Green Party of Saskatchewan

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Green Party of Saskatchewan (GPS) is sceptical about SaskPower’s proposal for a 4.9 percent rate increase for 2013? “Is a rate increase really necessary at this time?” asks Victor Lau, Leader of the GPS. “The cost of living is already rising fast enough, a 4.9 percent rate increase from SaskPower will only add misery to most people’s pocketbooks.” Lau says a value-for-money audit of SaskPower should be conducted first, before any rate increase is approved. A value-for-money audit would determine if there is money that could be freed up from within the Crown Corporation for capital projects.

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For more information, please contact Victor Lau at (306)737-5345.

For Immediate Release

Action is needed to deal with Affordable Housing Crisis

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Green Party of Saskatchewan (GPS) is alarmed at the recent news that Regina’s rental vacancy rate is just 0.6%, the lowest in Canada. GPS Leader Victor Lau says this is proof that the Wall Government’s incentive plan for more housing units is not working, “If the rental vacancy rate was moving in the other direction, then we would be applauding the incentive program.”

Lau says in addition to the incentive program, more action is needed by the Saskatchewan Party Government to address the province’s affordable housing crisis. “It is time for more social housing units to be constructed across the province,” says Lau. “Perhaps the prospect of facing competition for new renters will spur builders into action.” Lau stresses that any new social housing units should be tied to the rental vacancy rate in the province – that as the rate falls, more units should be constructed, and vice versa. The GPS is also calling for an audit of the Ministry of Social Services, to find existing funding for more social
housing units.

For more information, please contact Victor Lau at (306)737-5345.

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For Immediate Release

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Green Party of Saskatchewan (GPS) is enraged after learning Canpotex has made a Potash sale to Burma (Myanmar). GPS Leader Victor Lau can’t believe this is happening. “Why has Canpotex done this?” asks Lau. “Yes there have been some democratic reforms in Burma in recent months, and Canada has dropped economic sanctions against the military regime. But it is far too soon to be doing business with a government whose rule is soaked in blood. We have no guarantees that the democratic reforms will continue in Burma – they could end tomorrow.” Lau thinks Canpotex should have at least waited until there was a democratic transfer of power in Burma, when the military regime is no longer in power.

For more information, please contact Victor Lau at (306)737-5345.

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 For Immediate Release

“New Plains” Health Centre should provide Emergency Services

Regina, Saskatchewan – The Green Party of Saskatchewan thinks there is a fundamental flaw in plans for the “New Plains” Health Centre. Leader Victor Lau says the new centre should provide emergency health services. “The proposed health centre would be in an ideal location to provide emergency health services, especially to people in rural Saskatchewan,” says Lau. “There would be lots of space to land an air-ambulance on the edge of Regina, and few traffic lights would need to be passed through to reach the health centre. It makes no sense to build a new major health facility in Regina, without being able to provide emergency health services to people.”

For further information, please contact Victor Lau at (306)737-5345.

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The GPS supports the online effort to draw attention to the federal government's weakening of environmental protection laws in the latest budget. Contact your MP after reading more about Bill C-38, and Speak Out. Don't let the voices speaking out on your behalf go dark.