Cheveldayoff defends real estate holdings amid conflict accusations

I would recuse myself from any kind of conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest.

Premier Scott Moe came to a fullthroated defence of Sask. Party MLA Ken Cheveldayoff on Tuesday, as the NDP suggested the central services minister’s real estate holdings put him in a conflict of interest.

Cheveldayoff has said he plans to review the government’s ownership of 660 buildings, with the possibility of selling those that aren’t properly used. But the NDP’s ethics and democracy critic, David Forbes, said the minister’s “deep ties” to the real estate sector raise difficult questions.

During question period Tuesday, he pointed to Cheveldayoff ’s ownership stake in two real estate companies, as well as substantial donations commercial real estate firms gave to his Sask. Party leadership campaign. Three companies with real estate interests gave $10,000 each, according to disclosures.

Forbes asked how the minister thinks it’s “acceptable” for him to float selling government properties.

Cheveldayoff did not respond to Forbes in the legislative chamber. Instead, Moe accused the NDP of a “double standard.”

“I know both sides of this house went through leadership campaigns in the last year, Mr. Speaker. There’s been donations made,” he said, pointing to some of those who provided large sums to NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

“They have a new leader but it’s exactly the same old NDP.”

Cheveldayoff addressed the matter shortly after in a scrum with reporters. He accused Forbes of a “personal attack” and a “drive-by smear.”

“This is why people think twice about getting involved in politics,” he said.

He said he’s only a minor shareholder in the companies Forbes is referring to, and noted the government would be unlikely to use a commercial real estate firm for its sales.

“I’m not the person who sells anything on behalf of the government,” he added. “It would be done by a government committee ... I would recuse myself from any kind of conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest.”

He said he stands for “ultimate transparency” and provides the conflict of interest commissioner with the required information on his holdings. But he declined to reveal the specific properties he owns to reporters, or to provide additional detail about a numbered company in which he has a stake.

Forbes criticized the minister for not standing up in the legislature.

“This is amazing. This is shocking, actually,” Forbes said. “He wouldn’t get up in the house to answer a legitimate question.”

He called on Cheveldayoff to reveal his holdings and provide a clearer outline of what he can and can’t do in his role as central services minister.

He also drew parallels with the history of questionable real estate dealings at the Global Transportation Hub, and used the issue to criticize Saskatchewan’s existing conflict of interest framework.

“We have a very bad reputation for being the last of the wild west when it comes to corporate and union political donations,” said Forbes.