A veteran member of the Saskatchewan legislature is facing environment and wildlife charges.
The Saskatchewan government said in an email to media that Bill Boyd has been charged with three counts under the Environmental Management and Protection Act and one count under the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act.
READ MORE: Commissioner finds Bill Boyd breached the Conflict of Interest Act
The email said the charges are related to the alteration of shoreline, wildlife habitat and ecological lands near Eston, Sask. Those incidents occurred this spring.
A court appearance has been set for Oct. 10 in Kindersley provincial court.
The government said it won’t comment further since the matter is before the courts.
Earlier this week, Premier Brad Wall kicked Boyd out of the Saskatchewan Party after the conflict-of-interest commissioner said Boyd tried to influence potential investors while he was on a trip to China.
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Commissioner Ron Barclay said in a report that Boyd “inaccurately represented” the Saskatchewan government on the trip earlier this year.
Boyd was involved with a company that went to China to attract investors for irrigation projects on Saskatchewan farmland.
Barclay said that while on the trip, Boyd was identified as minister of the economy, a position from which he had resigned last August. As well, a presentation Boyd delivered featured the Saskatchewan government logo on nearly every slide.
Boyd has said he went on the trip as a farmer and private businessman, not as a representative of the government. He said in a brief statement that he accepts the commissioner’s report and takes full responsibility for his actions.
WATCH BELOW: Commissioner finds Bill Boyd breached the Conflict of Interest Act
Boyd was most recently in the middle of a controversy over a land deal outside Regina. Wall stood by Boyd who took heat over allegations that the land was sold to a Crown corporation for inflated prices, costing taxpayers millions.
Boyd was first elected in 1991 as a Progressive Conservative, but left the PCs to help form the Saskatchewan Party in 1997.
He served as a cabinet minister from 2007 to 2016 and held various portfolios including energy and resources, immigration and economy. He was also instrumental in running the Sask. Party’s election campaigns.
Boyd announced his retirement earlier this month.
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