Saskatchewan auditor to examine $187 million contract for firefighting planes

REGINA — Saskatchewan’s auditor says she is going to look into the purchase of pricey firefighting airplanes amid allegations that Premier Scott Moe’s government vastly overpaid for them.

Tara Clemett’s office said in a statement Friday the audit of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s new planes would be part of its regular annual process.

“Our office does plan to examine the purchase of planes for firefighting purposes as part of the annual integrated audit,” it says. “The planes were received and paid for in 2025-26.”

Earlier this year, the province approved the purchase of four Conair planes for $187 million to replace its aging fleet, and the audit comes amid a court fight over the process.

B.C.-based Coulson Aircrane Ltd. is seeking to get the purchase put on hold. It has filed documents in Saskatchewan’s Court of King’s Bench alleging the province could have saved $100 million if it had purchased planes from Coulson rather than its competitor, Conair.

Coulson president Britton Coulson has accused the government of failing to hold a competitive contest for the contract.

“We are concerned the government of Saskatchewan has awarded a very large … contract for forest firefighting airplanes, without affording any reasonable opportunity to Coulson, or any other competitor, to bid on the contract,” Coulson wrote in his affidavit.

The province has already received one of the new planes.

In an email included in the affidavit, the province told Coulson its procurement process was conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

Moe’s office, in a statement, said it relied on advice from an independent non-profit research company in procuring the planes. It said specifications were designed to ensure the planes met the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s needs.

“The Government of Saskatchewan remains committed to a robust wildfire response that is in the best interest of Saskatchewan people,” it says. “As the matter is now before the court, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

Conair has called the allegations “false or misleading,” saying they misrepresent the value of Conair’s aircraft.

“The insinuations made against Conair not only undermine the integrity of our company but also detract from the critical importance of providing governments with the best possible tools to protect the public,” Conair says in a statement.

“The costs associated with the delivery of state-of-the-art air tanker and multi-mission aircraft extend well beyond the base price of the airframe and conversion.”

Also Friday, Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP urged the auditor to investigate not only the alleged overspending, but also other mismanagement issues that saw planes grounded and a northern village scorched this summer.

Procurement critic Hugh Gordon said he’s pleased with the auditor’s plans but says a special investigation could provide answers sooner.

“The Sask. Party has the power to grant or block a special investigation at the committee on Monday,” Gordon says in a statement.

Clemett’s office said Friday it’s considering whether it’ll look into the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s overall emergency preparedness.

Almost half of the province’s water bombers were grounded in June during the worst of a wildfire season that saw 10,000 people evacuated and about half the homes in the village of Denare Beach burn down.

Also that month, provincial ombudsman Sharon Pratchler said the province failed to provide immediate food, shelter and basic information to evacuees. Her office is reviewing the province’s response to those issues.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has said it deployed crews to Denare Beach as quickly as it could to battle the blaze. The agency has also dispatched $500 cheques to evacuees and has set up supports in Denare Beach to help residents rebuild.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2025.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press