Sask. premier dismisses calls for ex-MLA to testify about breaking conflict rules
Opposition attempt to introduce motion at committee ignored
Premier Scott Moe says his government is not interested in having ex-MLA Gary Grewal appear before a committee and answer questions about breaching conflict of interest rules.
"I don't know the last time, under any government, that a private citizen has been summoned to appear before a committee or the legislature," Moe said.
In October, conflict of interest commissioner Maurice Herauf found that Grewal violated rules with his ownership and interest in two Regina motels that received money from the government to house social services clients.
The two hotels with links to Grewal were paid $731,000 by the government after his 2020 election.
In February, Grewal announced he would not seek re-election.
In a letter following the ruling, Grewal disagreed with Herauf's decision.
"I continue to firmly maintain my position that a social worker arranging a room for a vulnerable citizen at a motel does not constitute a 'government contract' and believe the Commissioner's ruling completely misinterprets the nature of these transactions, which are essentially vouchers issued to individuals in need of temporary shelter."
As for what happens next, Moe said the government was focused on following the recommendations of the auditor, who looked into the government's rule changes around procuring hotel rooms for clients in need of shelter.
Moe said repeatedly on Thursday that there was no "precedent" for having a private citizen appear before the legislature.
Herauf also recommended that elected members decide on what if any penalty Grewal should face for breaching rules. It is unclear what form that could take.
NDP Leader Carla Beck was critical of how the government has handled the situation.
"An MLA can break the law and as long as they don't run again," the Opposition leader said. "There is no penalty. I don't think that Saskatchewan people think that that is good enough."
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Beck said Grewal also receives four months of transition pay as an outgoing MLA.
Herauf is also investigating Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill's business interest in a window company that received government contracts and his investments in two helium companies.
Meanwhile, Opposition MLA Aleana Young's social media posts involving her business are also being investigated by the commissioner.
Committee room drama
On Wednesday morning, during a meeting of the human services committee, NDP MLA Meara Conway raised her hand to make a motion to have Grewal appear before the committee to answer questions.
Michael Weger, government MLA for Weyburn-Bengough and chair of the committee, did not acknowledge Conway and called on Minister of Energy MLA Colleen Young, who also had her hand raised. Young moved that the meeting adjourn and that motion passed.
In question period on Wednesday, Conway said the move to ignore her motion was deliberate.
"This Sask. Party government has talked a lot about decorum, right? About a change of tone, but what we saw in committee this morning is just the same old Sask. Party government that we've seen for years. They haven't changed," Conway said.
In response to Conway's questions, government House leader Tim McLeod told reporters on Wednesday afternoon the NDP was not being factual.
"If they're going to level accusations, they need to be based in fact. And if you review the transcript of the committee meeting that she's alleging nothing like that transpired. The meetings have a set agenda and what the member was speaking about wasn't on the agenda," he said.
"There was no formal notice of motion of anything. The agenda that was before the committee was completed in the matter. The meeting was adjourned."
Opposition House leader Nicole Sarauer said she told McLeod through text the day before that the NDP planned to raise two motions, even though there was no requirement to do so. She said McLeod acknowledged the message.
"To have the government House leader misconstrue our communication is quite surprising and incredibly disappointing."
Sarauer said the Opposition is not required to provide notice of motions and does so as a courtesy in hopes the government would consider and discuss them. The NDP also hoped to raise a motion calling for an investigation into high food costs in northern Saskatchewan.
Video of the meeting shows the clerk telling Weger that Conway's hand is raised, but Weger does not call on her.
Sarauer said "that is a procedural tool they have," but she said it amounts to "blocking a motion."
Conway posted the video of the end of the meeting on social media. In the assembly on Thursday, deputy government House leader Lori Carr raised a point-of-order calling for Conway to remove the post, saying it breached policy.
"Point 14 of the multimedia guidelines prohibits members from using video or audio from other members' speeches without their written permission," Carr told Speaker Todd Goudy.
Committee meetings are public and broadcast.
Goudy ruled that the post broke the rules and asked Conway to remove it and apologize, which she did.
On Thursday in the assembly, the Opposition introduced emergency motions on Grewal and northern food prices. Both were defeated.
With files from The Canadian Press