Wyant calls for inquiry into GTH to ‘clear the air’
Other leadership candidates echo stand as the RCMP continues its investigation
Former attorney general and Sask. Party leadership hopeful Gord Wyant says he broke with the government’s position by pledging to hold a public inquiry into a series of controversial land deals at the Global Transportation Hub because it’s important to display leadership and “clear the air.”
The government has long maintained that the findings of an ongoing RCMP investigation will dictate its next move, but Wyant told reporters in Saskatoon on Tuesday that conversations with supporters since he launched his leadership bid convinced him that more needs to be done.
“I think the position of the Government of Saskatchewan is quite clear. But I also think that as a result of the ongoing police investigation, I don’t believe that that’s going to answer all the questions that the people of Saskatchewan have,” he said.
“And so that’s why we need to have an inquiry.”
The Saskatoon Northwest MLA made his pledge days after former conflict of interest commissioner Gerry Gerrand became the first to call for an inquiry in the wake of current conflict czar Ron Barclay’s finding that he could not look into the deals because they do not fall within the scope of the Conflict of Interest Act.
That isn’t good enough for the Saskatchewan NDP’s interim leader, Nicole Sarauer, who told reporters on Tuesday that the Sask. Party needs to stop hiding behind leadership campaign promises and explain why it paid a “significantly higher price” in a deal the provincial auditor later found was not done “in a fiscally responsible manner.”
Asked why he did not use his position as attorney general to recommend an inquiry earlier, Wyant said he raised concerns about one proposed transaction at the GTH and that all of his decisions as a cabinet minister were based on the information he had at the time.
Wyant is not the only Sask. Party leadership candidate to support an inquiry.
Ken Cheveldayoff said Tuesday that “questions have to be answered” and that he is open to an inquiry. At the same time, the Saskatoon Silver Springs MLA continued, it’s important to make sure nothing similar happens again, in part by selling off the GTH at a profit.
Leadership candidate Tina Beaudry-Mellor said she would proceed with an inquiry if there are still questions to be answered once the RCMP finishes its probe. The Regina University MLA said an inquiry would serve the added purpose of strengthening processes designed to ensure similar problems don’t crop up again.
Scott Moe, who launched his bid on Friday, took a more cautious approach.
He refused to rule out using the province’s Public Inquiries Act at some point in the future and emphasized that if elected he will hold conversations on accountability, but said it’s important to have faith in the RCMP investigation.
Leadership candidate Alanna Koch was even more cautious. She said the province needs to wait for the RCMP to finish its probe, and that she wouldn’t speculate beyond that. Holding a public inquiry while the police investigation is ongoing might result in the perception of complication or duplication “or in fact getting in the way of things,” she said.
It’s likely that the only scenario in which the findings of the RCMP investigation would become public is if charges are laid.