Right-wing economist and think tank president had seat at Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s pre-budget meetings in Saint John, Saskatoon & Victoria

Controversy was quick to greet the Nov. 7, 2006, announcement by Rob Wright, Deputy Minister of Finance, that right wing economist Brian Lee Crowley had been appointed the 2006-2007 Clifford Clark Visiting Economist in the Department of Finance.

Crowley is the founding president of the Halifax-based Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), a far right public policy think tank that supports free markets, small government and tax cuts to businesses and corporations, but has little time for trade unions, minimum wages, equalization, government pay equity programs, employment insurance (EI) and other forms of social welfare.

The post, established in 1983, honours the late Dr. Clifford Clark, who served as Deputy Minister of Finance from 1932 until his death in 1952. Occupants of the position advise the Department on emerging economic issues and take part in policy development at the highest level. They are recruited from the ranks of prominent Canadian professionals who deal with economic, financial and monetary issues in the business and academic communities, the Finance Department news release said.

Crowley’s appointment ignited concerns among opposition MPs and the head of a progressive economic policy think-tank.

In the CanWest News article Tories draft right-wing economist as finance policy adviser (CanWest News, Nov. 8, 2006) Eric Beauchesne reported NDP finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis saying, “The appointment of a person who’s against such basic things as pay equity for women clearly shows where the Conservatives are going and what their ideological bent is, and it’s on the extreme far right.”

John McCallum, a former senior bank economist, and now Liberal MP and official Opposition finance critic, described Crowley as “intelligent but way, way out in right field.”

“He sees equalization as a welfare trap, he has no time for regional development and he’s a forceful advocate of two-tier health care,” McCallum said.

“This sends a very clear message and will be especially unsettling and worrisome, especially in Atlantic Canada,” McCallum said.

Bruce Campbell, executive director of the left-leaning Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, added that Crowley’s free-market solutions, as well as his advocacy of closer economic links with the U.S., are in line with views expressed by Stephen Harper before he became prime minister.

Harper, as head of the Canadian Alliance Party, charged that regional development policies encouraged economic dependency and a “defeatist ... can’t-do” attitude among Atlantic Canadians.

“There’s unfortunately a view of too many people in Atlantic Canada that it’s only through government favours that there’s going to be economic progress, or that’s what you look to,” Harper said at the time, voicing a view that has also been expressed over the years by Crowley and the Atlantic Institute.

“Crowley is a part of that conservative brain trust that wants to radically change the face of Canada,” Campbell said. “With a minority government there are constraints, but can you imagine with a majority government what that would mean,” Campbell said.

On Nov. 9, 2006, the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal reported that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty was “forced to defend” Crowley’s appointment in Question Period the previous day.

Reporter Rob Linke wrote that Flaherty said the appointment was made by the deputy finance minister. Flaherty characterized it as an issue of intellectual freedom.

“We have eminent intellectuals in economics, like Dr. Crowley, who are prepared to express their views on various issues,” said Flaherty. “We thank him for his service.”

Saint John MP Paul Zed, who knows Crowley, said his views are “worrying to many in the Atlantic caucus because if you subscribe to some of the end results of his research, it would have a serious negative impact on Atlantic Canada.”

Fredericton Liberal MP Andy Scott saw a threat in the timing of Crowley’s appointment, since it comes in the midst of a crucial national debate on the future of equalization. Those federal payments provide New Brunswick’s government with well over 20 per cent of its budget.

Here’s “somebody who comes from Atlantic Canada advising finance who has expressed publicly disdain for equalization,” said Scott.

Scott said he didn’t buy Flaherty’s explanation that the deputy minister made the appointment.

“It seems more than coincidental,” he said, “that Mr. Crowley holds the view that the less government, the better.

“Mr. Crowley has been saying publicly and freely what Mr. Harper would like to say but realizes it won’t give him his majority.” [Finance minister defends appointment of adviser (Telegraph Journal, Nov. 9, 2006)]

AIMS was established in 1994 through a three-year $450,000 grant from the Donner Canadian Foundation. The organization has sister think tanks in Winnipeg and Montreal which received similar funding from Donner beginning in 1997: The Frontier Centre for Public Policy and the Montreal Economic Institute. [Philanthropic Foundations Canada, May 2007]

Frontier President Peter Holle was a senior policy analyst in Grant Devine’s Tory government where he was closely involved with regulatory reform and the privatization of government services and assets in Saskatchewan. [Saskatchewan Legislative Hansard, Aug. 13, 1987; FCPP]

In the Frontier Centre’s 1999 annual report Holle said Crowley “has been an unofficial mentor” to the organization “and continues to provide invaluable advice on think tank operations.”

In May 2007, the Frontier Centre opened an office in Regina.

Crowley’s Finance Department travel and hospitality expense records show that he attended pre-budget consultation meetings with the finance minister on Nov. 29-30, 2007, in Quebec City; Dec. 6-7, 2007, in Fredericton; and, Jan. 14-15, 2008, in Vancouver and Calgary.

Crowley also appears to be a steady contributor to the Conservative Party of Canada. According to party financial records filed with Elections Canada he donated at least $3,619.89 from 2004-08.

During the 2006 federal election Crowley donated $500.00 to Halifax Liberal candidate Martin MacKinnon. This appears to have been a strategic move given that the riding was held by the NDP’s Alexa McDonough. The Conservative candidate, Andrew House, had little chance of competing. McDonough won the riding with 46.88% of the vote. MacKinnon received 30.9% and House 18.0%.

Crowley’s secondment ended last spring. A Mar. 20, 2008, AIMS news release announced his return to the think tank. It said, “During his time in Ottawa, Crowley worked on a broad range of policy files and redesigned the pre-budget consultation process.”

It appears Crowley’s work with the Harper government didn’t end there.

According to records obtained from Finance Canada under freedom of information legislation, Crowley played a role in the most recent pre-budget consultation process.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty conducted five closed-door invitation only pre-budget roundtable discussions in Saint John (Dec. 12), Saskatoon (Dec. 18), Montreal (Jan. 6), Thornhill (Jan. 9) and Victoria (Jan. 12). The agendas indicate that Crowley was the moderator at the Saint John, Saskatoon and Victoria meetings.

Paul Rochon, the assistant deputy minister of finance, moderated the Montreal meeting while Ted Menzies, the Finance Department’s parliamentary secretary, handled the one in Thornhill.

The agendas show that deputy finance minister Rob Wright gave a presentation at each meeting followed by remarks from the finance minister.

Participants at each meeting received a letter from Flaherty thanking them for accepting his invitation to attend.

“This roundtable is part of a new approach in the way I consult on the federal budget, which was developed last year. Across the country, I will be chairing five roundtables over the course of the next month. Each roundtable will focus on two questions: one related to stimulus and one general question on a long term issue,” the letter states.

This all but confirms that the pre-budget consultation process used for the Jan. 27, 2009, budget was the one developed by Crowley. The questions are, who invited Crowley, who paid for his expenses, and what other work, if any, has he been doing for the government?

On Mar. 26 and 27 emails were sent to finance officials in the access to information and privacy division, consultations and media relations, and consultations and communications branch asking who paid for Crowley’s trips and how he came to be involved in the consultations. There have been no responses.

During the pre-budget consultation period, which began Dec. 11, 2008, the Harper government told Canadians it was open to any suggestions. Flaherty’s letter to roundtable participants, however, does not seem to support that.

