Conflict of Interest Commissioner Ronald Barclay says he will not be providing an opinion or launching an inquiry into whether or not Bill Boyd violated the Conflict of Interest Act in the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) land deals.
Global News was provided Barclay’s letter to Sarauer by a government official.
On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Nicole Sarauer sent a letter to Barclay requesting he launch an inquiry into the former Kindersley MLA, whose retirement began Friday.
“I have concluded that you have not presented reasonable and probable grounds to believe Mr. Boyd contravened the Act in this matter, and therefore I have no jurisdiction to provide an opinion or conduct an inquiry in this matter,” Barclay said in his letter.
READ MORE: NDP request Conflict of Interest investigation into Bill Boyd and GTH land dealings
Barclay’s reasoning centers around the letter’s focus that businessman Robert Tappauf profited, not Boyd or his family.
“Although you have alleged some connection between Mr. Boyd and Mr. Tappauf, there is no indication that their alleged relationship falls within the definition of “associate” as provided by the Act,” Barclay said.
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“Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to provide an opinion or conduct an inquiry regarding Mr. Boyd’s role in the GTH given the information you have provided me.”
In the Conflict of Interest Act “associate” is defined as a corporation a MLA is a director or senior officer of, a private corporation a MLA owns shares of, a partnership of no more than 20 people a MLA is a part of, or an individual or group acting as an agent of a MLA.
The letter adds that then Opposition Leader Trent Wotherspoon sent Barclay a similar request in February 2016. In his response, Barclay said he could not move forward without additional evidence Boyd contravened the Conflict of Interest Act.
The letter states Barclay never received a reply with additional information from Wotherspoon or any other opposition member.
“My decision that I do not have reasonable and probable grounds to provide an opinion or conduct an inquiry regarding Mr. Boyd’s conduct in this matter is not a conclusion that Mr. Boyd complied with the Act,” Barclay explained.
“It is merely a reflection of the lack of evidence provided to me in this matter that relates to the jurisdiction under the Act.”
Conflict of Interest Commissioner Ronald Barclay’s reply to Opposition leader Nicole Sarauer
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