Monday, 25 Nov 2024

Saskatchewan NDP wants province to review ties with SNC-Lavalin

The Saskatchewan NDP is raising concerns over the Saskatchewan Party’s relationship with Quebec engineering firm, SNC-Lavalin.

On Monday, NDP leader Ryan Meili said he wants to see the province review past contracts awarded to SNC-Lavalin.

Global News

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Meili also called for a moratorium on any further contracts with SNC-Lavalin until the full review is complete.

According to the NDP, between 2009 and 2013, SNC-Lavalin donated $9,383 to the Sask. Party, meanwhile, SNC-Lavalin was selected for $765,846,640 worth in contracts from 2009 to 2018.

“SNC-Lavalin has donated, over a period of six years, they donated regularly to the Sask. Party. During that time, they were also granted a pretty major contract,” Meili said.

“Frequently, it’s the companies that donate that get the big contracts. Hundreds of thousands in donations, translating into hundreds of millions of contracts and that to me, is something that needs to be gone.”

Last week, the Globe and Mail published a report alleging officials in the prime minister’s office had tried to pressure former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to get public prosecutors to cut a deal with SNC-Lavalin to help the Montreal engineering giant avoid a criminal trial and possible conviction over corruption and fraud charges stemming from business activities in Libya.

SNC-Lavalin engineered and constructed SaskPower’s Boundary Dam 3 carbon capture and storage facility, near Estevan, Sask. In January, the company announced it was selected for a 30-year contract to be the facility manager of the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford.

“We’ll continue to look to get the best value of our procurements. The extent that there’s been allegations levelled against SNC-Lavalin, that’s no reason for me, or this government, to disqualify them from bidding on any provincial contracts that may come up,” Deputy Premier Gord Wyant said.

“The last contribution that SNC has made to the Saskatchewan Party was $1,200, I think back in 2013, and that was a table at the leader’s dinner.”

Wyant said the province is not interested in a moratorium for contracts with SNC.

The federal ethics commissioner is launching an investigation into the allegations of political interference in the SNC-Lavalin case.

“At the end of the day, we’ll wait and see what happens with the ethics commissioner,” Wyant said.

-With files from Amanda Connolly

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