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Controversial GTH land sale still frustrating the NDP

Feb 15, 2017 | 4:47 PM

The NDP remain frustrated at what it sees as a lack of transparency on the controversial Global Transportation Hub (GTH) land sale.

Government and opposition MLAs were together Monday for the public accounts committee (PAC).

PAC looks into public audits, the most recent being the one done by the provincial auditor into the GTH sale.

The controversial sale saw the land change hands several times within a few days and – when complete – government had paid three times the appraised value.

NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer wants to hear from the officials within government and the GTH at the time of the transaction, but government members of PAC voted down the request.

“I am particularly concerned that the members opposite are very inclined to continue to shut down the debate and limit the officials that are here and that are being allowed to appear at committee,” Sarauer stated.

In response, the government members of PAC suggested the debate needs to be moved forward as these issues have been addressed already.

“The RCMP are currently investigating this, as well. I think that we should allow them to do their work on this and we should continue with the questioning, we have officials here in the room,” Sask. Party MLA Paul Merriman argued.

The debate continued for the allotted three hours, but Sarauer did not temper her frustration that the biggest public sector worker at the time of the land sale, then deputy minister Laurie Pushor, did not and has not appeared to speak to how the deal came about.

“Time and time again, the government members of this committee have blocked him from coming. Pushor’s still employed by the government and it wouldn’t be hard to get him to the committee, he works just down the street and he makes, I believe, $220,000 of taxpayers money,” Sarauer said.

The GTH land deal was first publicly revealed in early 2016.

 

Email smills@cjme.com

Twitter @smillsSK