Flaherty asked participants to rank and give suggestions on the following areas in terms of priority for the government providing a stimulus:

1. Access to Credit
2. Investing in the Housing Market
3. Accelerating Infrastructure Spending
4. Strong sustainable labour markets and training incentives
5. Traditional and emerging industrial sectors

Flaherty then wanted to know what steps the government should take to ensure that the Canadian economy remains internationally competitive and continue to attract investment and create jobs.

The first problem is that participants were limited to offering suggestions on five areas the government considered a priority. The second and fatal flaw is that invitees were given copies of the government’s 2008 Economic Statement and of Advantage Canada: Building a Strong Economy for Canadians and were told that they would “form the framework around which budget decisions will be made and articulated.”

At this point one has to assume that any suggestions outside these parameters weren’t welcome. Therefore, the government really wasn’t open to all ideas.

The records released by the Finance Department shine a bit more light on who the government invited to the roundtable discussions. Unfortunately, the majority of the names listed were blacked out.

Saint John Meeting:

Karen Michell, Canadian Bankers Association
Pierre Blouin, MTS Allstream
Warren Jestin, Scotiabank
Jim Irving, J.D. Irving Limited

Saskatoon Meeting:

Josef Hormes, Canadian Light Source Inc.
Lionel LaBelle, Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership
Peter MacKinnon, University of Saskatchewan
Marlo Raynolds, Pembina Institute
Marta Morgan, Forest Products Association
Pamela C. Fralick, Canadian Healthcare Association
Steve McLellan, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

Montreal Meeting:

Monique Leroux, Desjardins Group
Pierre Karl Peladeau, Quebecor
Michael Atkinson, Canadian Construction Association
Dino Dello Sbarba, Saputo Inc.
Dawn Graham, Merck Frosst Canada
Paul Levesque, Pfizer Canada
Katherine Giroux-Bougard, Canadian Federation of Students

Thornhill Meeting:

Catherine Swift, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Manabu Nishimae, Honda Canada (assisted by Jerry Chenkin)
James Knight, Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Perrin Beatty, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Victoria Meeting:

Sean Durfy, WestJet
Peter Kruselnicki, TransCanada
Robert Ouellet, Canadian Medical Association
Brock Carlton, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Rick Culbert, Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
John Allan, Council of Forest Industries
Darcy Reznac, The Vancouver Board of Trade
David H. Turpin, University of Victoria

Completely forgotten on Flaherty’s pre-budget tour were the Canadian people. During his stop in Saskatoon the finance minister said at a press conference he was planning to meet with Canadians across the country in town hall meetings, and looked forward to “hearing directly and in person what their concerns are and what their advice is.” [Flaherty appoints economic advisory council (CBC News, Dec. 18, 2008)]

The public ultimately got shafted as only two town hall meetings were conducted: one in the safe confines of Flaherty’s home riding of Whitby-Oshawa on Jan. 8 and the other on Jan. 12 in the riding held by Conservative MP John Weston (West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country). Do we have Brian Lee Crowley to blame for this travesty?

Uranium Development Partnership: CIC refusing to release agendas and minutes from panel’s meetings; freedom of information legislation violated

The Brad Wall government is ramping up secrecy around the Uranium Development Partnership’s (UDP) deliberations.

In mid-February an access to information request was submitted to Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) for copies of the complete agenda package and minutes to any UDP meetings held from Dec. 31, 2008 to Feb. 19, 2009.

The Mar. 23 response from CIC vice president and general consul Doug Kosloski states: “CIC has now completed its review of your request. We identified two responsive records that are relevant to your request. In accordance with The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act) access to those records is denied on that basis that if disclosed would release information that could reasonably be expected to disclose advice, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for a government institution or a member of the Executive Council in accordance with section 17(1)(a) of the Act.”

Section 17 is a discretionary exemption and is by far one of the most used and abused by government institutions to hide information from the public.

Furthermore, CIC appears to have violated the Act by not applying Section 8 which is mandatory stating: “Where a record contains information to which an applicant is refused access, the head shall give access to as much of the record as can reasonably be severed without disclosing the information to which the applicant is refused access.”

In his letter Kosloski goes on to say, “Please note however that the information contained in the records is expected to be published within the next 90 days with the release of the final report of the Uranium Development Partnership, on or about March 31, 2009.”

This does not mean, however, that the original agendas and official minutes for any meetings conducted will be released, only information from them.

The CIC’s actions represent a complete 180 degree turn from those it displayed on Feb. 15, 2009, when it partially released the agenda and minutes for the UDP’s first meeting held on Oct. 20, 2008, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. One important record that access was denied to in its entirety was the panel’s work plan and timeline. Among the four reasons given for doing so was that disclosure of the record “could be reasonably expected to result in disclosure of a pending policy decision or budgetary item.”

The Wall government maintains that no decision has been made on nuclear power in Saskatchewan, but the secrecy it displays seems to betray that at every turn. Just recently the CIC withheld critical information concerning Bruce Power’s feasibility study and a meeting that was held between the company and CIC officials on Sept. 29, 2008.

The UDP was established on Oct. 20, 2008. At least 10 of the 12 members, or the organizations they represent, have in the past voiced support for nuclear power.

Uranium Development Partnership: Enterprise Saskatchewan 2009-10 Plan shows panel’s recommendations more important than public consultation

Excerpts from Enterprise Saskatchewan 2009-10 Plan

Lost amid the excitement of the Mar. 18 provincial budget were the 2009-10 plans for 23 government ministries and agencies that were released the same day. The plans contain the ministries’ key strategies, actions for the upcoming year and performance measures. They make for interesting reading and received no media attention.

Front and centre is Enterprise Saskatchewan, the alleged arms-length economic development agency established by the Saskatchewan Party government shortly after the 2007 provincial election.

Enterprise Saskatchewan is working with Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) to try and bring nuclear power to the province.

It was at the Enterprise Saskatchewan board of director’s inaugural meeting on Mar. 31, 2008, that Premier Brad Wall, in a blatant act of political meddling, asked the board to make identifying uranium value-added opportunities a priority. According to the agency’s Sept. 2008 progress report, the board “was given a presentation on potential value-added nuclear opportunities” and later recommended “that a full evaluation of the economic potential for value-added expansion of the nuclear industry and environmental considerations for Saskatchewan be conducted… by a partnership including representatives from all phases of the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as Saskatchewan business, labour, universities, First Nations, and local governments.”

In a news release on Oct. 20, 2008, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart and CIC Minister Ken Cheveldayoff announced the establishment of a new 12 person Uranium Development Partnership (UDP) to advise the government on further development of Saskatchewan’s uranium resources. At least 10 of the member’s, or the organizations they represent, have in the past voiced support for nuclear power.

“The partnership will provide a final report to the government by March 31, 2009. The report will include specific recommendations on value added opportunities best suited to the development of the uranium industry,” states the news release.

“The partnership report will be released to the public and form the basis for public consultation.”

The Wall government hasn’t said what form the public consultation will take, but with the ministry plans has all but confirmed that it will take a distant back seat to the UDP and its deliberations.

The UDP is mentioned twice in the Enterprise Saskatchewan 2009-10 plan. Pages 4 and 5 of the report include the following key strategies and actions:

Strategy: Diversify the provincial economy by increasing value-added production to sustain economic growth

“Advance recommendations of the Uranium Development Partnership, in partnership with Crown Investments Corporation (CIC), to maximize economic benefits from Saskatchewan’s uranium resources.”

Strategy: Accelerate the growth of sustainable energy industries

“Advance recommendations of the Uranium Development Partnership report after public consultation to increase value-added processing of Saskatchewan’s uranium resources.”

