REGINA-Saskatchewan Party MLA Wayne Elhard today renewed his Party’s call for the federal government to keep its election commitments to exempt non-renewable natural resources from the equalization formula and to move to a 10-province standard. Elhard also reiterated the Saskatchewan’s Party call for any new equalization formula to be applied retroactively to April 1, 2006, regardless of when the deal is finalized.

“Saskatchewan people expect the Prime Minister and his government to live up to the commitments they made during the election campaign,” Elhard said.

“It is our understanding from the Prime Minister’s most recent comments that a new equalization proposal will be put forward prior to the next federal budget. When that happens, it is our position that the new formula should be applied retroactively to April 1, 2006, to address any revenues that may have been lost to date while negotiations are taking place.”

Elhard said until such time that a new equalization formula has been finalized, the Official Opposition will continue its efforts to raise awareness about the importance of a fair equalization deal for Saskatchewan.

“Our position on this issue has been consistent from the beginning,” Elhard said.

“Our Leader, Brad Wall, has both written and spoken to the Prime Minister on this issue. We have impressed the importance of it to our Saskatchewan MPs, and in fact, Saskatchewan Party members approved our position at our 2005 policy convention.”

Elhard dismissed NDP Premier Lorne Calvert’s claims that the Saskatchewan Party was not pushing hard enough for a new deal. Elhard calls these claims a desperate attempt by Premier Calvert to deflect attention from his own failing record.

“At a time when Saskatchewan is enjoying record-high resource revenues, the federal and provincial governments should be focused on ensuring the people of Saskatchewan benefit fully from those resources,” Elhard said.

“This can be accomplished through the fair equalization formula we have called for, as well as through a commitment at the provincial level to use new equalization revenues to implement the full growth agenda in Saskatchewan.”

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For more information contact the Saskatchewan Party Caucus, 787-4300.