Meara Conway

The Official Opposition will be pushing for an official reprimand of Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill during the spring sitting of the Legislature and tougher rules and regulations. That’s according to the Shadow Minister for Ethics & Democracy because of two reports from the Conflict-of-Interest Commissioner.

Meara Conway explains that one investigation was because he had ties to his family’s business while it secured over $179,000 worth of government contracts. In March of 2021, the Commissioner gave him 90 days to come into compliance with the Conflict-of-Interest Act, but he remained connected for about 9 months. Conway says, “As soon as he got this opinion, he should have cut ties with the company. This is a serious issue. This is a question of public trust in elected officials.” The Commissioner found that the conflict-of-interest violation was not intentional or deliberate.

The second report was related to Cockrill having invested in two Saskatchewan helium companies when the helium industry was being discussed in cabinet meetings. Conway says, “He participated in discussions of the general policy nature, around the helium industry, the Helium Action Plan, which saw tax credits being expanded or announced while he was in cabinet. You know, some of which were even eligible and awarded to the companies he was invested in.” Conway noted that because of what she called a loophole, where the two businesses weren’t specifically named on the cabinet agenda, Cockrill was not found to be at fault.