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The MLA for Saskatoon Willowgrove, Ken Cheveldayoff, says he believed there was nothing wrong with the lease for his constituency office, and that several Speakers agreed.
Minister of Advanced Education was responding to a CBC News story that reported he broke a Board of Internal Economy directive barring subleases for MLA offices.
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“MLAs have to take their lease to the legislature,” Cheveldayoff said in an interview.
“I did so in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2020, and I continue to to do that where there is a difference of opinion with the (Legislature) Assembly Service and myself.”
At issue is what Cheveldayoff describes as a “split lease” — a 50/50 split of the space and the rent with a law firm, which he calls a “good deal” for taxpayers.
“It allowed the office to stay open from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m.,” he said.
“My assistant came in at nine and left at three. So the office was open longer hours, and it was 50 per cent each of us there. So I thought that was a good situation and the Legislative Assembly agreed.
“A number of different Speakers allowed that arrangement to take place, but, you know, very recently, they asked that I change the arrangement, and the current Speaker asked me to resolve it, so I’ve entered into a new lease, and not much has changed in that I’m in the same place but I’m paying the full rent now.”
The Board of Internal Economy introduced the amended directive in 2017. It says a lease for a constituency office “must not contain a provision that allows for subletting of the premises.”
NDP leader Carla Beck said the directive couldn’t be more clear.
“Certainly those directives are public facing. They’re known to all members. You got orientation on these directives when you were first elected,” she told reporters.
Both Beck and Opposition democracy and ethics critic Jordan McPhail attempted to raise the issue during question period, but Speaker Todd Goudy ruled the questions out of order.
Cheveldayoff confirms it was Goudy who told him the “split lease” could not continue, after it was first raised with him by assembly services before the election.
“We went back and forth on it, and you know, we talked about it maybe once a year, and I was under the impression that that everything was okay,” he said, “but when the current Speaker asked me to discontinue the split lease arrangement, I did that, and a new lease agreement’s been made, and the matter has now been resolved to the satisfaction of the current Speaker.”
Through his office, Goudy declined to comment.
Premier Scott Moe said constituency office leases are the responsibility of each MLA and their relationship with Legislative Assembly services. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)
Premier Scott Moe told reporters he isn’t involved in the details of MLA office leases.
“That is not actually an area where the premier of the government is involved in,” he said. “It’s a relationship between MLAs, their constituency office, and (legislature) assembly services.
“To that point, what I would say is, I understand there was some questions that were asked, and they’ve been rectified.”
When asked whether a smaller office would have been a suitable alternative, Cheveldayoff said the Central Avenue location is modest but in an easy to find location. His office and the law firm had a shared lobby and reception area.
But now that a split lease is not permitted, he said he is looking for a smaller space.
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