Sask. government introduces law to define 'privatize'

The government of Saskatchewan has introduced a new law to define the word "privatize".

It says the changes will clarify the meaning of the term when it comes to the province's Crown corporations.

• NDP vows not to sell off Crown corporations

The government has agreed not to sell a Crown such as SaskTel without a vote of support from the people of the province.

It says the new law would clarify that it could sell up to 49 per cent of a company without "privatizing" it.

• Premier Brad Wall discusses the potential sale of SaskTel

Justice Minister Gord Wyant saidthe change will allow pension plans and other investors to buy shares in a Crown corporation.

"But it's important to know that ... the control of the corporation has to stay with the people of Saskatchewan," Wyant said.

"So typically that would be 51% of the shares of any one particular corporation; but it allows investment."

The Opposition says it sounds as though the government is looking for ways to sell off crown businesses without holding a public vote.

Nicole Sarauer is the NDP's justice critic. She says selling 49 per cent of a company sounds like privatization to her.

"That would be a form of privatization in our mind," Sarauer told reporters. "And we would have to make sure that the people of Saskatchewan have provided a mandate for that.

"Time and time again this government has pushed forward privatization when they didn't receive a mandate for it," she said.

The government says it is clarifying the definition of "privatize" in light of talks about the future of the government-owned phone company, SaskTel.

However it stresses that no offers for that company have been made or are being considered.