Clearly, it’s the Wall government’s intention to embrace and “advance” the panel’s recommendations despite what the public might have to say. The UDP and public consultation are two separate processes. They have not been allowed to cross paths. The provincial cabinet will see the group’s report and recommendations before the public does. No doubt the consultation process will be designed in such a way as to provide the best possible outcome for the government and give justification for its actions. The premier certainly can’t afford to have his government’s pro-nuclear plans flying off the rails because of negative public feedback.

Other strategies and actions in the Enterprise Saskatchewan plan include:

Strategy: Increase economic growth by engaging key stakeholders in economic development planning

“Increase cooperation of Crown corporations in economic development activities through the Major Projects Coordination Strategy, regional economic development plans and Sector Team strategies.”

Strategy: Improve the ease of doing business in Saskatchewan by reducing regulatory barriers and enhancing service delivery

“Develop a regulatory modernization strategy to address regulatory barriers to economic growth.”

“Implement an on-line Regulatory Registry as an additional tool to facilitate advance public consultation on proposed regulatory changes.”

Whatever the “Major Projects Coordination Strategy” is it’s not available on the Enterprise Saskatchewan website and neither are the agendas or minutes for Sector Team meetings.

On Sept. 17, 2008, the Wall government announced the establishment of the Regulatory Modernization Council (RMC), which the news release said “will recommend regulatory reform and business services priorities and forward them to the Enterprise Saskatchewan (ES) Board. It will also assist ES in monitoring the progress toward meeting regulatory and service enhancement goals.”

The RMC meetings are closed to the public and so far no report has been released from the group. Three access to information requests (dated Sept. 30, 2008, Dec. 30, 2008, and Mar. 20, 2009) have been submitted to Enterprise Saskatchewan for copies of the agendas and minutes for the council’s meetings but none have been finalized. This is despite the fact that The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act allows a maximum of 60 days for a government institution to process an application. The agency’s foot dragging and stall tactics has resulted in a gross violation of the Act.

The agency is also refusing to disclose the agendas and minutes for any board meetings that occurred after July 29, 2008, when The Enterprise Saskatchewan Act was proclaimed making the interim advisory committee members a statutory board.

On Sept. 19, 2008, an access to information request was submitted to Enterprise Saskatchewan for the agenda and minutes of board’s May 22, 2008 and June 19, 2008 meetings when it was still an advisory committee. The agency received the request on Sept. 24. It’s been six months and the application still hasn’t been dealt with.

In a related matter are the Ministry of Environment’s 2009-10 plans which include the following:

Strategy: Deliver effective results-based environmental regulation

“Initiate legislative review of The Environmental Assessment Act, The Forest Resources Management Act, and The Environmental Management and Protection Act.”

“Continue consultations with targeted stakeholder groups such as business organizations, academics, environmental non-government organizations, municipal and industry representatives on legislative amendments.”

“Implement a new organizational structure in support of the new environmental management model.”

Strategy: Enhance co-operation among western provinces in environmental and resource management

“Minimize duplication and maximize federal/provincial co-operation to ensure the environment is protected by continuing effective agreements with agencies and by entering into new agreements with The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada: seek to maximize provincial regulation of nuclear activity under the ~~Nuclear Safety and Control Act in Saskatchewan through an administrative agreement with CNSC.”

Premier Brad Wall has long complained about the nuclear regulatory approval process.

In the article Don’t cut payments, Wall says (Leader-Post, Oct. 29, 2008) James Wood reported Wall saying “there are areas of federal-provincial duplication of services where the federal government could cut instead, such as “environmental processes.” He said there could still be “very onerous” environmental regulations with less bureaucracy.”

Wall was responding to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s call for a First Minister’s meeting on Nov. 10, 2008. Wood said the Conservative government was contemplating “budget cuts or a potential deficit.”

In Jan. 2008, Wood reported the Saskatchewan Party government was concerned that “the length of time it takes for new nuclear power projects to come on-line in Canada could close the “window of opportunity” it sees opening for the province’s uranium supply.”

In the article Wall calls for “new national approach” on licensing for nuclear reactors (StarPhoenix, Jan. 28, 2008) the premier called “for a “new national approach” on licensing for nuclear reactors, saying that the actual deployment of new nuclear power sources could take decades under Canada’s current regulatory regime.”

Wall also called the federal Crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) “a big stumbling block for the expansion of nuclear power.”

“There is a bit of a renaissance on the nuclear side, partly because of the greenhouse gas part, partly because of climate change. At that time in our history, what’s frustrating is that we have all these difficulties, all these potential challenges that are going to hold back the country - and Saskatchewan sees itself as having a role here, so therefore holding our opportunities back - to really take the next step, to have potentially the next-generation technology, the next new national approach to the industry,” he said in an interview.

The Wall government has told the public repeatedly that no decision has been made on nuclear power. But the plans put forward by Enterprise Saskatchewan and Environment Ministry doesn’t seem to support that claim.

40th General Election: Saskatchewan Party gov’t cabinet ministers, MLAs and political staff among contributors to Conservative Party of Canada

“There are no ties between the Saskatchewan Party and the Conservative government… We are completely independent of each other.”
– Nancy Heppner, Saskatchewan Party candidate for Martensville (StarPhoenix, Oct. 18, 2007)

Candidate returns for the Oct. 14, 2008, federal election are slowly being posted to the Elections Canada website. Details for Saskatchewan’s 14 Conservative Party of Canada candidates show that the Saskatchewan Party was alive and well during the campaign with various cabinet ministers, MLAs, political staff, appointees and previous candidates listed as contributors. These include:

Donald Morgan – Minister of Justice and Attorney General (Saskatoon Southeast MLA)

Wayne Elhard – Minister of Highways and Infrastructure (Cypress Hills MLA)

Daniel D. Autremont – Minister of Government Services (Cannington MLA)

Michael Chisholm – Saskatchewan Party MLA for Cut Knife–Turtleford

Delwood Huyghebaert – Saskatchewan Party MLA for Wood River

Joe Donlevy – Chief of Staff to Premier Brad Wall

Alan Nicholson – Chief of Staff to Enterprise Minister Lyle Stewart

Wolfgang Langenbacher – Senior Policy Advisor, Cabinet Planning, Executive Council

Michael Carr – Associate Deputy Minister, Advanced Education, Employment and Labour

Gary Meschishnick – Saskatchewan Party President

Jonathan Abrametz – Saskatchewan Party Saskatoon Centre candidate in 2007 election; appointed by the Saskatchewan Party government to the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission Appeal Committee

Roger Parent – Saskatchewan Party Saskatoon Meewasin candidate in 2007 election; Saskatchewan Party Saskatoon Centre candidate in 2003 election

Ted Merriman – Former Saskatchewan Party MLA for Saskatoon Northwest

Gavin Semple – Appointed by Saskatchewan Party government to Enterprise Saskatchewan board of directors

Ron Dufresne – Appointed by the Saskatchewan Party government to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Review Committee

Walter Dutchak – Appointed by Saskatchewan Party government to STC Board of Directors

Richard MacDougall – Appointed by Saskatchewan Party government to Heartland Regional Health Authority

Bev Monea – Appointed by Saskatchewan Party government to the Regulatory Modernization Council

Gerald Grandey – Appointed by Saskatchewan Party government to the Uranium Development Partnership

Jack Goohsen – Former Progressive Conservative MLA for Cypress Hills

Grant J. Schmidt – Former Progressive Conservative MLA for Melville–Saltcoats

Kevin Wilson – Partner, head of MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman’s Saskatoon Labour & Employment Law Group. Wilson was hired by the Saskatchewan Party government to give advice on essential services legislation.

