Saskatchewan NDP Leader Cam Broten was on the hot seat Wednesday afternoon over a proposed government sale of casinos in both Regina and Moose Jaw.
The Saskatchewan Party government says it would like 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 Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations assembly, Broten was adamant that the NDP will not lend its support to a potential sale unless it is open, transparent and more forthcoming on details.
“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 says.
He adds says there is nothing preventing the Wall government from signing a memorandum of understanding to sell the casinos to SIGA before any final decisions are made.
“It’s not as though this premier, Mr. Wall and the government, if they were negotiating in good faith, that they couldn’t sign the MOU.”
The FSIN has long wanted control of the Regina and Moose Jaw casinos — the only two which are not run by SIGA.
The organization is currently looking for enhanced revenue sources after having to issue layoff notices to 66 of its staff last month due to funding cuts from the federal government.