Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says provincial Crown corporations are stepping up to give forest fire evacuees a break. He says everything from utility bills to driver’s license renewals will be discounted or put on hold until the forest fire situation eases and people are allowed back home.
Hundreds were allowed back over the last few days, but up to 13,000 people are still displaced. This morning at the emergency operations centre in Regina, Wall announced a series of measures aimed at easing the burden of a very difficult situation.
“We asked our Crown corporations for some flexibility for our customers in the north in the affected areas, and they have come through,” he said. “They will not pursue any disconnects or late charges, and moreover, to give customers — that is, residents and small and medium businesses — a credit.”
That credit would amount to about the cost of a monthly utility bill.
Businesses will also be given grace periods to remit their PST payments. All of these measures will be in place until at least September 1.
In making the announcement, Wall offered his congratulations to emergency workers — both on the front lines and at the provincial centre, which is coordinating their efforts.
“It has been a remarkable effort and I wish Saskatchewan people could be on just one of these emergency ops calls to understand the level of professional we have here in the province,” he said.
Wall went on to say the government’s objective is to end the fire threat as soon as possible and to get people back in their homes as soon as it is safe.