NDP Leader Lorne Calvert. (CBC) Saskatchewan's NDP Opposition is challenging the sincerity of the provincial government's promise to engage in public consultations about the future of uranium development.

Lorne Calvert, leader of the opposition in the house, says he believes the outcome is a foregone conclusion, based on what he has seen.

"The public consultation's a sham," Calvert said, adding that, in his view, the government has already decided its strategy on uranium.

Calvert referred to a government budget document which outlines priorities and strategies for Enterprise Saskatchewan, the provincial agency that is examining options for uranium development.

Page 4 says a priority of the government is to grow the economy. It goes on to talk about a report on uranium development.

It says a "key action" for Enterprise Saskatchewan will be to "advance recommendations of the Uranium Development Partnership report after public consultation to increase value-added processing of Saskatchewan's uranium resources."

The report, which is expected to be released on Friday, has already been criticized by the Opposition as likely favouring more development.

Lyle Stewart, minister responsible for Enterprise Saskatchewan. (CBC) But the minister responsible says he will take his cue from the public.

"I can honestly tell the people of Saskatchewan that we are committed to only developing the nuclear cycle in a fashion that meets with the approval of the majority of Saskatchewan people," Lyle Stewart, the minister responsible for Enterprise Saskatchewan said on Tuesday. "The public consultation process will be one of the ways we have of determining how the majority feel in this province."

Calvert, however, doubted the process would provide anything meaningful considering the nature of the topic and the government's desire to conclude discussions by the end of the summer.

"We are going to decide and debate and give the public an opportunity to talk about a nuclear reactor — the generation of electricity with a nuclear reactor — costing $8-10 billion.… We're going to talk about the whole future of the uranium industry. We're going to do all this in a matter of a few weeks and expect the people of Saskatchewan to have an adequate opportunity to participate?" Calvert said.

"That alone tells me this is a sham."

Stewart countered that people will be able to make their views known in various ways, including by letter and at public meetings.

He said a schedule for dates and locations would be announced at the end of the week.