NDP calls for review of Sask. Party relationship with SNC-Lavalin

This has drawn ire from the party, curious why the contract was awarded to SNC-Lavalin despite the province “being burnt previously in a multimillion-dollar dispute with the company” over the Carbon Capture Unit at Boundary Dam 3 (BD3).

Under then-Minister Bill Boyd, SaskPower contracted them to engineer, procure, and build the carbon capture facility. The Crown has since taken legal action against the firm to recoup the costs of fixing the problem plagued project. That case, according to minutes from a Sept. 10 standing committee meeting, remains tied up in arbitration.

“I think it is worth having a really close look at what happened with SNC-Lavalin, have a deep dive into all the deals they have been involved in,” Meili said. “Find out everything that went on, and make sure there is no possibility of any wrongdoing and, if necessary, bring the auditors office in.”

The NDP caucus, in a press statement, called for a moratorium on any further dealings with the Quebec company until a full review has taken place. Alongside the call to examine SNC-Lavalin’s dealings, Meili renewed calls for campaign finance reform in the province.

Between 2009 and 2013, various branches of SNC-Lavalin donated a combined $9,383 to the Saskatchewan Party. During that same time, they were granted over $700 million worth of contracts, including the carbon capture and equestrian project at BD3.

“It’s enough to give the people of the province pause, especially when our political donations and conflict of interest rules are so lax,” Meili said in a statement.

Deputy Premier Gordon Wyant met with reporters at the provincial legislature Monday to discuss Saskatchewan’s stance on the SNC-Lavalin scandal.

Wyant mentioned a “clear and transparent process” when it comes to procurement in Saskatchewan and doesn’t see a need to put up any barriers between the province and SNC-Lavalin.

“The extent that there’s been allegations leveled against SNC-Lavalin, that’s no reason for me or this government to disqualify them from bidding on any potential projects that’s coming up,” Wyant said.

For now, Wyant will patiently wait for the federal government’s response to the allegations facing SNC-Lavalin before making any decisions on contracts between the two parties.

“At the end of the day, we’ll wait and see what happens with the ethics commissioner.”

Monday, the federal NDP said ethics commissioner Mario Dion had agreed to look into the allegations reported by the Globe into alleged pressure from the PMO. Speaking in Vancouver, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he welcomes the investigation. He said he had spoken to the former justice minister twice since being in British Columbia and she reminded him of a talk they had last fall about legal troubles for SNC-Lavalin.

He said that Wilson-Raybould acknowledged he told her any decisions on matters involving the office of the public prosecutions were hers alone.

Wilson-Raybould has refused to comment on the case citing solicitor-client privilege — but both the Tories and New Democrats say the privilege should be waived by the PM so Canadians can hear the full story.

— With files from The Canadian Press, 650 CKOM

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr

by Tyler Marr

NDP calls for review of Sask. Party relationship with SNC-Lavalin

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