No extravagant renos at SaskPower HQ, government vows
There will be no extravagant renovations going ahead at SaskPower's Regina headquarters, the minister responsible for the Crown utility says.
On Wednesday, Bill Boyd was responding to questions about reports about the proposed $143-million refurbishment of the famed s-shaped structure on Victoria Avenue.
The overhaul has been put on hold.
According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the plan goes far beyond basic maintenance to include a number of "questionable expenses".
The CTF said it obtained documents through a freedom of information request that said some of the proposed expenses included:
- $282,000 for a rooftop patio; including heaters and $72,750 for stone floors
- $65,628 for "living walls"·
- $200,000 for kitchen equipment
- $173,250 on metal cladding for the "penthouse"
- $60,750 on "executive area" upgrades
- $20,000 for two electric car charging stations
- $100,000 for a rainwater tank and piping
However, Boyd says any final renovation plans will have to be approved by the provincial government — and it will not approve frivolous spending.
"Well, I think any time that you're looking at rooftop types of grandiose patios, I think they're beyond what people would deem as acceptable," he said.
The information on the renovations was released the same day cabinet was approving a 5.5 per cent power rate increase for 2014 and a 3 per cent increase for 2015.
The government should abandon "this luxury renovation plan," NDP critic Warren McCall said.
"For the government and its appointees to think this kind of lavish spending is appropriate and fair to ratepayers is shocking -- especially at a time when the government is raising SaskPower rates for Saskatchewan families," McCall said in a news release.
