Boyd dismisses criticism as ‘laughable’

Contrary to his political opponents’ claims, Bill Boyd says he has not been in hiding since recent controversies emerged.

“That’s practically laughable, frankly,” Boyd, the Saskatchewan Party’s candidate in Kindersley, said after a televised debate Thursday in Regina.

Unlike most Sask. Party candidates other than its leader, Boyd, who was economy minister until the election was called, has been singled out by the NDP for a barrage of criticism in news releases and public statements.

During Access 7’s debate on the economy, Boyd faced questions and accusations from members of three other provincial parties. It didn’t take long for the topic of land deals around the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) to arise. And when it did, Boyd reiterated his position the he committed no wrongdoing.

Boyd said he immediately went to the province’s conflict of interest commissioner and provided budget information when a news organization first started asking questions about his involvement in the costly sales of land.

“At the conclusion of that, (the commissioner) made a statement that said that I was not in any conflict in any way, shape or form,” Boyd responded to NDP candidate Trent Wotherspoon.

He said a lawsuit launched this week by McNally Enterprises against the provincial government was “part of the process” when people feel they’ve been “aggrieved in any way.” He also said he was in favour of releasing an independent land appraisal connected to the GTH deal, claiming it “substantiates exactly what we’ve been saying all the way along.”

The NDP is not his only critic. Last week, Jason Dearborn, a former Sask. Party MLA for Kindersley, also took aim and announced he was running in his old riding as an independent against the incumbent Boyd.

Boyd said he welcomes Dearborn to the race. “It’s a little bit unusual,” he said. “Clearly, he has a point of view that he wants to express.”

Boyd said he still has strong support in his riding, though there are always concerns on the doorstep.

One of those concerns, at least to the NDP, is Boyd’s use of Executive Air government planes. Dubbed “gravy planes” by NDP Leader Cam Broten, Boyd has been accused of racking up a $400,000 bill for his use of the plane to travel between his home in Eston and Regina.

Boyd said his constituency is a long way from Regina (about 400 kilometres) and he is allowed to use the planes. In the last year, Boyd said, he took 32 flights, costing about $37,000.

He feels “cautiously optimistic” about his chances of re-election on April 4.

“You never know in an election campaign,” Boyd said.