Sask. Party pledges to boost local patents, R&D

Saskatchewan Party leader Brad Wall says he'll bring in a tax incentive for companiesusing ideaspatented bypeople in the province.

Calling it a growth tax reduction, Wall said the change would mean that incomes taxes would be lowered from 12 to 6per cent forcorporations that earn income onproducts that are patented by Saskatchewan companies.

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"Becoming the first province in Canada and the first jurisdiction in North America to offer this incentive will be one more part of the Saskatchewan advantage that has already attracted thousands of new people and jobs and millions of dollars of new investment to Saskatchewan over the past few years," Wallsaid in a newsrelease.

He also promised that if re-elected, his partywould provide a refundable tax credit for research and developmentwhen and if theprovince's finances are stronger.

That tax credit would reach a maximum of10 per cent and $100,000, per year for a corporation or company that used it.

Saskatchewan voters go to the polls on April 4.