Gord Wyant to call GTH inquiry if elected leader of the Saskatchewan Party

Gord Wyant has promised to call a public inquiry into the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) if he is elected the next leader of the Saskatchewan Party.

Wyant, the former attorney general for the province, said the inquiry will examine the government’s role in establishing the GTH, specifically the acquisition of the land.

READ MORE: Provincial auditor says province needs to do more to protect taxpayers in land deals

“We know there is an ongoing police investigation, we will let that process take its course,” Wyant said at a news conference in Saskatoon on Tuesday morning.

“But I know at the end of that process there will still be questions that need to be answered and that’s precisely what the public inquiry will get to.”

Global Transportation Hub, a Crown corporation, bought 41 acres of land at a cost of $1.2 million in February 2014 and in March 2014.

The province completed the transaction by purchasing 204 acres of land west of Regina at a cost of $21 million.

Before GTH bought the land in late 2013 for $21 million, it was bought and sold numerous times at escalating prices.

READ MORE: Sask. opposition still looking for answers about controversial GTH land deal

Police are now investigating the purchase of land, which includes activities surrounding GTH’s purchase of the land from the private sector.

Wyant said any public inquiry could be impacted by the RCMP investigation, but an inquiry would be appointed under the recommendation of independent legal counsel.

“The chief commissioner of the inquiry will have all the subpoena rights, he’ll have the right to compel witnesses, he’ll have the right to compel witnesses, and documentation,” Wyant said.

“I think the public inquiry, with all the powers the commissioner will have – he’ll have all the power that he needs, to ensure that all the information gets in front of the public.”

There were no calls for a public inquiry into GTH while Wyant was in cabinet, but he says concerns were brought forward in cabinet meetings.

“I did raise some concerns with the initial acquisition that came forward, and that was the transaction that didn’t proceed,” Wyant said, “but certainly as a member of cabinet I had information at my disposal and those decisions were made based on the information I had at the time.”

Questions have been raised into why Wyant didn’t make this recommendation while he served as minister of justice and attorney general.

“The position of the government of Saskatchewan while I was in cabinet was that we would wait for the police to complete their investigation and that would inform our further decisions,” Wyant said.

“As a candidate for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party, I think it’s important that we show some leadership, that I show that leadership, and we inform the public of what my intentions will be so we can clear the air.”

READ MORE: Conflict of interest commissioner will not launch a GTH inquiry

Ronald Barclay, the province’s conflict of interest commissioner, said last week he will not be launching an inquiry into whether or not former MLA Bill Boyd violated the Conflict of Interest Act in the GTH land deals.

Barclay made the announcement after interim Saskatchewan NDP leader Nicole Sarauer sent him a letter asking for an inquiry into Boyd, who retired last Friday.

Boyd was the minister responsible for GTH at the time of the land deal.

Provincial auditor Judy Ferguson determined the $21 million land deal was not done in a fiscally responsible manner in an audit into the purchase.

Ferguson told the Public Accounts Committee last November that the audit into the GTH did not “conclusively state that there was no conflict of interest, fraud or wrongdoing with respect to these land transactions related to GTH.”

READ MORE: Saskatchewan auditor confirms police investigating GTH land deal

Wyant also said he would broaden the powers of the Conflict of Interest Act.

“I will ask the conflict of interest commissioner to recommend how we can strengthen the Conflict of Interest Act to ensure that he can investigate any future potential conflicts of interest more thoroughly and resolve them more quickly,” Wyant stated.

“It’s unacceptable to me and to the people of Saskatchewan that after all this time, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to the GTH.”

Wyant said an inquiry and changes to the Conflict of Interest Act would ensure better government transparency and accountability.

“I believe Saskatchewan must mirror – both in law and in practice – the best jurisdictions in the world when it comes to transparency and accountability in government,” Wyant said.

“That’s my commitment should I be chosen to serve as Saskatchewan’s next premier. And to return our government to its founding principles of small, smart, responsive and compassionate government.”

Wyant says he will continue his commitment to a public inquiry even if he isn’t elected leader of the Saskatchewan Party.

Four other people have announced they are running to replace Brad Wall as leader of the Saskatchewan Party, and premier of the province: Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Alanna Koch, Ken Cheveldayoff and Scott Moe.

Saskatchewan Party members will chose a new leader on Jan. 27, 2018 at a leadership convention in Saskatoon.

With files from David Baxter