The formal inquiry into ongoings at Pinehouse Lake was released last week. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

inquiry report

Activist calls Pinehouse inquiry report ‘a slap on the wrist’

Feb 25, 2020 | 5:54 PM

D’Arcy Hande, a Saskatoon-based community activist and freelance writer who has been watching municipal matters in Pinehouse Lake for years, isn’t impressed with a formal inquiry report released last week.

“It’s not exoneration, but it certainly looks that way,” he said in response to Government Relations Minister Lori Carr’s statement. “I don’t think anybody there is being held to account and, when you look at the Neil Robertson report, which is an appendix to the Vancise report, you get such a completely different view of what was going on up there.”

On Feb. 19, a report from former Justice William Vancise was released into the ongoings of council at Pinehouse Lake. While it didn’t call for any councillors to be removed from their position, it made a number of recommendations for the province and municipality to complete. It also mentioned support staff will remain in Pinehouse for up to six months, which is to ensure the community is meeting its obligations under the law.

Hande , whose Freedom of Information requests to the municipality over many years ultimately prompted the investigations into their dealings and operations, is skeptical council will be able to meet the recommendations and he doesn’t believe the extra staff will make much of a difference. He said there are still Freedom of Information requests pending since September for audited financial statements. Other unsuccessful requests have been submitted for annual general meeting minutes from Pinehouse Business North and Pinehouse Housing Corporation.

“It’s basically a slap on the wrist and there are no repercussions at all,” Hande said. “I’m generally disappointed in the direction this is going. We [taxpayers] spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on an inquiry.”

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In particular, Hande noted the audited report from the Privacy and Information Commissioner in 2018 raised red flags on how financial affairs were managed, as well as pointed to a lack of cooperation and non-compliance to Freedom of Information requests.

A leaked report in 2019 by independent inspector Neil Robertson included a recommendation Mayor Mike Natomagan and Coun. Conrad Misponas should be removed from office. Following that report, the full investigation and audit was ordered.

larongeNOW reached out to Natomagan for comment but was unable to arrange an interview.

“Mr. Vancise basically chose to give them a pass,” Hande said.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno