NDP calls Sask. Party’s infrastructure spat a ‘silly standoff’

The NDP is calling the Sask. Party’s spat with the federal government over infrastructure money a “silly standoff” that’s out of line with the priorities of Regina.

Premier Scott Moe expressed his frustration Tuesday over the Integrated Bilateral Agreement (IBA) between the province and the federal government.

The 10-year agreement, worth $900 million, allows the federal government to provide infrastructure funding through the Community Culture and Recreation (CCR) fund to the province.

Saskatchewan has applied for 25 projects, of which 13 have been approved.

The federal government is recommending the province do upgrades to two Regina swimming pools — Wascana and Maple Leaf — but those are projects which the province did not apply for. Moe is calling it a “political game,” as both pools are in Liberal MP Ralph Goodale’s federal riding.

“This is not Ralph Goodale’s re-election fund,” Moe said in a scrum Tuesday at Government House.

Although the Sask. Party is moving forward with three approved projects — Gordie Howe Bowl and Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, and the Globe Theatre in Regina — it is not going to approve more projects.

That is until the province’s request to transfer money from transit to the CCR be approved by the feds.

“(It’s) in good faith that the federal government actually is going to allow for the transfer of those funds from the (infrastructure) fund into the CCR fund at some point in time,” said Moe.

Amid this political quarrel, the NDP is calling on the Sask. Party to end its arguing and begin construction on the pools, which it says are vital to the Regina communities they serve.

Opposition Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon said although the NDP supports community projects all across the province, the issue surrounding the pools is “bizarre.”

“We have a federal government that has listened to the City of Regina, the leadership of Regina, the residents of Regina, and have extended support for very important pools,” Wotherspoon said Wednesday at Maple Leaf Pool in Regina.

“We have a province (saying) now that’s not on for them, and they’re making a political fight over these two pools that are very important to the people of Regina.”

Wotherspoon added as long as the spat continues, the costs of these pools will be put on the residents.

Mayor Michael Fougere said earlier in the week if the province doesn’t foot the bill on construction of the pools, the city would pick up the cost. Wotherspoon said he welcomes the city’s commitment but the province should front its share of the cost.

“If the province doesn’t step up with their share of (money), that comes at the costs of Regina residents and Regina taxpayers … That’s not right,” Wotherspoon said.

The NDP critic also said Moe should be more focused on the interests of the people of Saskatchewan than involving himself in federal fights.

“It’s frustrating beyond belief for the citizens of Regina and those that love this pool to be caught up in the political games of the Sask. Party,” Wotherspoon said.

“It’s beneath the office of a premier. Regardless of who’s elected in Ottawa, regardless of political stripe, it’s the job of a premier (and) of an elected government to advance the interests of their residents.”

In a letter posted to Twitter, the federal government said based on the agreement between the province, it won’t be able to review requests to move funds around until 2021.