Saskatchewan premier wants $570M from Ottawa in federal budget

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says Saskatchewan has put money into afederal program to help other provinces and now it's time to getsome payback.

Wall says he'd like to see Saskatchewan get at least $570 millionin new funding in next week's federal budget.

That's the amount Saskatchewan will pay into equalization thisyear.

Wall is currently running as leader of the Saskatchewan Party, which is runningto be re-elected for a third term in office.

Equalization transfers funds from "have" to "have-not"provinces, so that poorer jurisdictions can offer government
services at levels similar to elsewhere.

Wall says it doesn't make sense that Saskatchewan continues tocontribute so much at a time when the province's energy sector isstruggling.

Wall says any new federal funding would go toinfrastructure and to a plan to put energy workers back to work
cleaning up old oil wells.

"I understand the equalization formula is not likely to changeanytime soon," Wall said Wednesday during the second week ofcampaigning for the April 4 provincial election.

"But the federal government could recognize that the formula isflawed by providing Saskatchewan with new economic stimulus fundingat least equal to the amount they are taking in equalization."