REGINA — Opposition reaction was predictable to news that a longtime Sask. Party activist has been appointed to a role with executive council.
An order in council published Monday stated that Patrick Bundrock has been appointed assistant cabinet secretary and clerk of executive council.
Bundrock had previously been executive director of the Saskatchewan Party. He resigned that party role in August and, since then, has worked for Premier Scott Moe as a senior policy advisor.
At a news conference Tuesday at the Legislature, NDP house leader Nicole Sarauer pointed to Bundrock's $198,000-per-year salary and characterized his hire as the first order of business for the Moe government this year — ahead of stopping hikes to power or auto rates, getting rent under control, or removing PST from grocery items.
"Instead, it was to hand over a cushy nearly $200,000-a-year job to his own campaign director," said Sarauer.
"It tells you all you need to know about Scott Moe’s priorities. His first decision of the year is to pay off one of his most prominent Sask. Party insiders — the very guy that steered a campaign that saw five of Moe’s ministers defeated and the Sask. Party lose every seat in Regina and all but one in Saskatoon. Every day Saskatchewan families can’t catch a break from this government, but Moe will happily find cushy roles for his insider friends."
Sarauer's attacks on Bundrock on Tuesday continued the NDP's recent messaging aimed at government “insiders” and appointees. Health critic Meara Conway has been consistently criticizing the government on the issue over the last number of days, accusing it of stacking the Saskatchewan Health Authority board with Sask. Party supporters and loyalists.
Sask. Party government hits back
The government responded Tuesday afternoon, saying in a statement that "it is hard to take the NDP's criticism of Saskatchewan public servants seriously when their own caucus office sent out a media advisory this week listing an Alberta phone number for the Saskatchewan NDP caucus office."
The government noted that among the first things Premier Moe accomplished in 2026 was "successfully working to remove Chinese tariffs off Canadian canola." The statement also accused NDP leader and “self-appointed” agriculture critic Carla Beck of having been "missing since the tariff announcement."
"Perhaps Carla Beck could call her NDP caucus Alberta phone line to set up a media availability, and finally take a stand for our producers instead of sending her critics out to take cheap shots at Saskatchewan people," the statement said.
NDP calls for provincial auditor to investigate SGI
The NDP had more to say about the cost of living and rate hikes at another news conference held in Saskatoon on Tuesday.
There, its SGI critic Darcy Warrington called on the provincial auditor to immediately launch a special investigation of SGI's finances, transparency and compliance with its legislated responsibilities.
According to a news release, this call comes "amid concerns that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party have mismanaged the Crown and are now forcing drivers to pay the price." It also follows SGI seeking a 3.75 per cent rate hike.
“This rate hike came out of nowhere for Saskatchewan people, and they deserve answers,” said Warrington in a statement. “When nearly every driver in the province is facing higher costs, especially farmers and small business owners, there must be accountability and transparency.”
In response, the province pointed to their previous statement in which they noted the Saskatchresn Auto Fund operates on a self-sustaining and breakeven basis." It does not produce a profit, nor does it provide any dividends to government. This has resulted in the cost of insurance remaining low for Saskatchewan drivers; in fact, general rates have not been increased for 10 years. Every single vehicle class in Saskatchewan is being rebalanced in accordance with the costs to insure that class of vehicle with some even seeing reductions in the cost of their insurance."
