SASKATOON, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released new Insightrix polling showing 84 per cent of Saskatchewanians support the Saskatchewan government creating a resource revenue heritage fund to save a portion of the province’s resource revenue each year.

“The poll is clear: The vast majority of Saskatchewanians want the provincial government to create a Saskatchewan heritage fund,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director. “Saskatchewanians see how places like Alaska and Norway are benefiting from their heritage funds and they want Saskatchewan to join the club.”

Alaska and Norway both have successful heritage funds. Last year, each eligible Alaskan received $1,000 in a dividend from the fund. Norway’s fund is worth about $3.2 trillion. Money generated from the fund covers about 20 per cent of Norway’s budget every year.

The Insightrix poll asked Saskatchewanians if they support or oppose the government creating a heritage fund to save the province’s resource revenue. Results of the poll show:

• 41 per cent strongly support
• 42 per cent somewhat support
• 5 per cent somewhat oppose
• 1 per cent strongly oppose
• 11 per cent are unsure

The Saskatchewan government commissioned a report that recommended the creation of a heritage fund that “allows for one-time resource revenues to become a lasting source of wealth,” in 2013.

If the government had created a heritage fund in 2013, it would be worth about $4 billion today and generate interest income of about $199 million annually.

“Every year the government fails to implement a concrete plan to pay down the debt and create a heritage fund, it’s another year of lost opportunity to save for the future,” Haubrich said. “Premier Scott Moe needs to listen to Saskatchewanians, pay down the debt and set up a heritage fund as soon as possible.”