MLA says his private consulting business is not active
A consulting firm offering expertise from a sitting MLA is dormant, according to Eric Olauson, who represents Saskatoon University in Saskatchewan’s legislature and owns the company, Olauson Consultants.
On Facebook, Olauson Consultants was advertising that it “helps organizations and businesses achieve their full potential by encouraging thoughts, processes and ideas.”
The page read: “Eric’s experience in municipal politics and his volunteer board positions, along with his PMP designation, make him a great facilitator in any boardroom.” His knowledge, experience and leadership throughout the business continuum serves clients well as they move forward in their endeavours.”
He is listed as an owner of Olauson Consultants on his public disclosure file that he had filed with the legislative assembly.
“It was just something I threw out there. I thought, maybe, you know, I’d do some consulting work on the side, kind of, but nothing really came of it,” he said Monday after being reached on the Facebook-listed number for Olauson Consultants. “I haven’t updated that page in so long, I forgot it was even there.”
An MLA since the election in April 2016, Olauson says he paid the business fee to keep the company and left the Facebook page up.
Asked what he would do if approached by a prospective client, Olauson said he would tell them he is not doing consulting right now.
“I’m an MLA. It wouldn’t matter if the client had nothing to do with the government. I would just tell them I’m an MLA and that is what I do for a living.”
Originally, Olauson said he had not had a client since before he was elected. Minutes later, he called back to say that wasn’t entirely correct. During the recent civic election in Saskatoon, Olauson says he sold wire stands to hold campaign signs to Don Atchison, the incumbent mayor who was defeated.
“I had to give him a receipt, and I couldn’t just give a receipt from Eric Olauson. I gave him a receipt from Olauson Consultants.”
After being contacted by Postmedia News, Olauson said he thought better about the Facebook page still being online.
“It’s gone off of Facebook,” he said.
In August, Olauson was removed from a provincial committee because concerns over his use of social media were raised.
Olauson’s personal Facebook page showed that he had liked a post online that read, “I don’t always slap the s--t out of Justin Trudeau supporters … but when I do, I blame climate change …”