Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.
“Every day this spring we’ve called on this tired and out-of-touch government to cut the gas tax and give families a break, but this government just won’t listen,” said Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck. “Do we have to hire Kevin Doherty as a lobbyist to finally get some cost-of-living relief for families?”
During question period, the Opposition’s Critic for Ethics and Democracy called out Health Minister Everett Hindley for misleading the public. The Sask. Party gave a major donor a sole-source contract to perform knee and hip replacements in Calgary. The firm recently donated over $14,000 to the Sask. Party and employed former Sask. Party MLA Kevin Doherty to lobby on their behalf.
The Minister stated yesterday that he never spoke to Kevin Doherty about the deal. Hindley claimed in the house, on the record, that “It’s my understanding that Mr. Doherty did not lobby on this, was not involved in this particular RFP.” Hindley later admitted that it was not an open RFP but a sole-source contract. He also doubled down on his claim that Doherty was not lobbying for the project, saying that “He wasn't involved in it.”
Contrary to the Minister’s claims, Saskatchewan Registry of Lobbyists logs show that Doherty lobbied the Premier and the Minister of Health for Surgical Solutions from May 27, 2022 to January 29, 2024. Hindley’s name appears in the log as both Minister of Health and Minister of Rural and Remote Health, his previous position. Hindley states that the government also began looking at private surgical options in May 2022.
The logs show that Doherty worked with and assisted the provincial government with the surgical backlog. Doherty logged “informal communications”, meetings, phone calls, presentations, and “written communication whether in hard copy or electronic format” with Minister Hindley, Premier Scott Moe, and their senior officials.
“The Sask. Party broke our healthcare system and they can’t be trusted to fix it. People are done with the sweetheart deals for Sask. Party insiders and donors,” said Conway. “This is why people are looking for change. They want a government that delivers public healthcare when and where they need it. We’re ready to deliver that change.”
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