Calvert, Wall push for better equalization deal

Saskatchewan politicians who've been lobbying for a new deal on equalization payments made another pitch Monday for an "energy accord" that would put more federal dollars in provincial coffers.

This time, Premier Lorne Calvert and Opposition leader Brad Wall were speaking to a House of Commons committee on fiscal imbalance while the committee was making a Regina stop.

Calvert said the federal government should immediately get to work negotiating such a deal, similar to the one reached recently with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

That deal, signed earlier this year, is worth about $1.1 billion to Nova Scotia and $2.6 billion to Newfoundland over eight years.

The deal allows those provinces to keep 100 per cent of their off-shore oil and gas revenues without having the money "clawed back" from equalization.

Calvert said it's not fair that Saskatchewan gets to keep only 10 per cent of its energy revenues after equalization claw backs are considered.

"Eventually I believe that the national government will see the light," Calvert said.

During his presentation, Wall showed the committee a map of Western Canada, on which red dots signify a province's oil development.

Alberta is almost entirely red, while Saskatchewan has hardly any dots.

"Most people don't know that for a time in the '60s, the province of Alberta was able to develop this industry and they still received equalization," Wall said. "Saskatchewan would like that same opportunity so we can fill this in a little bit."

Wall and Calvert both say it's important that they each speak to federal politicians to make it clear that Saskatchewan is united on this issue. The provincial finance minister and Opposition finance critic made similar presentations to the Senate earlier this year.