and their roles in the lives of Saskatchewan people. We will be talking about and promoting the full development of Saskatchewan’s uranium resources. We will be talking about better health care by streamlining the bureaucracy and delivering the resources to the front lines.
We will also be pushing the further development of our great agricultural resources by working with producers to do what they do best – grow food for the world. These candidates are running for election “For The Right Reasons”.
Today the PC Party of Saskatchewan is announcing its policies on education and First Nations. The area of education has always been a priority of Saskatchewan people since the very founding of our province. The building of a school was always one of the first priorities of our pioneer forefathers. Continuing that tradition of providing a first-class educational opportunity in the face of dramatic population shifts from rural to urban and from reserve to urban means Saskatchewan people must be as innovative as we were one hundred years ago.
PC Leader Rick Swenson adds, “An educated workforce will guarantee Saskatchewan’s continued strong economy as we develop further our many resources. That educational opportunity must be afforded to all of our citizens. First Nations people will only be able to share in the Saskatchewan dream if they have a quality education and job opportunities.”
EDUCATION
Return the provincial cost-share of education back to the 60/40 split as it was under the last PC government.
The government’s 60% share stays with the student no matter where the student attends at accredited educational institution.
All new funding for post-secondary education should go towards the disciplines which are in short supply to keep our economy growing.
A PC Party government would implement a system of bursaries to graduating students who stay in the province in areas of skill shortages for a guaranteed time frame.
New systems of distance education must be explored and the contribution of local communities in achieving these new ideas must be recognized and rewarded. Children in rural Saskatchewan must have a quality of life equal to their urban counterparts. There is a limit to busing and school closures for both children and taxpayers.
FIRST NATIONS
Establish a First Nations employment directorate to assist First Nations people in matching their education to skilled job openings.
Establish a labour law that requires all available employment positions in Saskatchewan to be posted on a Department of Labour and Employment site for everyone’s equal access.
Day 3 of the PC Party of Saskatchewan’s policy announcements is a good day for Saskatchewan taxpayers. Saskatchewan taxpayers need to know that at least one political party is looking after two of their most basic rights. Every taxpayer wants to take home more of their hard-earned paycheque at the end of every month and they want to raise their families in a safe environment.
PC Leader Rick Swenson says, “We believe our policies today on tax reform and justice will send a message to Saskatchewan families that the PC Party of Saskatchewan believes in empowering taxpayers not politicians when it comes to spending decisions. Taxpayers with money in their pockets and living in safe communities is the best advertisement our province can have.”
TAX REFORM
Reduction in personal tax rates – Saskatchewan taxpayers need to receive the benefits of the boom.
Phased-in harmonization of the PST and the GST starting with agriculture, agriculture processing and designated industries to make Saskatchewan the most competitive jurisdiction in Western Canada.
We will work with the Federal government on the $800 million dollar equalization file to achieve goals that are beneficial to Saskatchewan rather than wasting time and money on court actions like the NDP and the Sask Party propose to do.
All revenue in all provinces should be used in equalization calculations.
Raise the level of income from the present $8778.00 provincial tax threshold to a level which better reflects the realities of low income earners.
JUSTICE
Replace jails with correctional centres.
Establish, in consultation with the FSIN, a First Nations’ operated correctional centre.
Lobby the Federal Government to change The Youth Justice Act (Young Offenders Act) to lower the age from 18 to 16 to deal with the ever-increasing level of crimes committed by young offenders.
An enhanced childhood component should be added to the anti-gang strategy currently employed in the province.
- 30 -
For further comment, Rick Swenson can be contacted at (306) 692-5060.