Blair Ross – President and Chief Operating Officer, SRG Security Resource Group Inc. Contact name for Target Regina, a committee of volunteers from across Regina that was established to co-ordinate outreach and fund-raising activities to raise the profile of the Saskatchewan Party in the city. SRG Chairman and CEO is Doug Emsley who was chief of the Saskatchewan Party’s transition team and a special advisor to Premier Brad Wall following the 2007 provincial election.

The federal election saw two long-time Saskatchewan Party supporters run for office: Kelly Block in Saskatoon and former party president Michelle Hunter in Regina.

During the campaign Block refused to participate in debates. Following the election Saskatchewan MPs were criticized for seemingly doing little in the way of public consultation in the lead-up to the federal budget on Jan. 27. Block supporter, Don Cote, tried to defend the rookie MP but it was later revealed that she conducted no town hall meetings in Saskatoon. Block’s riding includes some of the poorest neighbourhood’s in the province.

Block’s campaign manager, Carol Reynolds, announced on Mar. 16 her candidacy for Saskatoon city council in Ward 1. The next civic election takes place on Oct. 28, 2009.

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FORTIETH GENERAL ELECTION
October 14, 2008
Candidates’ Details - Statement of Contributions Received (Part 2a)
As submitted by candidate

Anderson, David
Conservative Party of Canada / Cypress Hills--Grasslands

Elizabeth Anderson (Frontier) Oct. 2, 2008 250.00
Dorj Batbayar (Swift Current) Sep. 30, 2008 1,000.00
Dawn Clark (Shaunavon) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Wayne Elhard (Eastend) Sep. 27, 2008 250.00
Rhys Frostad (LaFleche) Sep. 29, 2008 1,000.00
Jack Goohsen (Gull Lake) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Frank Lewis (Swift Current) Oct. 7, 2008 400.00
Bev Monea (Assiniboia) Sep. 11, 2008 250.00
Garth Monea (Assiniboia) Sep. 11, 2008 250.00
Jason Newman (Maple Creek) Oct. 9, 2008 500.00
Lawrence Reimer (Swift Current) Sep. 20, 2008 1,000.00
Helen Rempel (Swift Current) Sep. 17, 2008 1,000.00
Marv C. Shatosky (Swift Current) Oct. 8, 2008 500.00
Bill Sheppard (Lucky Lake) Oct. 9, 2008 400.00
Donald Tremblay (Courval) Oct. 6, 2008 400.00
Sanj Tsolmon (Swift Current) Sep. 30, 2008 1,000.00
Gwen Wensley (Wiseton) Sep. 29, 2008 500.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 9,500.00

Block, Kelly
Conservative Party of Canada / Saskatoon--Rosetown--Biggar

Jonathan Abrametz (Saskatoon) Sep. 22, 2008 250.00
Morley Aseltine (Rosetown) Sep. 17, 2008 300.00
Jack Brodsky (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Diane Cote (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 400.00
Don Cote (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 400.00
Joshua D Boyes (Borden) Oct. 7, 2008 250.00
Joe Donlevy (Saskatoon) Oct. 6, 2008 250.00
Spencer Early (Saskatoon) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Robert Emigh (Saskatoon) Sep. 23, 2008 1,000.00
Randy Fernets (Grandora) Oct. 14, 2008 250.00
Jerry Gedir (Saskatoon) Sep. 16, 2008 366.67
Elmer Guenther (Osler) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
Kenneth Klassen (Warman) Oct. 4, 2008 400.00
Lyle Krahn (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 400.00
Jocelyn Mallard (Saskatoon) Sep. 25, 2008 1,000.00
Edward Meriman (Saskatoon) Oct. 2, 2008 250.00
Gary Meschishnick (Saskatoon) Sep. 25, 2008 250.00
Donald Morgan (Saskatoon) Sep. 23, 2008 1,000.00
Bruce Neufeldt (Waldheim) Oct. 10, 2008 1,000.00
Sean Ryan (Saskatoon) Sep. 23, 2008 400.00
William Ryan (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Brian Scherman (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 250.00
Larry Seiferling (Saskatoon) Sep. 14, 2008 300.00
Jean Slocombe (Saskatoon) Oct. 2, 2008 400.00
Penny-Lynn Tallis (Saskatoon) Sep. 26, 2008 1,000.00
Norm Wallace (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 250.00
Rob Walter (Saskatoon) Oct. 10, 2008 300.00 (Non-monetary)
Gwen Wensley (Wiseton) Sep. 23, 2008 500.00
Donna Wickett (Rosetown) Oct. 10, 2008 250.00
George Wickett (Rosetown) Oct. 10, 2008 250.00
Kevin Wilson (Saskatoon) Sep. 17, 2008 250.00
Craig Zawada (Saskatoon) Sep. 25, 2008 250.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 13,766.67

Boughen, Ray
Conservative Party of Canada / Palliser

Donna Ackerman (Chamberlain) Sep. 22, 2008 250.00
Roger Arendt (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 300.00
Paul Beesley (Moose Jaw) Oct. 10, 2008 250.00
Vonnie Bell (Moose Jaw) Sep. 25, 2008 400.00
Dennis Benson (Moose Jaw) Sep. 26, 2008 300.00
Ray Boughen (Moose Jaw) Oct. 11, 2008 1,000.00
Elizabeth Butler (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 1,100.00
Ernest Butler (Moose Jaw) Sep. 24, 2008 1,100.00
Jason Butler (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 1,100.00
Pam Butler (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 1,100.00
Darin Chow (Moose Jaw) Oct. 12, 2008 600.00
Marla L Chow (Moose Jaw) Oct. 12, 2008 400.00
David R Clark (Moose Jaw) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Charles Cole (Moose Jaw) Sep. 30, 2008 550.00
Jeannette Cole (Moose Jaw) Sep. 30, 2008 550.00
Ken Cornea (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 400.00
Ernest Coulson (Moose Jaw) Sep. 17, 2008 400.00
Lyle Denton (Regina) Oct. 11, 2008 300.00
Robert Dougall (Moose Jaw) Oct. 2, 2008 400.00
Ron Dufresne (Moose Jaw) Oct. 10, 2008 500.00
Claude D. Duke (Moose Jaw) Sep. 23, 2008 500.00
Douglas Ferguson (Moose Jaw) Sep. 29, 2008 400.00
Dale Garthus (Moose Jaw) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Ryan Gibson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 12, 2008 600.00
Robin Gilroy (Moose Jaw) Sep. 25, 2008 1,100.00
Wendy Ray Gilroy (Moose Jaw) Sep. 25, 2008 1,100.00
Harry Hudson (Moose Jaw) Sep. 30, 2008 400.00
Karen Hudson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 11, 2008 400.00
Todd Hudson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 11, 2008 400.00
Jack B. Hughton (Moose Jaw) Sep. 26, 2008 500.00
Agnes Jameson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 1,100.00
W. Shea Jameson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
William Jameson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 9, 2008 1,100.00
Grant Kosior (Moose Jaw) Oct. 13, 2008 400.00
Yvonne Kuntz (Moose Jaw) Sep. 24, 2008 500.00
Bevin Leipert (Moose Jaw) Sep. 30, 2008 850.00
Vi Leipert (Moose Jaw) Oct. 1, 2008 250.00
Craig Lewis (Moose Jaw) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Robert Lewis (Moose Jaw) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Carolyn MacDonald (Moose Jaw) Sep. 23, 2008 1,100.00
Douglas Mintenko (Moose Jaw) Oct. 8, 2008 500.00
Teresa-Marie Mintenko (Moose Jaw) Oct. 8, 2008 500.00
Neil G Montgomery (Moose Jaw) Sep. 18, 2008 500.00
Bob Patterson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 13, 2008 550.00
George Patterson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 10, 2008 500.00
Cathy Patterson-Iroquois (Moose Jaw) Oct. 13, 2008 550.00
Tom Phillipson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Bonnie Poissant (Regina) Oct. 14, 2008 600.00 (Non-monetary)
H.V. Rininsland (Moose Jaw) Sep. 18, 2008 500.00
R.J. Rushford (Moose Jaw) Sep. 9, 2008 500.00
Monte Stewart (Regina) Oct. 10, 2008 250.00
David Sutherland (Kitchener) Sep. 14, 2008 1,100.00
Chadwich Taylor (Moose Jaw) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Susanne Taylor (Moose Jaw) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
William Tremblay (Moose Jaw) Sep. 21, 2008 500.00
Charles J. Vanden Broek (Moose Jaw) Sep. 23, 2008 1,100.00
Harry Watson (Moose Jaw) Oct. 10, 2008 250.00
Richard Zaremba (Moose Jaw) Sep. 23, 2008 400.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 32,600.00

