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REGINA — For years, Saskatchewan has put money into a federal program to help other provinces — now it’s time for some payback, says Premier Brad Wall.

Wall says he’d like Saskatchewan to get at least $570 million in new funding in next week’s federal budget. That’s the amount the province will pay into the equalization program this year.

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The program transfers funds from “have” to “have-not” provinces so that poorer jurisdictions can offer government services at levels similar to elsewhere.

Wall says it doesn’t make sense that Saskatchewan continues to contribute so much at a time when the province’s energy sector is struggling.

“And so we’re not asking to get any more; we’re not asking to have our status changed. We like being a ‘have’ province,” Wall said Wednesday during the second week of campaigning for the April 4 provincial election.