233159


Wall woos Calgary oil

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is taking a turf war with Alberta to its economic heart, inviting energy companies based in Calgary to move their headquarters to his province.

In a letter to Whitecap Resources dated Monday, Wall offers to subsidize relocation costs, trim taxes and royalties and help find space in unused government buildings if the oil and gas firm moves to Saskatchewan.

Wall cites reductions to corporate and personal income taxes promised in his recent provincial budget as further incentives, adding that his government has no intention of implementing a carbon tax like the one Alberta did this year.

"Given these major tax changes and your production presence in our province, I would therefore like to formally ask you to consider a relocation of your head office from Calgary to Saskatchewan," reads the letter.

A spokesman for the premier confirmed the letter's authenticity.

The letter emerges in the wake of public bickering between Notley and Wall over each other's provincial budgets. Neither was immediately available for comment.

The letter, provided to The Canadian Press, says it may make sense for Whitecap Resources and other Calgary companies with oil and gas production in Saskatchewan to make a "co-operative joint move" to benefit from additional cost savings.

Whitecap Resources CEO Grant Fagerheim said he's taking Wall's offer seriously but would only move if it would benefit his company's shareholders. He conceded such a decision would come as a "shock" to his Calgary head office staff of 105.



More Business News



232708
230801
Data from CryptoCompare
RECENT STORIES
232482
Castanet Proud Member of RTNDA Canada
230127
Press Room
232177
231274