Wall attacks NDP platform of resource revenue sharing

A Saskatchewan Party ad attacking the NDP for supporting resource revenue sharing with First Nations has resulted in an outcry. Said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde of the ad, “It is almost always First Nations people against everyone else in Saskatchewan. It’s almost as if they’ve written off 15 to 20 per cent in the province.” Bellegarde said the FSIN and government should be talking about how resource revenue sharing can be developed within the treaty framework. Jim Reiter, Government Services Minister, has come to the defence of his party leader, stating in a letter to the Star Phoenix, “Premier Brad Wall has stated that our government believes resource revenues should be used for the benefit of all Saskatchewan people, without a special deal to give a portion of those revenues to any group. The NDP policy on resource revenue sharing was soundly rejected by voters. Our ad simply raises the fact that the NDP has not changed its policies, and although it has a new leader in Cam Broten, it’s still the same old NDP.”