Regina, SK–Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan Leader Rose Buscholl is questioning the wisdom of the recent appointment of Jeff Rowden to head up the newly created Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Why? Because Rowden is Premier Moe’s cousin.
“So, this new police service is not only expensive, redundant, and largely unnecessary,” stated Buscholl. “Now it seems it will be a dumping ground for patronage appointments to family members. Surely there was someone as qualified that did not raise alarm bells of impropriety?”
The Marshals Service was announced during the Throne Speech in 2022 and has been controversial ever since. The province earmarked about $14 million for establishing the marshal service, with hopes of having it operational by 2026. Once it’s up and running it will receive an annual budget of $20 million.
Further raising eyebrows, the Marshals Service is only accountable to the sitting government as there is no public oversight to monitor its doings. And now the person heading it up is a close relative of the Premier’s.
“This is just so on brand for this government,” continued Buscholl. “It’s just another example of how far gone they are by treating the public purse and organization as their personal playground. But enough is enough. This is the province of Saskatchewan not the Saskatchewan Party’s toy. What this does is reek of authoritarianism.”
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