MLA asks conflict commissioner to review business trip to China

A day after announcing his retirement from politics, Saskatchewan Party MLA Bill Boyd has found himself in the midst of another controversy and has requested that the conflict of interest commissioner review his dealing with an irrigation company.

The Opposition NDP is questioning the motive Boyd had when he took what it calls a questionable trip to China earlier this year.

That trip, according to a statement from Boyd, was made by him as a private businessman to seek investors in an agricultural irrigation company with which he is involved.

“I am part of a company that was set up to try to attract investor interest in irrigation developments in Saskatchewan on farmland in close proximity to a viable water source,” read a statement from Boyd. “A seminar was arranged in Beijing to try to attract investors who might be interested in such an investment, which attracted a number of people.”

Government of Saskatchewan logos were used during those seminars and Boyd was referred to in advertising for them as the province’s minister of economy, even though that was a title he no longer held.

“I made it clear that I was presenting as a farmer and private businessman, not the current Economy Minister,” Boyd maintained.

“In China, as in the States, titles remain in place, so any reference to myself as the minister of the economy is custom in that country.”

Boyd said in his statement he is now seeking to contact those who attended the seminar to make clear he was not a cabinet minister and the Saskatchewan government is not involved in the business.

On Wednesday, Boyd also asked conflict of interest commissioner Ron Barclay to review the trip.

Interim NDP leader Nicole Sarauer tied outgoing Premier Brad Wall and the entire Sask. Party cabinet to the controversy surrounding Boyd.

“We had the premier singing his praises, saying that Boyd is in the DNA of the Sask. Party and we will know that these scandals are also in the DNA of the Sask. Party,” she said, referencing comments Wall made Wednesday regarding Boyd’s retirement.

The premier’s office said in a separate statement that, until recently, it was “unaware of the nature of Mr. Boyd’s trip as he was not travelling on government business. It was a personal business trip.”

Once Wall found out more information about the trip, he wrote a letter to Boyd, according to the statement.

In that Aug. 3 letter, Wall wrote, “It has come to my attention that you and/or persons acting on your behalf may have inaccurately represented the involvement of the Government of Saskatchewan with regard to an irrigation-relation investment opportunity that you were recently promoting in China, and that similar inaccurate representations may have appeared on some websites promoting your presentations in China.”

It concludes with the premier writing to Boyd: “As an MLA, it is extremely important that you be more vigilant in ensuring that the Government of Saskatchewan is never inaccurately represented. Please ensure that any future representations made by you or on your behalf do not inaccurately represent the Government of Saskatchewan in any matter.”

During his final years in politics, Boyd has been plagued by controversy.

He was at the centre of eyebrowraising land deals related to the Global Transportation Hub and was the minister responsible for SaskPower when new smart meters were installed and then removed at taxpayers’ expense because some were found to be the cause of fires.