For immediate release: October 21, 2024
ETHICS COMMISSIONER FINDS SASK. PARTY GUILTY OF BREAKING LAW AND PERSONALLY PROFITING ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Sask. Party MLA Gary Grewal jacked up motel room rates for government clients, swindling $731,000 from taxpayers
REGINA – In a scathing report Saskatchewan’s Conflict Of Interest Commissioner found former Sask. Party MLA Gary Grewal guilty of breaking the law and personally profiting off of government contracts.
Grewal, the owner of Sunrise Motel, was found guilty after swindling $731,000 from taxpayers after the government awarded social services contracts to its own MLA’s hotel.
“Scott Moe tried to defend the Sask. Party’s behaviour but the Commissioner called it what it is – illegal. This is corruption, plain and simple.” said Meara Conway, Saskatchewan NDP candidate for Regina Elphinstone Centre.
The Sunrise Scandal first began in November 2023, when the Saskatchewan NDP revealed internal documents showing that the Sunrise Motel – owned by Sask. Party MLA Grewal – had doubled the motel rates when charging government clients, effectively jacking up the rates when taxpayers were footing the bill. It was then revealed that MLA Grewal was financially involved with another motel engaged in the same practice.
The Sask. Party vigorously defended the corruption, calling the charges “unfounded” and going so far as to block investigations by the Provincial Auditor.
Sask. Party candidate for Regina University and outgoing Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky fiercely denied that his friend Mr. Grewal was involved in day-to-day operations at the Sunrise Motel. He denied that Social Services had government contracts with hotels — that was a lie.
In his 17-page report, the Commissioner found that Grewal broke the law, contravening subsection 15(5) of the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act.
“The Sask. Party is more interested in cashing in on their government positions than representing the people of Saskatchewan,” said Conway. “This is why so many voters are looking for change. On Oct. 28, we can put an end to the Sask. Party corruption and vote for Carla Beck and the Saskatchewan NDP.”
Herauf left it to the Legislative Assembly to determine a proper penalty for Grewal’s illegal actions.
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