Breitkreuz, Garry
Conservative Party of Canada / Yorkton--Melville

Beth Berg (Yorkton) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Paul Berg (Yorkton) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Dale Cherry (Yorkton) Oct. 7, 2008 350.00
Shirley Debalinhard (Yorkton) Sep. 16, 2008 500.00
George Haas (Langenburg) Oct. 7, 2008 200.00
George Haas (Langenburg) Oct. 7, 2008 64.00
Joyce Haas (Kelvington) Sep. 20, 2008 500.00
Ben Hudye (Kamsack) Oct. 6, 2008 1,100.00
Gregory Hudye (Norquay) Oct. 7, 2008 1,100.00
Brian Iwama (North York) Sep. 30, 2008 300.00
Sherrien Kraft (Esterhazy) Oct. 7, 2008 260.00
Richard Leland (Yorkton) Oct. 3, 2008 400.00
Raymond S. Malinowski (Yorkton) Sep. 19, 2008 500.00
Philip C. Morlock (Whitney) Sep. 22, 2008 500.00
Joan Nagy (Mistatim) Sep. 21, 2008 500.00
Murray S. Pask (Atwater) Sep. 22, 2008 500.00
Bill Sowa (Kuroki) Sep. 16, 2008 450.00
Paul Stankewich (Yorkton) Oct. 7, 2008 64.00
Paul Stankewich (Yorkton) Oct. 12, 2008 200.00
Brent Weber (Yorkton) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Brian C. Weber (Yorkton) Oct. 10, 2008 500.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 9,288.00

Clarke, Rob
Conservative Party of Canada / Desnethé--Missinippi--Churchill River

Syd Banting (Creighton) Oct. 1, 2008 250.00
Glenda Cockrum (Rapid View) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Sylvin Cockrum (Rapid View) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Maria Freeland (Meadow Lake) Oct. 6, 2008 250.00
Thomas Hansen (Verdun) Sep. 10, 2008 1,000.00
Terrance Lamon (Meadow Lake) Oct. 5, 2008 500.00
Janice Langer (North York) Sep. 8, 2008 275.00
Morris Perlis (Thornhill) Sep. 19, 2008 275.00
David Posluns (Willowdale) Oct. 6, 2008 250.00
Wilfred Posluns (Toronto) Oct. 8, 2008 300.00
Anthony Russell (Edmonton) Sep. 19, 2008 400.00
E. Adrian Schwab (Big River) Sep. 26, 2008 250.00
Manny Sharf (Downsview) Sep. 9, 2008 300.00
James Taylor (Nipawin) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Les Viner (Toronto) Sep. 24, 2008 275.00
Mildred Weber (Dorintosh) Oct. 3, 2008 300.00
Henry Wolfond (Toronto) Sep. 24, 2008 275.00
Aaron Zacks (Vancouver) Sep. 8, 2008 250.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 6,650.00

Hoback, Randy
Conservative Party of Canada / Prince Albert

Brenda Abrametz (Prince Albert) Oct. 2, 2008 400.00
Peter Abrametz (Prince Albert) Oct. 2, 2008 400.00
Douglas Allen (Prince Albert) Oct. 6, 2008 400.00
David Bach (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Carol E. Bacon (Kinistino) Oct. 10, 2008 250.00
Lloyd Balicki (Prince Albert) Oct. 10, 2008 1,000.00
Marlene Barzeele (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Jacqueline Brewster (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Larry Brewster (Prince Albert) Oct. 1, 2008 300.00
Blaine Broker (Prince Albert) Oct. 6, 2008 400.00
Garth Busch (Prince Albert) Sep. 25, 2008 400.00
Gregory A Chovin (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 1,000.00
Gordon Cresswell (Tisdale) Oct. 7, 2008 300.00
Delbert Dynna (Prince Albert) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
K. Eggum (Prince Albert) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Islay Ehlert (Saskatoon) Sep. 25, 2008 400.00
Jie Jia Feng (Saskatoon) Sep. 11, 2008 1,000.00
Steven J Flaman (Prince Albert) Oct. 10, 2008 1,000.00
Kathleen Fortier (Zenon Park) Sep. 25, 2008 400.00
Jacqueline Goertzen (St. Louis) Oct. 14, 2008 1,000.00
Barbara Hildebrand (Prince Albert) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Dave Hildebrand (Prince Albert) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Richard Hildebrand (Tisdale) Sep. 14, 2008 400.00
Derryl Hudye (Prince Albert) Oct. 6, 2008 1,100.00
Ajay Krishan (Prince Albert) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Jack Kucheranwy (Prince Albert) Oct. 8, 2008 500.00
Lionel Lavoie (Melfort) Sep. 18, 2008 250.00
Richard Lindsaye (Arborfield) Oct. 7, 2008 400.00
Alan T Logue (Prince Albert) Oct. 6, 2008 250.00
K. G.B. Meier (Ridgedale) Sep. 29, 2008 500.00
Lizabeth J Oleksinski (Prince Albert) Sep. 22, 2008 500.00
W. Oleksinski (Prince Albert) Sep. 21, 2008 1,000.00
Timothy Oleksyn (Prince Albert) Sep. 22, 2008 250.00
Devin Panchuk (Prince Albert) Oct. 10, 2008 500.00
Jerry Paskiw (Prince Albert) Oct. 8, 2008 300.00
Ravi Prakash (Prince Albert) Oct. 11, 2008 250.00
Albert Provost (Prince Albert) Sep. 15, 2008 800.00
Kevin Scragg (Prince Albert) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
William Selnes (Melfort) Oct. 14, 2008 300.00
Ivan Stankowski (Nipawin) Oct. 1, 2008 300.00
Tina M Stene (Shellbrook) Oct. 7, 2008 400.00
Don Thompson (Carrot River) Sep. 21, 2008 300.00
Gordon Thompson (Prince Albert) Sep. 23, 2008 300.00
Barry E Wilcox (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 1,100.00
Isla Wilcox (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 900.00
James N Zaparaniuk (Prince Albert) Sep. 22, 2008 400.00
Lyle W. Zuk (Prince Albert) Oct. 14, 2008 1,000.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 24,350.00

