Bill Boyd environment case set over to February

SASKATOON Former cabinet minister Bill Boyd is now expected to enter a plea on four environmental charges early next year, after his latest court date on the matter was adjourned for the third time.

Boyd, a founding member of the Saskatchewan Party, faces three charges under the provincial Environmental Protection and Management Act and one under the Wildlife Protection Act; all four counts relate to altering wildlife habitat and part of the bank of the South Saskatchewan River.

After two previous adjournments, Boyd was scheduled to appear in Kindersley provincial court this week, near where the offences are alleged to have taken place. That appearance resulted in another adjournment, this time until Feb. 6.

“I’m working together with his lawyer in an effort to work out a remediation plan for the lands in question that satisfied all the government agencies involved,” Crown prosecutor Matthew Miazga said.

“Hopefully, at some point, the case will be resolved, but at this point that’s up to Mr. Boyd and his lawyer as to what they want to do.”

Boyd’s Kindersley-based lawyer, R.J. Ard, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.

The charges were filed about three weeks after the provincial Water Security Agency granted Boyd — who was a sitting MLA at the time — approval for irrigation work on land adjacent to protected wildlife habitat.

Boyd was later removed from the Sask. Party caucus after the province’s conflict of interest commissioner found problems with a business trip he took to China. Boyd subsequently resigned his Kindersley seat.

His first court appearance on the environmental charges was scheduled for Oct. 11 in Kindersley. He did not appear in person. His lawyer asked for and received an adjournment to Nov. 7. That appearance also ended in an adjournment, to Dec. 19.