Crown strike causing delays for companies

The strike affecting seven Crown corporations is having an impact on business in Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon real estate company Epic Alliance says they have been unable to tear down their damaged rental house in Regina because Sask Energy will not disconnect the service.

The house located on Fourth Avenue in the Transcona neighbourhood was damaged in a fire and demolition was scheduled for this month.

That is now on hold, said co-owner Alisa Thompson.

“It’s all gutted so it’s dangerous to be left up. We just want it gone so everyone can move on,” said Thompson. “We have holding costs every month that we are eating.”

Thompson is not alone. Silverado Demolition in Saskatoon said a number of jobs have been postponed.

Sask Energy spokesperson Dave Burdeniuk said service connection and disconnection requests are on the back burner until the labour situation is resolved.

“That, under the terms of our essential services agreement with our union, is not considered an essential service.”

Thompson said they have secured the property the best they can with fencing, but she’s worried it will become a safety hazard the longer it is left standing.

The City of Regina is also growing impatient.

“They are hounding us non-stop; ‘it needs to be pushed over, it needs to be dealt with.’ Our hands are tied,” Thompson said.

Burdeniuk said removal and capping of gas lines has to be done by Sask Energy crews because the equipment is owned by the Crown.