Opposition vows to fight government on what it means to 'privatize'

The Opposition says it will fight the government of Saskatchewan on its attempts to define "privatization" when it comes to the province's Crown corporations.

A law to define "privatize" was introduced in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

The government says it will clarify the word in the law that protects Crown ownership, which was introduced by the NDP government after the 2003 election but agreed to by the Saskatchewan Party as well.

Premier Brad Wall says the definition makes clear that selling a minority stake in a Crown corporation would not equate to privatizing it.

"I think this definition ensures we will not beprivatizingthe Crown corporations per that Act, that we will not see the control lost in Saskatchewan but that we can have, perhaps, some equity investment in the Crowns," Wall told reporters at the Legislature on Thursday.

The Opposition's interim leader, Trent Wotherspoon, says the government has broken its promise not to sell the Crowns.

"This would be a massive erosion of control.This isprivatizationand the Premier was not honest with Saskatchewan people on this front,"Wotherspoonsaid. "It's a major betrayal and we'll fight it every step of the way."

Saskatchewan's Crown corporations include SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel and Saskatchewan Government Insurance.

The government says it is still committed to hold a public vote if it sells all or most of a Crown corporation.