Jeremy Cockrill under 2nd investigation by conflict of interest commissioner
CBC
Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill is under investigation by Saskatchewan's conflict of interest commissioner for a second time.
According to Meara Conway, Opposition critic for ethics and democracy, Cockrill is being investigated for his investments in two helium companies the province had contracts with.
In a statement to the CBC, Cockrill said he did not participate in any government decisions regarding the helium industry. He also denied having any inside information.
In a letter to conflict of interest commissioner (COIC) Maurice Herauf, Conway wrote that according to Cockrill's 2022 disclosure, he invested that year in Helium Evolution and Royal Helium while a member of cabinet.
Both of those companies have been granted permits by the province.
"These particular investments raise questions given government initiatives to develop Saskatchewan's helium industry, as well as ongoing government contracts with these companies," wrote Conway.
In a news conference outside the Legislature on Wednesday morning, Conway provided details from her letter and said Saskatchewan citizens should be aware of the investigation.
"The facts suggest that Minister Cockrill abused insider knowledge to buy into a helium company, and right before that company scored big on government tax breaks," she said.
Section 29(1) of the Member's Conflict of Interest Act says any member with reasonable grounds can request the commissioner give an opinion on whether an MLA has contravened the law.
In an email to the CBC early Wednesday afternoon, COIC Maurice Herauf confirmed his office has received Conway's request.
"I determined there were reasonable and probable grounds to proceed as directed by ss. 29(1) and 30(1)(a) of the Act. The parties were advised of that determination in late July 2024."
Herauf said he has no further comments as the matter is ongoing.
In her letter, Conway quotes the year-end financial statement from Helium Evolution. She wrote that the company has significant land holdings because it was given helium permits covering 5.6 million acres of land by the Government of Saskatchewan.
On Wednesday, Conway said Helium Evolution and Royal Helium are the two helium companies "arguably partnering most closely with the Sask. Party government."
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
A suspended Moncton structural engineer faces more lawsuits alleging design flaws in buildings that require repair.
Sajjade Tugano has come a long way since he first set foot in Chibougamau, six hours north of Quebec City, in the depths of winter in November 2021.
A national mentor-based hockey organization that helps marginalized youth through the sport is paying tribute to one of its members and youngest coaches.
After months of asking the City of Saskatoon to do more to solve its homelessness crisis, advocate David Fineday took to the stand at city council Tuesday.
A community organization wants to breathe new life into a historic building in Regina.
Some Prince County residents are walking away with more answers after attending Tuesday night's public information session in Albany, P.E.I., on the Wejipek Wind Project.
After just a few months of using vape detectors in a couple of bathrooms, a B.C. high school principal says it's reduced vape use in those areas to basically zero.
Burlington MP Karina Gould gets boost from local young people after entering Liberal leadership race
A day after entering the Liberal leadership race, Burlington, Ont., MP and government House leader Karina Gould was cheered at a campaign launch party by local residents — including young people expressing hope the 37-year-old politician will represent their voices.
Anold Mulaisho was born intersex and wonders where they fit in, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order for the United States to recognize only two sexes, male and female.
WARNING: This story contains references to suicide.
Subway service is down on Line 1 between Sheppard West and Lawrence West due to a broken power rail, the TTC said Wednesday morning.
A long-term care home in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood has cleared one more hurdle to add desperately needed beds to its property, a move that's been praised by housing advocates but opposed by locals concerned about the impact on the neighbourhood.
A Charlottetown resident is calling on the P.E.I. government to do more to protect homeowners after reading about a recent oil spill very similar to one on his Montague property 20 years ago, which he says ruined him financially.
WARNING: This story includes details of abuse.
Two years after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly declared she was taking the unprecedented step of moving to confiscate millions of dollars from a sanctioned Russian oligarch with assets in Canada, the government has not actually begun the court process to forfeit the money, let alone to hand it over to Ukrainian reconstruction — and it may never happen.
Alberta business and oilpatch leaders are returning home from Washington this week after the U.S. presidential inauguration festivities — and gritting their teeth after a roller-coaster of emotions.
Youth workers in Toronto's Jane and Finch area are flipping the script on negative stereotypes about their communities with a new fundraising campaign that offers anti-bias training in exchange for donations to bolster their programming.
In a sudden move that came late Tuesday evening, city officials rolled out cots and temporarily opened a warm building in east London as frigid temperatures continued.