Hunter, Michelle
Conservative Party of Canada / Wascana

A R Andreychuk (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 250.00
Norman Bercovich (Regina) Sep. 17, 2008 400.00
Michael Carr (Regina) Sep. 29, 2008 400.00
Daneil D Autremont (Alida) Oct. 8, 2008 250.00
John Duncan (Regina) Sep. 13, 2008 500.00
Pauline Duncan Bonneau (Regina) Sep. 24, 2008 1,000.00
Lee Elliott (White City) Sep. 30, 2008 500.00
Doreen Gallagher (Regina) Sep. 13, 2008 1,000.00
George Gallagher (Regina) Sep. 13, 2008 1,000.00
Judi Hunter (Calgary) Oct. 9, 2008 1,000.00
Robert Hunter (Stonewall) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
Delwood Huyghebaert (Glentworth) Sep. 17, 2008 300.00
Rakesh Kapila (Regina) Oct. 8, 2008 250.00
Adam Knight (Regina) Sep. 17, 2008 500.00
Clair Kramer (Regina) Sep. 15, 2008 1,100.00
Ben Kuzmicz (Candiac) Sep. 24, 2008 1,000.00
Larry Kyle (Regina) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Wolfgang Langenbacher (Regina) Sep. 17, 2008 250.00
Murdoch Macpherson (Regina) Sep. 16, 2008 500.00
J Allan Matheis (Regina) Sep. 30, 2008 300.00
Gary Meschishnick (Saskatoon) Sep. 28, 2008 500.00
Barbara Miller (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 400.00
Ronald Miller (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 400.00
Alan Nicholson (Regina) Oct. 9, 2008 250.00
Orville Off (Regina) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Roger Phillips (Regina) Sep. 19, 2008 550.00
Lorraine Pletch (Regina) Sep. 29, 2008 1,100.00
Desiree K J Reis (Regina) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Metro Rybchuk (Regina) Sep. 18, 2008 400.00
Rodney Sieffert (Regina) Sep. 17, 2008 500.00
Earl Silcox (Regina) Oct. 6, 2008 300.00
Geo Staranchuk (Regina) Sep. 24, 2008 500.00
Gordon Swystun (Regina) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Daniel Tapp (Regina) Sep. 26, 2008 500.00
William Taylor (Regina) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Jerry Tell (Regina) Oct. 8, 2008 400.00
Kevin Tell (Regina) Oct. 8, 2008 500.00
Joanne Tyerman (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
Peter Tyerman (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
Hal Wellsch (Regina) Oct. 8, 2008 250.00
Hugh Wolff (Regina) Sep. 13, 2008 250.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 21,000.00

Komarnicki, Ed
Conservative Party of Canada / Souris--Moose Mountain

This part of the return is nil.

Lukiwski, Tom
Conservative Party of Canada / Regina--Lumsden--Lake Centre

Dwayne Henry (Ft. QuAppelle) Oct. 3, 2008 1,100.00
Lorne Kotlar (Regina) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Roland Lafrance (Regina) Sep. 8, 2008 500.00
Butch Lasek (Regina Beach) Sep. 29, 2008 300.00
Dianne Lasek (Regina Beach) Sep. 29, 2008 300.00
Christopher Montgomery (Ottawa) Sep. 24, 2008 900.00
Larry A Mything (Regina) Sep. 29, 2008 250.00
Vic Pankratz (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
Darrell Price (Regina) Sep. 30, 2008 500.00
Blair Ross (Regina) Oct. 1, 2008 300.00
Gavin Semple (Regina) Sep. 16, 2008 500.00
Thomas Shepherd (Regina) Sep. 30, 2008 400.00
Dwayne Walbaum (Regina) Sep. 23, 2008 1,100.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 7,050.00

Ritz, Gerry
Conservative Party of Canada / Battlefords--Lloydminster

Dennis Cann (North Battleford) Oct. 10, 2008 1,000.00
Heather Chisholm (Maidstone) Oct. 7, 2008 250.00
Michael Chisholm (Maidstone) Oct. 7, 2008 250.00
Walter Dutchak (North Battleford) Oct. 10, 2008 300.00
Michael Hall (Lloydminster) Oct. 13, 2008 500.00
Walter Helperi (St. Walburg) Oct. 6, 2008 1,000.00
Lyle Jones (North Battleford) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Owen Kaye (Battleford) Oct. 13, 2008 500.00
W. Neil Lampitt (Battleford) Sep. 16, 2008 500.00
Amador Lopez (Lloydminster) Oct. 7, 2008 1,100.00
Teresa Lopez (Lloydminster) Oct. 7, 2008 1,100.00
Beverley MacDougall (Kindersley) Oct. 10, 2008 1,100.00
Brenna MacDougall (Kindersley) Oct. 10, 2008 1,100.00
Colin MacDougall (Kindersley) Oct. 10, 2008 1,100.00
Richard MacDougall (Kindersley) Oct. 10, 2008 1,100.00
Tanya MacKay (Ottawa) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Brian McCook (Lloydminster) Oct. 7, 2008 250.00
Earl McKee (Spruce Lake) Oct. 7, 2008 300.00
John McMillan (Plenty) Oct. 13, 2008 500.00
Shauna Napastuk (North Battleford) Sep. 24, 2008 500.00
Donnon Revering (Lloydminster) Oct. 13, 2008 500.00
Gerald Rewerts (Cut Knife) Oct. 2, 2008 250.00
Kenneth Ritter (Kindersley) Sep. 15, 2008 550.00
Gerry Ritz (St. Walburg) Oct. 10, 2008 1,100.00
Barb Soloninko (North Battleford) Oct. 6, 2008 500.00
John Soloninko (North Battleford) Oct. 6, 2008 500.00
Henry Spenst (Turtleford) Sep. 12, 2008 500.00
Robert Stromberg (Cochin) Oct. 7, 2008 300.00
Gary Tucker (North Battleford) Sep. 29, 2008 250.00
Garth Walls (Battleford) Oct. 6, 2008 500.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($)18,400.00

Scheer, Andrew
Conservative Party of Canada / Regina--Qu'Appelle

Ervin and Dorothy Baber (Balcarres) Sep. 30, 2008 250.00
Ivan Brown (Sintaluta) Sep. 22, 2008 250.00
William and Jacqueline Carter (Fort Qu'Appelle) Sep. 25, 2008 250.00
O Roy Graham (Fort Qu'Appelle) Oct. 13, 2008 250.00
D E Kramer (Regina) Oct. 3, 2008 500.00
Greg Larson (Leross) Oct. 13, 2008 1,000.00
Loretto Lester (Mississauga) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Donald and Lorraine Lylyk (Regina) Oct. 6, 2008 300.00
Hartley Markusson (Emerald Park) Sep. 23, 2008 500.00
Roger Philips (Regina) Sep. 28, 2008 550.00
Barry Sandercock (Balcarres) Oct. 13, 2008 250.00
James D Scheer (Ottawa) Sep. 15, 2008 590.00
Mary G Scheer (Ottawa) Sep. 15, 2008 590.00
Juanita M Semple (Regina) Oct. 8, 2008 1,100.00
Bert Stueck (Abernethy) Sep. 23, 2008 250.00
Shane Stueck (Abernethy) Sep. 17, 2008 250.00
Karen Totten (Balcarres) Sep. 20, 2008 250.00
Anson C Van Luven (Fort Qu'Appelle) Oct. 13, 2008 250.00
Tom and Lorraine Vincent (Zehner) Oct. 6, 2008 250.00
John W Wilson (Regina) Oct. 4, 2008 250.00
Lloyd E Wolfe (Balgonie) Sep. 26, 2008 300.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 8,680.00

