REGINA - The opposition New Democrats were back on offence in the Legislature Monday, this time over a consulting contract by the government with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The NDP roasted the government in Question Period over the contract with Calgary-based consulting firm Harper and Associates. In a news release the NDP had pointed to the firm billing the province for $240,000 annually, or $840,000 since 2019.
The Opposition criticism coincided with former PM Harper’s appearance that same day in Regina as the star attraction at the Food Fuel Fertilizer Global Summit put on by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. Harper participated that morning in a fireside chat discussion with Premier Scott Moe, along with Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison serving as moderator.
Opposition Economy and Jobs Critic Aleana Young took aim at that event during Question Period, as she pointed out the value of merchandise exports for Saskatchewan had fallen year over year over the past 11 months.
“The Premier and his Minister spent thousands of dollars flying around the world, but they’re delivering less this year than they were last year and those are the facts. So Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister, why didn’t he bring up that fact this morning in his fireside chat with the Premier and former Prime Minister Harper?”
Harrison responded by pointing to good economic numbers including $78 billion in GDP, “second in the entire country in growth.” He also pointed to the GDP leading the nation in growth the year before, and also to exports being up nearly $50 billion.
“And I can tell you, I think part of the discussion today at the Food, Fuel and Fertilizer summit put on by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce was about how we keep that momentum going, how we continue to grow our exports… and keep in mind in the final year of the NDP government, which was probably their best year, exports over $16 billion Mr. Speaker. $50 billion of exports on $78 billion of GDP is how this government able to pay for all the services that are provided… growth is what pays for all the services we value in this province and that’s what we’re committed to.”
Young then noted that a Freedom of Information request had been filed by the Opposition regarding the contract with Harper’s firm, but she pointed out that the “description of work” sections of the contract with Harper and Associates were redacted.
“It came back redacted,” said Young. “Almost every detail withheld of the actual description of work that the taxpayers of Saskatchewan are paying Harper and Associates to do. How does the minister justify this total lack of transparency?”
“I wish that member had listened to the discussion today in the Food, Fuel and Fertilizer summit,” replied Harrison. “What she would’ve heard from business leaders, from partners, from stakeholders, including Chambers of Commerce across the province, are the vital importance Mr. Speaker of international engagement. About why direct engagement with leaders around the world has resulted in literally hundreds of millions of dollars of opportunities for our companies to do business which results in terms of thousands of jobs here, Mr. Speaker… we need to engage, we need to support Saskatchewan, we need to work with our companies, we need to sell the province. That’s what we’re committed to doing and it’s showing real results.”
In speaking to reporters after Question Period, Young reiterated her criticism of the Harper contract.
“This is a question of transparency when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars. This is a government that’s been playing pretty fast and loose when it comes to Saskatchewan peoples’ money, to reward their friends and insiders. It’s completely reasonable to ask what the deliverables are of this contract and as you know we couldn’t get it, we FOI’d it and it came back unsurprisingly redacted.”
In response the province has provided this statement:
“Harper & Associates provides advice to the Government of Saskatchewan on energy, resources, and agriculture among other industries in key global markets. The annual cost for the contract with Harper and Associates is approximately $240,000.”
