Question Period (5 December 2024)

From Hansard (5 December 2024)

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Actions of Former Member and Social Services’ Procurement Policies

Meara Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this Chamber as representatives of the people of this great province, we’re expected to lead by example. When laws are broken people expect basic accountability. Let me remind this Chamber that before Gary Grewal was a Sask Party MLA he made $1,309 off government contracts. While he was an MLA he made 731,000, nearly three-quarters of a million. On this side we take ending government profiteering seriously. Can the same be said for the government?

Simple question to the Sask Party government: what do they believe is a proper penalty for the actions that broke conflict-of-interest laws resulting in an MLA profiteering off taxpayer money? Or should one-term MLAs who don’t run again just be permitted to sail off into the sunset with three-quarters of a million dollars in their pocket, Mr. Speaker?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government accepts the Conflict of Interest Commissioner’s report. And earlier this week, the Provincial Auditor tabled her report, and out of the four recommendations that were made by the Provincial Auditor, we’ve completed one of those recommendations already, and we’re making progress on implementing the other three.

The individual opposite should know that that member is a private citizen, and that’s where it’ll stay. The member also knows that our dedicated front-line staff work very, very hard and tirelessly under challenging conditions to secure appropriate accommodations in emergency situations. To suggest otherwise is an insult to their professionalism and their commitment. Mr. Speaker, it was this government that took decisive action to strengthen the ministry’s procurement practices and to ensure that the process for procuring hotel rooms is based on fair value, availability, and transparency. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Meara Conway: — Mr. Speaker, this is why people hate white-collar crime — the double standard, the willingness to look the other way. Because when someone is found guilty of breaking a law, their friends in high places let them off without even a slap on the wrist, and that seems to be what’s happening here, Mr. Speaker . . .

Speaker Goudy: — I’m going to caution the member. Accusations are being made towards the government that I would caution you on making.

Meara Conway: — Mr. Speaker, we’re asking this government to say what they think is a reasonable penalty for Mr. Gary Grewal who broke the law, and unfortunately they have a troubling track record of blocking accountability. So will someone, anyone over there find their feet and tell this Chamber what they think a reasonable penalty is for Mr. Gary Grewal who took $731,000 from the public? Do they think he should pay a single cent of it back?

Speaker Goudy: — Sorry. I’m fairly new at my job, but making accusations against private citizens, and you know . . . I will speak with the Clerks afterwards, but I would really caution the type of . . . Yeah, you know, it seems very accusatory. The language just doesn’t seem to be appropriate. Please change the language that you’re using, really. I think there’s a lot of accusations going across the way, and I would just ask the member, respond to the question, but please tone down your questions and your accusations.

I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Mr. Speaker, the issue of keeping families, children safe and secure when we do have to use hotel rooms is vitally important, and it’s something that we take extremely seriously. Immediate assistance to families, children, individuals in crisis, it’s our unwavering priority for their safety and their well-being, whether in times of emergency or in times of longer term support. The ministry balances the cost-effectiveness, safety, and availability when securing these hotel rooms.

We have two pilot projects that are being undertaken right now. We’re working through the process with the auditor’s report on three items that the auditor has flagged. We’ve completed one other item already.

And this is something that we are taking very seriously. We want to make sure we’re doing the right thing for families, children in times when they’re in crisis, Mr. Speaker. And we absolutely thank our front-line workers, our ministry staff for the incredible work that they’re doing in this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Social Housing Units

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have recently learned that the government is wasting $1.2 million annually by letting social housing units sit vacant in Regina alone. Countless organizations have called this province’s housing and homelessness situation a crisis. This crisis of unhoused people doesn’t just impact the cities anymore. It is visible in every corner of the province and in every community. And this government’s solution is to let 404 households in our capital city sit on a waiting list while 364 vacant units are out of service, out of commission. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable.

To the minister: how many people are on a wait-list for a social housing unit that could be housed today?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to begin by reaffirming our government’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and continued improvement in this area. We’re taking the auditor’s report very seriously and we accept all of its recommendations.

The ministry has already been actively working to address these recommendations. It’s made substantial progress in the areas highlighted in the report when it comes to housing. Through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation we’ve been collaborating closely with the Regina Housing Authority to implement those auditor’s recommendations.

This work reflects our broader goal of ensuring that social housing is both efficient and effective in meeting the needs of Saskatchewan residents. Addressing housing challenges has been a priority of this government long before the auditor’s report. Last year Saskatchewan Housing Corporation conducted a comprehensive community review in Regina, which provided a very clear picture of the housing challenges and opportunities in the city. Since then we’ve taken deliberate actions to tackle these issues head-on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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