OK for Moe to go to Riders game with former PM Harper
The province’s conflict of interest commissioner says there is no evidence former prime minister Stephen Harper has ever lobbied Saskatchewan public officials.
The Leader-post asked Ron Barclay, Saskatchewan’s Conflict of Interest Commissioner & Registrar of Lobbyists, whether it was appropriate for Harper, along with former premier Brad Wall, to be in attendance at a Saskatchewan Roughriders game with Premier Scott Moe and senior cabinet minister Jeremy Harrison.
Harrison, Moe, Lt.- Gov. Thomas Molloy and Harper watched the Roughriders play the Calgary Stampeders in Regina on July 28 from a private box belonging to Harvard Developments. Roughly 30 people were invited to the game by Harvard, which Barclay described as a “social event.”
Wall, seated in another corporate box, “arranged to have pictures taken with Stephen Harper. Mr. Wall watched the entire game from the other box seat, and except for the picture-taking incident he did not spend any time at the Harvard Development corporate box,” according to Barclay.
“I have now ascertained that neither Premier Moe nor Export and Trade Minister Jeremy Harrison were lobbied by Stephen Harper or Paul Hill, president of Harvard Developments,” wrote Barclay in his response to the newspaper.
Barclay determined neither Moe nor Harrison would have to declare the meeting because he found each paid $200 for their tickets, “and therefore any such declaration is unnecessary.”
“Here, and as a matter of policy, as Conflict of Interest Commissioner I have always instructed all members not to accept gifts if the donor is, or is likely, to do business with the government,” he wrote.
The commissioner said Harvard Developments would not have to register as an official lobbyist until it reaches the legislated threshold of 100 hours worth of lobbying in a year. “I am anticipating that is the case in this instance. I have sent correspondence to Harvard setting out the relevant legislation and their responsibilities under it if it is applicable,” wrote Barclay.
He added it is, “critical to underscore that the lobbyist legislation does not place any responsibility on public office holders in respect to registering their communications with lobbyists. The sole responsibility for registering rests with the lobbyist.”
NDP ethics critic David Forbes said the ruling leaves some questions even if it fits with current legislation because “we know that the legislation is weak.”
He said laws around lobbying and conflict of interest in Saskatchewan “thoroughly needs reexamining.”
“My feeling is that they should be aware of what this looks like to the people of Saskatchewan,” he said, adding it is known Harper now works as a lobbyist.
“The questions about whether they were just talking football, I don’t know if that holds much water,” he said, adding this is why elected officials need to hold themselves to a higher standard than the law prescribes.
In a statement, Moe’s office said the premier would have preferred the Riders beat the Stampeders and pointed to Barclay’s ruling on the matter.
“As Mr. Barclay confirms, Premier Moe and Minister Harrison were invited to attend the Rider game and personally paid for their tickets. Mr. Barclay also confirmed that no lobbying occurred at this event,” read the statement. “Mr. Harper was in attendance and Premier Moe was pleased to have the chance to visit during the game with Canada’s former Prime Minister.”