NDP leader comes under fire at FSIN Winter Assembly
- Fraser Needham | February 13, 2014
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Cam Broten was under fire Wednesday afternoon over a proposed government sale of casinos in both Regina and Moose Jaw.
The Saskatchewan Party says it wants to enter negotiations to sell the casinos to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority but needs the NDP's support to break legislation protecting Crown corporations from being privatized.
Speaking outside the FSIN Winter Assembly, Broten held firm that the NDP will not lend its support to a potential sale unless it believes the process is open and transparent.
"I cannot be put in the position, as leader of the official opposition, of giving unqualified support for an agreement that the details have not been shared and the details that have been shared present some big concerns," he said.
He added the government has a healthy majority in the legislature and if it really wanted to sell the casinos, it has power to get the ball rolling.
"We have a legislature that is 49-9, that's why I say if this premier, Mr. Wall, was serious about the negotiations, if he entered into them in good faith, he has the power to make the decision to start this process."
The Regina and Moose Jaw casinos are the only two in the province not run by SIGA.
The FSIN is currently looking for alternative sources of revenue after having to issue layoff notices to 66 of its staff last month due to funding cuts from the federal government.