Some taxpayers in Saskatchewan's Prairie Valley School Division have been asking about whether or not the division has the authority to move ahead with certain capital projects.

Well, last week I wrote the Minister to find out more. Those who are following the issue, can read more about the issue in the letter posted below:

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Dear Minister Harpauer,

As you may know, the Prairie Valley School Division (PVSD) is moving forward with a number of new capital projects. According to the division's 2011-12 budget, it is proceeding with a Kipling School upgrade ($6.6 million), Vibank School upgrade ($7 million), school division administrative office expansion ($6.3 million), "minor capital" projects ($3 million) and energy efficiency capital upgrades ($4.2 million in 2010-11, $23.8 million over six years.) For each of those projects, the division's budget notes the initiatives are "division funded."

However, it is my understanding that school boards cannot proceed with capital projects without the approval of the Ministry of Education. According to the Ministry's PreK-12 School Facilities Funding Guidelines - "Capital projects initiated by the division which do not involve provincial funding must still be approved by the Minister for construction."

Yet, Ministry of Education responses to Freedom of Information requests filed by the CTF do not seem to show evidence of those projects receiving Ministry approval. Further, the Ministry’s 2011-2015 capital projects list also does not appear to show approval of the aforementioned projects.

Could you please indicate if the projects in question met provincial criteria prior to proceeding and if not, how does the Ministry plan on responding to the situation? Further, given the PVSD's concerns with the province's new funding model, has the ministry completed any analysis as to whether or not the PVSD can afford the projects in question?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Colin Craig
Prairie Director - Canadian Taxpayers Federation

By: Colin Craig
Posted: February 19, 2012
Topic: Saskatchewan

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