The provincial government has begun preliminary discussion with possible partners from the private sector for SaskTel. The announcement came Tuesday as the net earnings of the Crown Corporation were released showing $134.8 million for the last fiscal year, up $28.9 million over last year.

Dustin Duncan is the Minister Responsible for SaskTel and said that the talks were in the very early stages and may not amount to anything, but if they did the government would retain majority control.

It was just in April that the Saskatchewan government passed Bill 40, which allows for the sale of up to 49% of a Crown without a referendum.