Sask. NDP says government “blocked” bill to lower power, insurance costs

Saskatchewan New Democrats say their plan to cut power and insurance costs has been blocked by the government. Sierra D’Souza Butts reports.

The Saskatchewan NDP said its introduction of a bill aimed to lower power bills and car insurance was “blocked” by the government at the Saskatchewan Legislature on Wednesday.

The opposition stated the piece of legislation — Bill 612, The Lower Power Bills and Car Insurance Act — will help keep life affordable for residents across the province, as Saskatchewan residents report high levels of financial stress and rising living costs.

“The SaskParty government is blocking the introduction of a bill. that we think is important, and that we believe will speak to the very real affordability concerns being faced by the people of Saskatchewan,” NDP MLA Aleana Young told reporters.

Until the bill is introduced and read a first time inside the Legislature, details of what it entails are embargoed, Young noted.

The introduction of the bill follows recent rate increases from both Crown corporations. SaskPower increased its rate by 3.9 per cent in February after announcing the hike on Jan. 2, while Saskatchewan Government Insurance submitted a plan on Jan. 2 to increase insurance rates for 98 per cent of vehicles operating in the province. SGI has announced hikes of 3.75 per cent for 2026 and 2027.

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The Opposition has argued the increases will further strain households that rely on vehicles for work, school and daily activities, particularly in communities with limited public transit options. The party has also criticized the province’s fiscal management, noting Saskatchewan’s debt has grown to roughly $40 billion and a deficit of at least $1 billion is expected in the upcoming budget.

" Saying what it’s like in other provinces does nothing to prop up the opinions and perspectives of the people of Saskatchewan that are telling us they can’t afford to pay more,” expressed Darcy Warrington. “They are diminishing the lived experience of all of these folks, whether it’s 40 to $100 more on car insurance this year and then 40 to $100 more on car insurance next year.”

Saskatchewan’s Minister Responsible for SaskPower and SGI defended the rate changes, stating the reason for the hike was to support SGI’s Auto Fund which covers the costs for repairing damaged vehicles.

“Where we are at right now, given the increasing costs of repair per vehicle and the pressure of us putting on the auto fund, is that we’ve had to make that reapplication which is the responsible thing to do,” Minister Jeremy Harrison told reporters.

He added, that SGI’s rate increase was needed after a decade of not being adjusted for a decade.

“Over the course of the last decade where the auto fund was in a significant [Minimum Capital Test] position of surplus and because of that the recommendation had been to return, at that point surplus funds in the auto fund to insured members for a part of the program,” he explained.