Sask. NDP criticized after email shows party attempt to secure sponsorship from previously criticized lobbying firm
The Saskatchewan NDP’s recent criticism of political lobbyists has backfired. During question period on Monday, the government revealed an NDP email in which the party requested sponsorship from a lobby firm that it had previously criticized.
The official opposition has been especially vocal in recent days of how some government work has gone to out-of-province contractors, some of whom employ former MLA’s as lobbyists.
On Monday, the province obtained material showing the Saskatchewan NDP seeking corporate sponsorship from Prairie Sky Strategies.
“Do you know why they sent them? A letter, Mr. Speaker,” Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Don McMorris said during question period. “They’re begging and pleading for a $5,000 donation for that leader of the opposition.”
“Say the same thing in every room. Tell your party that,” he added.
The email to the lobby firm was an invitation from the Sask. NDP to attend or sponsor a Carla Beck reception next month.
The email read:
“With an election coming this year, it is a great chance to chat with possibly the first female Premier in Saskatchewan history, Carla Beck, and her team of MLAs.”
Tim Williams, who serves as the provincial secretary for the Saskatchewan NDP, told CTV News that soliciting corporate sponsorship is something the party would prefer not to do.
“Lots of companies do attend everybody’s events. We’ve been pretty clear that we don’t believe that this kind of fundraising is the long term best solution for democracy,” he explained. “So we’ve committed on a number of occasions that an NDP government will change the laws to move it to individual fundraising.”
According to the NDP, Prairie Sky Strategies did not attend its golf tournament last year and so far has not responded to the invitation to attend the upcoming leader’s reception.
Sask. first strategy
Prior to the revelations during question period, Beck shared her party’s strategy to prioritize the selection of Saskatchewan firms for public contracts.
A strategy she claimed the NDP would put in place if they were to form government this fall.
“Under the Sask. Party, we’ve seen public projects of all sizes, millions and millions of dollars of our tax money flow out of province. Tax dollars that belong to the people of this province that should be putting food on tables here in Saskatchewan,” she told reporters.
“I’m not here to fight for jobs in Alberta, Ontario or in the U.S. I want to see our companies and our workers thrive here at home.”
In her remarks, Beck highlighted the government’s decision to utilize private firms in Alberta for knee and hip surgeries and mammograms, as well as the recent case of a California company receiving a tire recycling contract.
“Premier Scott Moe is selling out Saskatchewan,” Beck added. “If I have the privilege of being the next premier of this province, we will prioritize hiring Saskatchewan workers, growing Saskatchewan businesses, and building more made in Saskatchewan products here at home. That’s our Hire Saskatchewan plan.”
The opposition openly criticized the province’s record of awarding contracts to out-of-province firms during question period.
Sask. Builds Minister Joe Hargrave defended the government’s record – claiming 82 per cent of contracts from the province were awarded to Sask. based companies.
“In fact when there’s a Saskatchewan bidder, Saskatchewan companies secured the contracts approximately 90 per cent of the time in these competitions. These projects are using the best local Saskatchewan workers, creating jobs and employment opportunities for the people of our great province,” he said.
“All [the opposition] has to do is go to schools like the new francophone school in north Regina. A good Saskatchewan company, Quorex, is building that school. Go talk to them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole Porsche and ran over its owner
Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.
Woman nearly shut out of mother's estate sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
Woman shot by B.C. police was Colombian refugee with young daughter, advocate says
Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.
3 injured after man with knife enters Montreal-area mosque
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Kamala Harris tells Oprah any intruder to her home is 'getting shot'
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris on Thursday issued a warning to any potential home intruder: 'If somebody breaks in my house, they're getting shot.'
Teen arrested in New Brunswick after emergency alert; 5 people in custody
A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.
On the trail of the mystery woman whose company licensed exploding pagers
What Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, the Italian-Hungarian CEO and owner of Hungary-based BAC Consulting, says she hasn't done is make the exploding pagers that killed 12 people and wounded more than 2,000 in Lebanon this week.
'We're still pushing hard': Search for missing Manitoba boy continues, RCMP find tracks
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
Video released of person of interest after cat is allegedly set on fire in Orillia, Ont.
Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.