Calvert's NDP Government
Hansard
In 2001 the Saskatchewan NDP Government began its continuing financial bail-out of Minds Eye Productions. Minds Eye filed for bankruptcy protection in 2003.
Currently (August 2006) Minds Eye is again not able to pay its creditors. It is in creditor protection proceedings pursuant to the Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act.
There has been debate concerning Minds Eye Productions in the Saskatchewan Legislature throughout the past few years.
Debates concerning the following details are included in various Hansard proceedings:
July 2001: $4.5 million ‘investment’ was in 2001 (purportedly 15% share of equity)
December 18, 2002: a further $2 million ‘investment’ ($1.125 million advanced by end of year)
December 31, 2002: $4.5 Million investment written down to $500,000
December 2004: Government decision for over $ 500,000 funding for Prairie Giant.
February 17, 2005: Announcement of Douglas movie financial contribution via Order-in-Council - Mouseland Productions Inc. Contributions Agreement Schedule A
$614, 400 and the promotion detail.
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Hansard proceedings
June 12, 2002: p. 2001 - concerning the “$4.5 million investment in Minds Eye” and the “$11 million of taxpayers’ money to build a new sound stage in Regina”
May 6, 2003: p. 907-909 - summary of investment in Minds Eye
$4.5 million “now written down to $500,000.” “the approved investment is six and a half million dollars and its been written down by 4 million as he indicated, for the year-end 2002”
June 16, 2003: p. 1674-1675
http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/committees/HumanServices/Verbatim/050413HU.pdf
April 13, 2005: No.16, (p. 218-220) Standing committee on human services
$614,400 funding with tax credits totals $1.8 million from Saskatchewan Government
SaskFilm involved as administrators of the sound stage and as film commissioner scouting sites etc. for Prairie Giant
Discussion suggests NDP notables still negotiating promotional agreement.
http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/hansard/25L1S/050427Hansard.pdf
April 27, 2005: (p.2721-2722) and
http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/committees/HumanServices/Verbatim/050511HU.pdf
May 11, 2005: No.19 p.266-268
Culture, Youth and Recreation Ministry is queried about an August 2004 staff briefing note which states “… any support outside the provisions of existing programs and policies would be subject to negative scrutiny. It would create significant precedents for other film projects and [would] have an impact on the credibility of the results of the film review”. Responses indicate that although funds weren’t available through Culture, Youth and Recreation, a legal way of providing funding through the Centennial celebrations fund was identified.
Regarding due diligence as to the investment value of the project, Ms Mclean, a Deputy Minister for the Government responded: “…we undertook consultations with SaskFILM and were referred to Telefilm Canada that actually undertook extensive review of the project itself and their due diligence is quite comprehensive and thorough.... we recognised that the due diligence undertaken by Telefilm was quite extensive in terms of financial feasibility of this particular initiative.”
Also asks for PR costs for NDP notables as per the February 17, 2005 Order-in-Council. The response was “the part of the deal to publicize this film was to be done through an agreement with the CBC”
May 3, 2006: No.33 p.538-540 Standing committee on Human Services
The Saskatchewan Party seeks an apology and requests clarification on the school curriculum question.
Gardiner is to Saskatchewan what Douglas is to the NDP
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