Regina, SK-The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan commends Premier Scott Moe on selecting a smaller cabinet, but that’s where the praise ends. Leader Rose Buscholl raised serious concerns about some of the members of the cabinet.
“Does Mr. Moe think Saskatchewan people have forgotten the havoc caused by Jeremy Cockrill when he was the minister of education,” asked Buscholl. “The fact that Mr. Cockrill received a cabinet promotion to health speaks volumes about Scott Moe’s judgement, and the complete lack of respect he has for Saskatchewan teachers. Also, please don’t forget that the new health minister is facing two separate conflict of interest allegations.”
Conflict of interest appears to be the overarching theme of the new cabinet. Buscholl pointed to Moe’s decision to name Jeremy Harrison as minister responsible for the Crown Investments Corporation and the Saskatchewan Public Service Commission.
“In the middle of the recent provincial election, I was honored to hold a news conference in Regina with the former board chair of the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), who was fired from his role, following allegations of conflict of interest at the council. Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick raised some very serious issues. As a result of that, Scott Moe’s office launched an investigation. None of the other whistleblowers involved were ever interviewed, but all were subsequently fired. This recent appointment is a slap in the face to all the people who came forward,” Buscholl said.
The allegations surrounding the conflict of interest involve the CEO of the SRC bringing two business colleagues onto the board without proper disclosure. Since being fired, the board chair was replaced by George Prudat, who donated $1,600 to the Sask Party in 2022. The SRC CEO and the people he brought onto the board all made millions of dollars in a business transaction. Buscholl said the Progressive Conservative Party will continue to call for a full investigation of what happened at the SRC.
“Tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer’s dollars are being spent by the SRC on rare earth elements and small modular nuclear reactor projects. We have every right to know that the public purse is being used wisely,” said Buscholl. “Without a full and transparent investigation, I have very serious concerns.”
-30-