NDP raise concerns about Sask. Party awarding U.S. company tire-recycling business contract
Global News
Shercom Industries, a Saskatchewan business that used to handle tire recycling in the province, lost their contract to an American firm in May of 2023.
The Saskatchewan NDP is questioning the Sask. Party’s involvement with a U.S. rubber recycling company that now holds a contract held by a Saskatchewan business.
The NDP says former Sask. Party Finance Minister Kevin Doherty was hired as a lobbyist by a U.S. rubber recycling company. The U.S. company was later awarded a contract previously held by a local Saskatchewan business.
Shercom Industries, a Saskatchewan business that used to handle tire recycling in the province, lost its contract to an American firm in May of 2023.
“Handing this lucrative contract to an American company when a Saskatchewan-based business was already doing the work raises a lot of eyebrows,” said Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck.
“It looks even more strange when we look in the lobbyist registry and see that Kevin Doherty was hired by this American company to lobby the Premier in the year leading up to the announcement. The Premier has a lot of explaining to do.”
The NDP says Shercom was forced to shut down its processing plant and lay off more than 60 workers after the contract was lost.
According to Beck, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe claimed he never met with Doherty regarding the contract that ultimately went to the American company. Beck asked Moe in the legislature Tuesday if he had any concerns with the deal.
“In this particular case there was a request for proposal (RFP) as my understanding is that the company she’s referring to didn’t bid on it,” Moe said.
