GPS Convention 1999   Approved Policies

 

    1999.1. Taxes 

      That the provincial government's taxation and royalty revenues from mineral resources be raised at least to the levels under the Blakeney administration. 

      That tax incidence be shifted from middle and lower wage earners onto the profitable corporations operating in this province. 

      That the policy of taxing low income people through the use of casinos and VLT's be reversed. 


    1999.2. Education: 

    That university education be offered free of charge to Saskatchewan residents. 

    1999.3. Uranium Mining: 

      That northern Saskatchewan land claims with Aboriginal First Nations be given priority, and that a settlement giving First Nations control over northern resources be immediately negotiated. 

      That a revenue sharing scheme between northern communities and mining companies operating in the north be immediately negotiated; if negotiations are not concluded in a timely manner, that such a scheme be legislated directly. 

      That present environmental regulations around mining operations be aggressively monitored and enforced by Environment Department officials. 

      That a full public inquiry be held into the end uses of Saskatchewan uranium. 

      That provincial royalty rates on Saskatchewan mineral resources be raised to reflect the mining infrastructure costs incurred by the public over the last three decades. 

      That taxation policy on mining companies be reviewed. 

      That no new uranium mines be licensed to operate in this province. 

      That present uranium mines be phased-out as new jobs are found for displaced workers. 

     

    1999.4.The Automobile 

      That a letter be sent to the Saskatchewan Motor Vehicle Dealers Association instructing them that they have one year to implement a plan to cut motor vehicle injuries and fatalities by 25%. If the desired result is not achieved, then a campaign will begin to divert provincial spending on highways to develop safer forms of mass public transportation. In the meantime, money should be spent to build up bicycle and other alternative transportation infrastructure in urban centers. Money should also be spent to develop short line rail in rural areas. 

      The 1994 amendments to the Automobile Accident Insurance Act should be repealed, restoring victims' legal right to sue. 

      The Automobile Accident Insurance Act should have its name changed to the Automobile Collision Survivors' Fund. 


        

    1999.5. Fluoridation 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan takes the position that medicating the entire population through the water supply, especially with a controversial compound of dubious origins, is unwise and undemocratic. The Green Party of Saskatchewan resolves:

    That the government direct the Department of Environment to detect and measure environmental fluorides and to trace them back to their sources. 

     

    1999.6. Nuclear Power 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan resolves:
      That no further provincial money be spent on nuclear power. The provincial government further directs all Department, Agencies and Crown Corporations to abandon any proposals to develop nuclear power programs for the Province. 

      That the province direct all Departments, Agencies and Crown Corporations to categorically refuse to partner themselves in any way with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). 

      That the province pass legislation prohibiting the transportation and/or storage of nuclear reactor waste across or within provincial boundaries. 


    1999.7. Social Services 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan believes that the Social Assistance Program should be more than a market support for private "free market" business. It should also be used to build up public sector assets to supply basic human needs. The Green Party of Saskatchewan supports the following policy proposals: 
      Along with supporting private landlords, SAP money should be used to build up publicly controlled, not-for-profit rental units, and to encourage co-operative efforts for SAP recipients to make down payments on their own homes. 

      SAP money should be targeted towards supporting Saskatchewan based private landlords. 

      Along with supporting retail food outlets, SAP money should be used to develop not-for-profit food production and wholesale distribution systems. 

      SAP money should be targeted to supporting Saskatchewan based food retailers. 


    1999.8. Oil 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan resolves that the province should fully support the minimal requirements set out by international treaty at Kyoto. We propose:
      That the province re-commit itself to developing renewable energy resources. This would include re-funding the wind power demonstration project cancelled by SaskPower, re-funding the Saskatchewan Energy Development and Conservation Authority disbanded by the NDP government, and implementing key recommendations from the 1991 Saskatchewan Energy Options commission in the area of demand side management. 

      That the province spend money on researching and developing alternatives to the automobile for mass public transport, especially if the Saskatchewan Motor Vehicle Dealers' Association is unable to cut motor vehicle deaths and injuries by 25% by the year 2000. 

      That the NDP provincial government end its subsidies to the oil industry, especially to oil mega-projects. 


    1999.9. Natural Gas 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan takes the position that the corporate interest in chasing the most lucrative markets should not override all public concerns, especially when it involves a strategic and publicly owned resource like natural gas. 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan offers the following policy proposals: 

      That a special tax or royalty be levied on producers and/or pipeline companies, and the revenues generated be distributed to consumers to offset higher costs. 

      That the province establish a special task force authorized to work with other provincial and state governments to ensure security, stability and affordability of natural gas supplies. 


    1999.10. Resource Extraction 

    The Green Party of Saskatchewan offers the following proposal: 

    That provincial infrastructure and other subsidies to multi-national mining and oil companies cease, and that any provincial involvement in these industries be dictated by the results of rigorous environmental impact studies and the net economic benefits returned to the people of Saskatchewan. Public debt would be measured against the royalty and taxation revenues from these sectors, as well as the benefits of similar public spending in other sectors.