Sask. NDP criticizes nearly $1 million spent on former Prime Minister's consulting firm
The Government of Saskatchewan has paid former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s consulting firm nearly $1 million over the past four years for trade advice. The opposition says it has been blocked while trying to gather more details on the contract.
Harpers' name entered into debate during question period on Monday – as the Saskatchewan NDP criticized the performance of the provincial economy, citing recent numbers from Statistics Canada.
“For eleven consecutive months the value of merchandise exports in Saskatchewan has fallen year over year,” NDP MLA Aleana Young said during question period. “Job growth is anemic.”
According to Statistic’s Canada, Saskatchewan’s domestic exports averaged $3.7 billion per month from March 2024 to May 2023.
In the previous 11 month span, the province’s average monthly domestic exports were valued at around $5 billion.
The Saskatchewan NDP requested a copy of the $240,000 annual contract granted to the former prime minister's Calgary based consulting firm – Harper and Associates.
According to the document, the former PM is instructed to focus on four key areas. They include senior level trade advice, advice on international strategy, trade intelligence and investment attraction.
Beyond the general focuses, specific details are redacted. An omission not appreciated by the Official Opposition.
“This is a question of transparency,” Young told reporters. “When it comes to spending taxpayer dollars this is a government that has been playing pretty fast and loose when it comes to using Saskatchewan people’s money to reward their friends and insiders.”
“It’s completely reasonable to ask what the deliverables are for this contract.”
The NDP raised the issue while the former Prime Minister was in Regina, speaking at Saskatchewan’s Food, Fuel and Fertilizer Global Summit on Monday.
“I’ll say once again, congratulations but I think you’re only scratching the surface of the opportunity that really exists for this province,” Harper said in his remarks.
Responding to the opposition’s criticism, Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison defended the contract with Harper’s firm.
“Our direct engagement with leaders around the world has resulted in literally hundreds of millions of dollars of opportunity for our companies to do business which results in tens of thousands of jobs,” Harrison argued.
Young argued that the statistics show the opposite.
“We have those same statistics that the minister pointed to in question period and they show for key sectors in Saskatchewan, whether its agriculture, whether its oil and gas, whether it’s mining, transportation, retail or admin – they’re going down under this premier,” Young argued.
In a written statement, the government said Harper provides advice on energy, resources and agriculture but did not provide further details.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump delivers rambling response to his hush money conviction
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Solutions coming for piled-up bodies outside Newfoundland hospital
Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador say they are only weeks away from a solution to move unclaimed human remains out of roadside freezers and into a nearby hospital.
Actor Nick Pasqual charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend
An actor who has appeared in film and TV projects like 'Rebel Moon' and 'How I Met Your Mother' has been arrested and charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend multiple times.
'Unprecedented': Human smuggling from B.C. to U.S. soars, using train, Uber and foot
American prosecutors and law enforcement officers say they're dealing with a huge increase in human smuggling from British Columbia.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Incendiary device thrown at Vancouver synagogue, Jewish Federation says
An incendiary device was thrown at a Vancouver synagogue Thursday night, leading to increased police presence at local institutions, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver says.