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The Saskatchewan NDP said it has plans to introduce legislation when the legislature sits on March 2 to stop rate hikes from SaskPower and SGI.
The Official opposition argued that Saskatchewan families cannot afford higher bills.
“In this spring sitting of the legislature, Carla Beck’s team intends to introduce a private member’s bill that will put a stop to Scott Moe’s costly hike to power bills and car insurance,” NDP MLA Aleana Young said, emphasizing that residents across the province are already feeling the squeeze.
Read more:
- Saskatoon Light & Power rates going up 3.9% on Feb. 1, with another hike set for 2027
- SGI applying to raise rates by 3.75% for 2026 and 2027 in first increase since 2014
- SaskPower bills going up 3.9 per cent in February to support ‘record capital investments’
“We’ve heard loud and clear from people across the province, people who are living through a cost-of-living crisis, and they believe that these rate hikes must stop,” Young said. “Scott Moe’s ridiculous rate hikes, frankly, are bad for business. They’re bad for the economy, and worst of all they’re bad for people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
SaskPower’s first 3.9 per cent increase took effect in February, with the second scheduled for 2027. Young said 98 per cent of drivers will be paying higher SGI premiums in June.
Young Beck and NDP SGI critic Darcy Warrington have written to all MLAs, urging them to support the forthcoming bill.
“I want them to listen to their constituents truly, and what those people need to make ends meet to get by,” Young said.
“It’s time for change.”
A key focus of the proposed legislation would be eliminating interim rate increases before the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel completes its process.
“It’s called an interim rate. It went into effect at the start of this month.” Young said. “If the rate review panel comes back and says, ‘You know what, we disagree with this,’ what recourse do they have? Are they going to credit people’s bills?”
She added: “Frankly, it’s this interim process that’s nonsense, and we’re seeking to address that through this private member’s bill.”
When asked whether the Saskatchewan Party majority makes the outcome a foregone conclusion, Young pushed back.
“God damn it, it shouldn’t be a forgone conclusion. This is supposed to be a democracy,” Young said. “Every MLA who believes that affordability matters has the opportunity to vote in favour of that.”
The Saskatchewan government has previously said rate increases are necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of the Crown Corporations. Young rejected that argument, saying SaskPower’s financial challenges stem from government decisions, not operational losses.
“In the history of Saskatchewan, SaskPower has never lost money,” Young said. “The reason they need the money – and the SaskPower CEO has said this – is because of decisions that the Sask Party government is making and the impact they are having on the Crown. Simple as that.”
Young said the utility has taken on significant debt under the current government.
“They need money because of bad decisions, mismanagement and pet projects being run by the Sask Party,” she said.
The legislature is set to reconvene on March 2.
