REGINA – Premier Scott Moe seemed unfazed this week on word that the Conflict of Interest Commissioner has launched an investigation into MLAs Gary Grewal and Jeremy Cockrill.
“Well there’s a process there, the conflict of interest commissioner is there to protect MLAs” said Moe to reporters Wednesday. “There’s a process there where they would report to him and if he’s had some allegations that have been provided to him, I wouldn’t say it’s common, but it’s happened before where he will look into and ask questions about an MLA‘s disclosure report.
“But at the end of the day, there’s a process that the conflict of interest commissioner will follow, there’s a process the MLAs need to follow as well. If he had some recommendations to come out of that, I’m certain MLAs will follow that. In the meantime I won’t speak for the MLAs but I suspect they’ll be cooperating fully with any questions that he might have along the way. So there’s a process the conflict of interest commissioner has so certainly they’ll follow that.”
Commissioner Maurice Herauf confirmed this week that he had determined there were reasonable and probable grounds to proceed with the conflict of interest investigation into the two MLAs. Grewal, MLA for Regina Northeast, is under scrutiny over his ownership stake in the Sunrise and Thriftlodge motels in Regina which were used to house social services clients. The NDP has alleged that the clients were housed at inflated rates.Grewal has stated he did not have a management role in either motel.
Cockrill, MLA for The Battlefords and Minister of Education, is under scrutiny over his role as a salesperson with his family’s business Fortress Windows and Doors.
In MLA disclosure statements filed with the province for 2020 and 2021, Cockrill disclosed that the business had contracted to provide windows and door replacement to the Battlefords Housing Authority and Cut Knife Housing Authority. 2020 and 2021, as well as window and door repair for SaskTel.
