Province pushing feds for project approval

The Provincial government is looking for the approval of construction projects from the Federal government.

Deputy Premier Gord Wyant and Minister of Government Relations Warren Kaeding sent an open letter to federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale on Tuesday.

Our govt is working to ensure the fed govt is fair to both urban & rural SK when allocating infrastructure $
@GordWyant & @wkaeding have written to @ralphgoodale to approve the transfer of funds #YQR & #YXE have requested so ALL SK communities are given their due consideration. pic.twitter.com/Jx23nvbKFn

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) August 6, 2019

The projects were originally submitted under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan on June 18, and there has been no indication so far from the federal government.

The three projects that are proposed are Regina’s Globe Theatre, Saskatoon’s Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and Gordie Howe Bowl.

Wyant spoke outside the cabinet office in Saskatoon Tuesday afternoon, and said the big push is getting this done by the end of the construction season.

“We want to make sure we get as many projects approved by the federal government and under construction this season.”

Wyant said it’s been “quite a process” for them in entering the lists for the federal government, and said there’s no political motivation in this issue.

“We’d like the federal government to honour their commitment to transfer those funds so those projects can move forward.”

He said without a reallocation of the funds, it takes all the money out of the cultural stream.

That becomes an issue moving forward with funding similar projects, Wyant said.

Wyant said the cost-shared projects with the provincial government will total approximately $24 million from the federal side between the three in Regina and Saskatoon.

“(We want) to make sure we have as much flexibility as we can in terms of funding other cultural projects in other cities, and other municipalities around the province.”

Wyant did add that he believes these projects will be approved by the Federal government.