Trost, Brad
Conservative Party of Canada / Saskatoon--Humboldt

Jonathon Abrametz (Saskatoon) Sep. 22, 2008 250.00
Darren R Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 12, 2008 400.00
Jason R Ardell (Martensville) Oct. 6, 2008 400.00
Judy A Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Layne R Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 13, 2008 400.00
Maryann T Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 3, 2008 400.00
Maryann T Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 350.00
Ron B Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 2, 2008 400.00
Ron B Ardell (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 350.00
Merlis Belsher (Saskatoon) Sep. 27, 2008 300.00
Gerard Bourgault (St. Brieux) Sep. 30, 2008 1,100.00
Alan B Chant (Saskatoon) Sep. 20, 2008 400.00
Eugene L Fawcett (Saskatoon) Sep. 27, 2008 400.00
Murray H Heinzlmeir (Ottawa) Oct. 5, 2008 400.00
Sarah Hill (Saskatoon) Oct. 10, 2008 500.00
David M Hnatyshyn (Saskatoon) Sep. 30, 2008 400.00
Bryon Horachek (Saskatoon) Sep. 26, 2008 1,100.00
Randy Klein (Saskatoon) Sep. 30, 2008 1,000.00
Dennis Korte (Humboldt) Sep. 22, 2008 250.00
Jeff Korte (Saskatoon) Oct. 13, 2008 378.00
Jeff Leland (Weldon) Sep. 23, 2008 400.00
Jake Mccrea (Big River) Oct. 10, 2008 400.00
Don Rice (Saskatoon) Oct. 10, 2008 750.00
Ruby Rice (Saskatoon) Oct. 7, 2008 700.00
Eric E Schenstead (Saskatoon) Oct. 12, 2008 500.00
Grant J Schmidt (Melville) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Sherwood Sharfe (Saskatoon) Oct. 6, 2008 400.00
Brad Summach (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 550.00
Cynthia Summach (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 550.00
Alice Tastad (Saskatoon) Sep. 13, 2008 400.00
Jerald Tekatch (Saskatoon) Oct. 10, 2008 500.00
John B Tobin (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 500.00
Brad Trost (Saskatoon) Sep. 13, 2008 275.00
Evelyn E Trost (Melville) Sep. 15, 2008 400.00
Trenton Trost (Melville) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Wilhelm G Trost (Melville) Sep. 15, 2008 400.00
Lenard Watkins (Saskatoon) Oct. 9, 2008 400.00
Gordon A Wilson (Saskatoon) Sep. 20, 2008 300.00
Chris Wittig (Quill Lake) Sep. 30, 2008 400.00
Clarence V Wittig (Humboldt) Sep. 18, 2008 400.00
Gloria M Wittig (Humboldt) Sep. 18, 2008 400.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 19,003.00

Vellacott, Maurice
Conservative Party of Canada / Saskatoon—Wanuskewin

Leonard Fiedelleck (Saskatoon) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Jerry Gedir (Saskatoon) Sep. 17, 2008 366.67
Doug Graham (Saskatoon) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Gordon Haddock (Corman Park) Oct. 2, 2008 500.00
Roger Parent (Saskatoon) Oct. 9, 2008 250.00
Catherine Smith (Medicine Hat) Sep. 30, 2008 400.00
Ken Suchan (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 250.00
Maurice E. Vellacott (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 665.00 (Non-monetary)
Tim Vellacott (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 90.00 (Non-monetary)
Tim Vellacott (Saskatoon) Oct. 13, 2008 250.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 3,016.67

Yelich, Lynne
Conservative Party of Canada / Blackstrap

Jonathan S Abrametz (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 250.00
Earle Amendt (Watrous) Sep. 27, 2008 500.00
Ray Basler (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
David W Beaubier (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 1,000.00
Merlis Belsher (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 300.00
Rossano Bernardi (Ottawa) Sep. 12, 2008 300.00
Dr. Vance Chow (Saskatoon) Oct. 7, 2008 400.00
Greg Clavelle (Viscount) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Jules Clavelle (Viscount) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Myrna Clavelle (Viscount) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Tim Clavelle (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Bill Cooper (Saskatoon) Sep. 12, 2008 500.00
Richard Elson (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 500.00
Ron Fernet (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 250.00
Barry Flink (Loreburn) Oct. 3, 2008 300.00
Trevor Forrest (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 300.00
Carrie Froehlich (Marquis) Sep. 12, 2008 250.00
Ken Froese (Hanley) Oct. 14, 2008 500.00
Jerry Gedir (Saskatoon) Sep. 20, 2008 366.67
Gerald Grandey (Saskatoon) Oct. 7, 2008 550.00
Daniel J Guenther (Saskatoon) Sep. 27, 2008 300.00
Arlo Guy (Kenaston) Sep. 27, 2008 500.00
Deanna Guy (Kenaston) Sep. 27, 2008 500.00
Jack G Harris (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Craig C Herman (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Jerry Katz (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 1,000.00
Greg Keller (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 250.00
Rene Kudel (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
Harold Lane (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 250.00
David Leavitt (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
William MacNeill (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 550.00
Marlene Mallard (Saskatoon) Sep. 26, 2008 1,000.00
Kathleen McCorkell (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 400.00
William McGillivray (Saskatoon) Sep. 18, 2008 300.00
Gary Meschishnick (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 250.00
Veronica M Meyers (Saskatoon) Sep. 20, 2008 300.00
Donald R Morgan (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 1,000.00
Sandra Morgan (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 1,000.00
Sarah R Morgan (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 300.00
Loretta Nash (Saskatoon) Sep. 27, 2008 400.00
Dr. Karim Nasser (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Derek Neis (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 250.00
Rene Neis (Saskatoon) Sep. 24, 2008 250.00
Robert Nicholson (Saskatoon) Oct. 1, 2008 400.00
Virginia Nordlee (Kenaston) Oct. 7, 2008 500.00
Charles Ogle (Saskatoon) Oct. 7, 2008 500.00
Joseph Parker (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Michael Pavelich (Kenaston) Sep. 16, 2008 500.00
Barbara Sagen (Kenaston) Oct. 14, 2008 500.00
Tony Sander (Saskatoon) Sep. 26, 2008 400.00
Brian Scherman (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 250.00
Lydia Simicic (Clavet) Sep. 18, 2008 500.00
Tom Stack (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 500.00
Alan Thomarat (Dundurn) Sep. 12, 2008 1,000.00
Sharon Tkachuk (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 1,000.00
Linda Tomlenovich (Dundurn) Oct. 1, 2008 250.00
Elaine Wright (Saskatoon) Oct. 3, 2008 250.00
Phil Wright (Saskatoon) Oct. 3, 2008 250.00
Vaughn Wyant (Saskatoon) Oct. 8, 2008 1,000.00
Lynne Yelich (Kenaston) Oct. 14, 2008 500.00
Craig Zawada (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 250.00
Carrie Zdunich (Saskatoon) Sep. 16, 2008 500.00
Lyle Zdunich (Saskatoon) Oct. 14, 2008 400.00
Total contributions greater than $200 ($) 29,316.67

Bruce Power: CIC knew key findings of nuclear feasibility study two months before it was released; gov’t withholding vital information from public

When Bruce Power announced the launch of its feasibility study into bringing nuclear power to Saskatchewan on June 17, 2008, the company said it would issue a report by the end of the year. The short time frame to complete the work immediately raised questions.

Ann Coxworth, program co-coordinator with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, told The StarPhoenix the timeline of the feasibility study may not be long enough for Bruce Power to do a complete evaluation.

“Five months is not a very long time for doing a study of that scope. It makes me wonder how thorough it’s going to be,” she said. [Bruce Power eyes nuclear feasibility (StarPhoenix, June 18, 2008)]

If five months wasn’t enough then try 15 weeks because that’s all it took before officials at Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) were advised of the study’s key findings.

