NDP leader attacks Wall for using private email server

In a political squabble reminiscent of last year’s U.S. presidential election, Premier Brad Wall is being questioned for using a private email server to conduct business related to the province.

NDP interim leader Trent Wotherspoon is asking why Wall isn’t using a secure government server.

“This is dealing with matters that are supposed to be in the interest of Saskatchewan people,” he said, adding it “raises significant questions” about the security of Wall’s emails.

“We’ve called for this to be referred directly for review to the privacy commissioner, as well as the conflict of interest commissioner.

“We’re disappointed the premier won’t do this,” Wotherspoon continued.

The NDP says documents show Wall used those emails to correspond with former U.S. ambassador David Wilkins, who now works for a law firm that has been hired by Saskatchewan to represent the province in Washington.

In an emailed statement, the premier’s office said: “Appropriate steps are taken to ensure this email account is secure using an IT security company that uses the same security standards and software as the government servers.

“Despite the fact that concerns raised by the NDP are already addressed above, premier has indicated he will be using a government of Saskatchewan email account for government business.”

Wall indicating he won’t be using the private server anymore is a departure from what he told the legislature on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, when he indicated he would not be changing the practice.

Wall said Wednesday afternoon he has a couple of personal email accounts and “none of them that use the government server.”

He added he is “home a lot and (does) a lot of work on the weekend.”

The premier also indicated he doesn’t use the private email servers for anything particularly sensitive.

This is not the first time that the use of a private email server has ruffled political feathers in recent memory.

Hillary Clinton was heavily criticized during the recent presidential election in the United States for her use of a private email server.

In that instance, the FBI became involved after it came to light Clinton was using a private server in her capacity as secretary of state.

Premier has indicated he will be using a government of Saskatchewan email account for government business.