Conflict of Interest Commissioner recommends reprimand for Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill

Saskatchewan’s Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) is recommending a reprimand for Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill after finding he broke legislative rules when a company tied to his family participated in government contracts.

The Saskatchewan Party MLA for the Battlefords was being investigated by COIC Maurice Herauf on two separate matters.

The first surrounded his investment in several helium companies — some of which Cockrill made while he was a member of cabinet.

The second pertained to his involvement in Fortress Windows and Doors, a North Battleford company owned by his in-laws. Fortress received nearly $180,000 in contracts from the Battleford Housing Authority and SaskTel from 2020 to 2021.

At the time of the contracts, Cockrill worked part-time as a salesperson. The report found that Cockrill received hourly compensation, was responsible for marketing and received a bonus when he stopped working for the company in August of 2021.

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It was the second matter that Herauf ruled that Cockrill violated the Conflict of Interest Act.

"His limited participation is confirmed by the small amounts of his employment income and bonus in 2021," he explained.

“I do not consider a fine, suspension or declaration of vacancy appropriate — in fact, I consider such penalties wholly disproportionate to the breach of the Act identified in this opinion.”

However, Herauf recommended Cockrill only receive a penalty, as his interest in the company has long since ended and Cockrill did not act deliberately to break conflict of interest rules.

Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP requested the investigations into Cockrill, who was first elected to the legislature in 2020 and was sworn into cabinet two years later.

In a statement to CTV News, Cockrill said he is pleased to see the commissioner came to a decision in both matters.

"After first being elected, I reached out to the Commissioner for an opinion regarding disclosure requirements under the Act when I became aware of contracts that Fortress Windows had procured. I followed the Commissioner’s recommendations in that opinion," his statement read.

"I believed that following the Commissioner’s opinion meant I was fully compliant with the Act. However, the Commissioner noted I failed to ask for an opinion on my employment specifically. The Commissioner also acknowledged in his opinion that he should have been more "prudent" in his advice to me on this issue."

Cockrill ended off by accusing the Opposition NDP of trying to "sully" his reputation to score political points" ahead of the election in October.

"I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner and continuing a demonstrated track record of transparency."