In light of the ruling, Saskatchewan’s NDP is calling on the Sask. Party to release to the Auditor all e-mails related to the GTH, hidden on the Sask. Party’s private server.
“The Premier has claimed that his e-mails on the Sask. Party server are subject to the same rules as his e-mails on the government server and that is simply not true,” said NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon. “The Sask. Party has also claimed that all cabinet documents related to the GTH had been made available to the Auditor but we need to know if that included documents hidden on this private server housed at their party headquarters.”
When first asked about the private e-mail server, the Premier refused to admit that it was housed at Sask. Party headquarters but did say that he had been using the private server during his entire time as Premier. The NDP is calling for a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee - the committee that reviewed the Auditor’s report on the Sask. Party’s GTH scandal - to determine whether or not the Auditor had been given access to this private server housed at the Sask. Party offices.
“They broke the rules to hide the Premier’s use of this e-mail server but they got caught. Now, they need to come clean about what else they’ve been hiding and if the Premier used this private e-mail server for any discussions about the Sask. Party’s GTH scandal,” said Wotherspoon. “If the Premier did not hand over emails about the GTH land scandal to the auditor, they need to be given to the auditor now for further investigation. Saskatchewan people deserve to know whether or not there is any information the Premier has been hiding on his private server about this scandal that cost taxpayers millions.”
The NDP also called on the Sask. Party to provide access to the private server at Sask. Party headquarters, including all e-mails containing government business, to the Information and Privacy Commissioner as well as the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
“The information on these emails contains business that directly impacts the people of Saskatchewan and it should be kept in a transparent way where it belongs,” Wotherspoon said. “For the last decade, the Sask. Party has been hiding government business on this private server at the Sask. Party offices. If the Premier really has nothing to hide, he should be fully open and transparent and turn it over now for proper review.”