Sask. NDP criticizes ISC sale

The Saskatchewan NDP is raising concerns over the $1.2 billion partial sale of ISC, warning privatization could risk citizens’ data. Jacob Carr reports.

The Official Opposition is pushing back after the recently announced sale of Saskatchewan’s Information Services Corporation (ISC).

A $1.2 billion agreement with Canadian private company Plenary Americas LP was announced this week.

“There is nothing to prevent this company – the new owner of ISC, Plenary – from selling this asset to another company, even if it is foreign owned, even if it is state owned," said NDP MLA Aleana Young.

The NDP is also citing concerns over the new private owner not having any obligation to keep ISC’s structures or fees intact, adding this could increase the prices of land transactions and registering property.

But Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says it was ISC that came to the provincial government with the wish to sell, and a deal was struck that benefits both parties.

“The whole process was led by the ISC board and they came to the government with a recommendation, and the golden share that the government had with respect to the head office operating here, board members, all of those sorts of thing were actually enhanced, in the legislation that we passed this spring,” Moe said.

The provincial government will maintain its stake in ISC (roughly 30 per cent). The government says the deal comes with enhancements and benefits including the province being able to appoint two of ISC’s board members, while also ensuring that the company’s head office will remain in Regina.

“The master services agreement is legislated until 2053 … all of the data, all of the intellectual property will be located by law, here in this province,” said Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison.

But the opposition says it’s still confused as to why the provincial government has decided to sell what they say is a profitable company year after year.

“They have handed over a monopoly on this service delivery for the next 27 years,” said Young.

“I cannot find a person in this province, no matter how far outside of the cities I look, who thinks that handing a monopoly service to a fully private company who only has the interests of their shareholders and their investor at heart, is a good idea.”