SASK. NDP MOVING TO LAUNCH AUDITOR INVESTIGATION INTO WATERBOMBER PROCUREMENT AND MAINTENANCE MISMANAGEMENT

SASKATOON – The Sask. NDP will call on the Provincial Auditor to investigate the Sask. Party government for allegedly overspending $100 million on water bombers, as well as their failure to ensure water bombers were maintained and fully operational during the spring and summer of 2025.

The Opposition put the Sask. Party on notice Friday that a formal motion will be moved on Monday at Public Accounts Committee – the committee empowered to call on the Provincial Auditor to conduct special investigations.

“Four waterbombers were collecting dust during the worst fire season in a decade, and now new allegations have emerged of a deal costing taxpayers $100 million,” said Hugh Gordon, Saskatchewan NDP MLA and member of the Public Accounts Committee.

“Providing notice today will make sure that government members are not caught off guard and can support this call for greater transparency, accountability, and responsible spending.”

Airtanker supplier Coulson Aircrane filed an affidavit recently stating that the Sask. Party government awarded a contract worth over $187 million to Conair for four waterbombers without putting the contract out to public tender.

Coulson says that they were barred from bidding on the contract and could have supplied the planes for $100 million less.

Publicly available flight data show that two of the province’s Convair 580As and two CL-215Ts tankers were out of service during the worst stretch of wildfires this year. The provincial government admitted that the planes were grounded because they needed maintenance and inspections.

“Never again can we have nearly half our fleet grounded during wildfire season, and there must be zero tolerance for anyone who bends our procurement rules, especially if it costs the people of Saskatchewan a hundred million dollars,” said Gordon.

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