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Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili is calling on Premier Scott Moe and the provincial government to conduct a full review of its dealings with SNC-Lavalin in light of allegations against the engineering and construction giant.
“It’s worth noting that SNC-Lavalin, over a period of six years, they donated regularly to the Sask. Party,” Meili said. “During that time they were also granted a pretty major contract.”
Chief among the $700 million in awarded contracts, was the engineering and construction of the carbon capture project at Boundary Dam.
The controversial project failed to live up to expectations, exceeded costs projections, was found to have serious design flaws that ultimately led to a dispute between SaskPower and SNC-Lavalin, which is currently in arbitration.
All of this was brought to attention as SNC-Lavalin currently faces fraud and corruption charges in connection to alleged bribes paid to the Libyan government. It has been alleged that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office pressured now-former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to help the company avoid prosecution on those charges.
Meili is hoping for a review of political contributions from corporations and unions, which other provinces have either banned or limited in recent years.
“I think it’s worth having a really close look at what happened with SNC-Lavalin, have a deep-dive into all of the deals they’ve been involved in,” Meili said.
“Most importantly, let’s stop what we’ve got now — the worst political donation rules in the entire country.”
Meili mentioned former minister of energy and resources Bill Boyd’s “checkered past” during the roughly 10-minute media availability in Saskatoon.
Boyd retired in 2017 after he was found to be using the government for personal benefit.
Since he was the minister involved with SNC-Lavalin and the Boundary Dam project, Meili thinks a full review should be explored.
“Let’s look back at the SNC-Lavalin contract … find out everything that went on and make sure there is no possibility of any wrongdoing,” Meili said.
“If necessary, bring the auditor’s office in and look at all of Bill Boyd’s activities and all of SNC-Lavalin’s activities.”
While holding a media availability as SNC-Lavalin is mired in scandal may seem opportunistic, Meili thinks there are questions that need answering.
“What has happened in Montreal and in other places, are we at risk of any of that going on right here? I think that’s very much a valid question for Saskatchewan people to be asking today.”
Government isn’t planning for reforms
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.”
Wyant dismissed any allegations that the construction company’s donations landed them their contracts.
“Any allegation that’s made by the New Democrats with respect to pay-to-play I think is patently offensive to me.”
Wyant is comfortable with the current campaign finance legislation and says calls for reform wouldn’t come from him.
“We’ll leave that to the conflict of interest commissioner to bring forward any recommendations that he has on legislative changes,” he said.
“I’m pretty comfortable with the contracts that we’ve led and that there’s been no undue influence.”