According to an undated briefing note released under freedom of information legislation “CIC staff held a preliminary meeting with Bruce Power officials on September 29 during which the following information was provided:

“The study will conclude that it is feasible to build a two unit, 2,000 MW nuclear power plant in Saskatchewan under certain conditions.

“The study will also identify as many as four potential locations (near Lloydminster, near North Battleford, near Prince Albert and near Boundary Dam south of Estevan).” The rest of the page was redacted.

(Estevan was ultimately excluded from consideration. The feasibility study said this was “because the role that region will play in terms of future clean coal generation will be considerable in the future. To locate a nuclear facility, in addition to such a significant amount of coal, would have concentrated too much electricity in the province in a single location.”)

The briefing note also revealed that a summary of the feasibility study was “scheduled to be publicly released by Bruce Power at a news conference in Saskatoon on November 3, 2009 [sic]. Ministers Stewart and Cheveldayoff will participate in the news conference to provide an initial response from government.” The news conference never took place.

Page two of document then serves up this revelation: “Assuming Bruce announces on November 3 that its study shows construction of a nuclear power plant in Saskatchewan is feasible, the decision of the Bruce Power Board about whether to move onto the next step – an full site specific EA – would likely take place in February 2009.”

The feasibility study was presented just over three weeks later at news conference in Saskatoon on Nov. 27. Given the briefing note’s contents it seems reasonable to think that Bruce Power may have a site selected but just hasn’t revealed it yet. The company’s board meetings appear to be closed to the public. No agendas or minutes from the meetings are posted on Bruce Power website so how could the public know what has or hasn’t been decided?

It’s interesting to note that the Bruce Power board includes president and CEO Duncan Hawthorne, Cameco CEO Jerry Grandey and TransCanada Corporation executive vice-president of power operations Alex Pourbaix. These gentlemen also happen to be members of the pro-nuclear Uranium Development Partnership that the province established on Oct. 20 to advise the government on further development of Saskatchewan’s uranium resources. On Feb. 15, in response to an access to information request, CIC refused to disclose a copy of the panel’s work plan and timeline.

A second briefing note, which appears to be dated either Oct. 23 or Nov. 6, indicates that the feasibility study was scheduled to be considered by the Bruce Power board on Nov. 4-5.

“The next step in the process would be a site specific environmental assessment (EA) as required by federal regulators. The EA would be conducted and fully funded by Bruce Power and would take approximately 36 months,” the document states. The section immediately following this statement has been blacked out.

Page two of the briefing note discusses the GHG emissions impact study that was conducted: “While Bruce has not provided a summary of the GHG impact study, officials have indicated the study concludes that operation of a 2,000 MW nuclear power station in Saskatchewan has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 12.5 million tonnes per year, the equivalent of 85% of SaskPower’s total annul GHG emissions.”

A search of Bruce Power’s feasibility study, however, found that SaskPower is not mentioned at all and that the GHG figures presented in the briefing note do not seem to appear either. No explanation is given why.

The briefing note makes reference to a speech given by Mr. Hawthorne at a North Saskatoon Business Association luncheon on Nov. 14 that was attended by Enterprise Minister Lyle Stewart.

StarPhoenix business editor Joanne Paulson reported that the luncheon was held in the Delta Bessborough Hotel, “attracting an audience of more than 230 including Saskatchewan mayors, members of the provincial cabinet and heavy-hitters in the local business community.” Stewart’s name is not in the article.

According to Paulson, Hawthorne told the business crowd “the plant would cost $8 billion to $10 billion in total to build, and would ultimately employ 1,000 people full-time, many of those university graduates.” [Nuclear plant report due soon (StarPhoenix, Nov. 15, 2008)]

It’s unclear how many non-university graduates or local residents of the host city will be employed at the plant. An online presentation recently posted to the Bruce Power website states that “some relocation and training of workers would be needed.” The feasibility study mentions neither.

The access to information request submitted to CIC in January asked for copies of any briefing notes and memorandums from Aug. 1, 2008 to Jan. 15, 2009 regarding or relating to Bruce Power.

On Mar. 9 the CIC released 11 pages of information, half of which are blacked out. The CIC listed the following reasons under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act as justification for withholding the information from the public:

– The records contain consultation among members of Executive Council on matters that relate to the making of government decisions or the formulation of government policy.

– The records contain briefings to members of Executive Council in relation to matters that are before or are proposed to be brought before the Executive Council or any of its committees.

– The records could reasonably be expected to disclose advice, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for CIC or a member of Executive Council.

– The records could reasonably be expected to disclose positions, plans, procedures, criteria or instructions developed for the purpose of contractual or other negotiations by or on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan or a government institution, or considerations that relate to those negotiations.

– The records could reasonably be expected to disclose information, including the proposed plans, policies or projects of a government institution, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to result in disclosure of a pending policy or budgetary decision of a pending policy decision or budgetary item.

– The records could reasonably be expected to disclose information, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with contractual or other negotiations of the Government of Saskatchewan or a government institution.

– The records contain financial, commercial, scientific, technical or labour relations information that is supplied in confidence, implicitly or explicitly, to a government institution by a third party.

The reasons given for denying access to certain information are itself revealing. Two of them say it is because of “contractual or other negotiations.” What possible contracts or negotiations could be taking place that relate to Bruce Power? The public are repeatedly told that no decisions have been made but obviously some kind of deal making appears to be going on. The other thing to keep in mind is that the briefing notes are five or six months old so who knows what has transpired since then. As usual the public will be the last to know.

Another reason cited for denying access is “pending policy or budgetary items.” Again, what could possibly be in the works if no decision has been made? Or has the public been misled all these months?

Meanwhile, in Alberta, Bruce Power seems to be pulling out all the stops trying to sell its nuclear dream in that province.

Jim Macdonald of The Canadian Press reported on Mar. 15 that the company “has started ramping up a public relations campaign in four Alberta cities as the government prepares to gauge how people feel.

“Billboards were recently erected in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Peace River trumpeting Bruce Power Alberta as a green energy provider.

“Exploring opportunities for growth in Alberta,” say the billboards. “Next-generation nuclear, hydrogen, wind, solar.”

The article notes that “Bruce Power has no wind, solar or hydrogen generation in Alberta.”

Macdonald spoke with Enterprise Minister Lyle Stewart who said Saskatchewan’s large deposits of uranium make nuclear power a good fit.

“I think we can pull it off if we have a willing builder and if the public endorses the idea,” said Stewart, who explained that surplus power would probably be sold to the United States.

“There is such a demand for power in Western Canada and the western half of the United States,” he said. “I don’t think we can produce too much power between our two provinces to saturate that demand.”

Macdonald also talked to Bruce Power CEO Duncan Hawthorne who apparently said there’s “enough demand on the horizon to justify two reactors in each province.”

The price tag would be huge - up to $24 billion in total. [Bruce Power using billboards to win support for nuclear energy on the Prairies (The Canadian Press, Mar. 15, 2009)]

Bruce Power’s feasibility study, however, does not say anything about exporting surplus electricity to the United States or who will pay for the infrastructure upgrades required to carry out that work.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall say that the public will be consulted before any decisions are made. But in the meantime we have Bruce Power spending tens of thousands of dollars advertising its plans in each province, and it seems every mayor or conservative MLA and MP within earshot of a microphone or reporter is voicing support for nuclear power. Clearly any credibility or legitimacy the upcoming public consultation process may have had is now gone.