REGINA – On Tuesday at Court of Queen’s Bench a lawsuit was filed against Brad Wall’s government by original landowners McNally Enterprises.
The NDP says before purchasing the land for $103,000 per acre, Wall’s government called a $38,000 per acre independent appraisal of the same plot of land ‘unrealistic’ and ‘incompetence.’
“Wall’s government claimed it was incompetent for an independent appraiser to set the land value as high as $38,000,” said NDP Leader Cam Broten. “But then he personally signed an order to buy it for $103,000 per acre. What changed? The owners.”
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“Once the land was in the hands of businessmen who allegedly have Sask. Party connections, all of a sudden the strong-arm expropriation tactics stopped, and a big cheque was signed. This deal stinks worse than ever.”
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The NDP claim the independent appraisal, done by Colliers International for McNally Enterprises, was attacked and dismissed by the Wall government, and that Wall alleges a different independent appraisal was the basis for the higher payment to the businessman. Wall denied a freedom of information request to release the appraisal.
“We found out that the officials at GTH had denied the freedom of information request for good reason, for legal reasons,” stated Sask. Party leader Brad Wall.
“They can’t release the information without the permission of the owner, the seller and the appraiser.”
The provincial auditor is investigating, and is on record saying that it does not appear to be a normal transaction. Also, a former Sask. Party MLA has filed a criminal complaint over the land deal.
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