Close X
Sunday, September 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Saskatchewan Premier Wall, cabinet ministers freeze wages to face 'challenges'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Feb, 2015 10:26 AM

    REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says he and his cabinet ministers have agreed to take a wage freeze to help address "revenue challenges."

    Wall says the wage freeze also applies to senior government officials and other non-unionized executives, such as Crown corporation and health region employees.

    He says the move is for one year and is expected to save $15 million.

    Wall is also asking the board that governs the salaries of legislature members to implement a wage freeze.

    The government will also be writing to school divisions and post-secondary institutions to ask that they apply the same policy.

    Wall said earlier this week that the world oil price slump means Saskatchewan will face a budget shortfall of between $600 million and $800 million this year.

    "With the revenue challenges we are facing, our government is committed to controlling operating spending," Wall said in a release Friday. "I believe those measures have to start at the top and that's the intent of this wage freeze."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Critics question Harper's rationale for stalled oil and gas regs to curb GHGs

    Critics question Harper's rationale for stalled oil and gas regs to curb GHGs
    OTTAWA — Opposition critics and energy experts are questioning Prime Minister Stephen Harper's contention that Canada can't move to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector without American alignment.

    Critics question Harper's rationale for stalled oil and gas regs to curb GHGs

    Supreme Court to rule on privacy rights for cellphone users arrested by police

    Supreme Court to rule on privacy rights for cellphone users arrested by police
    OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada delivers a precedent-setting ruling Thursday that's expected to dictate how much warrantless access police can have to a person's cellphone.

    Supreme Court to rule on privacy rights for cellphone users arrested by police

    Conservative MP's bill would let caucuses decide which colleagues are in or out

    Conservative MP's bill would let caucuses decide which colleagues are in or out
    OTTAWA — A Conservative MP's bill rapidly making its way through the House of Commons could restrict leaders in the future from unilaterally suspending MPs — a point very relevant on Parliament Hill this year.

    Conservative MP's bill would let caucuses decide which colleagues are in or out

    TSX in correction territory with 343-point slide: 'It's a sell Canada mentality'

    TSX in correction territory with 343-point slide: 'It's a sell Canada mentality'
    TORONTO — The Toronto stock market hit correction territory Wednesday, losing almost 350 points in the worst one-day sell-off since June 2013 amid a further plunge in energy stocks.

    TSX in correction territory with 343-point slide: 'It's a sell Canada mentality'

    Convicted theatre mogul Garth Drabinsky makes bid to reclaim Order of Canada

    Convicted theatre mogul Garth Drabinsky makes bid to reclaim Order of Canada
    TORONTO — Convicted theatre impresario Garth Drabinsky argues he was "denied natural justice" when a decision was made to strip him of his Order of Canada, an honour he is fighting to reclaim.

    Convicted theatre mogul Garth Drabinsky makes bid to reclaim Order of Canada

    Dogs caused house fire by chewing or playing with matches: Yukon fire marshal

    Dogs caused house fire by chewing or playing with matches: Yukon fire marshal
    WHITEHORSE — A couple of dogs likely started a house fire by chewing or playing with a box of matches, the Yukon's fire marshal says.

    Dogs caused house fire by chewing or playing with matches: Yukon fire marshal