The government’s use of former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal’s hotel is expected to be part of the focus of an auditor general’s report being filed with the provincial legislature Tuesday afternoon.
Part of auditor Tara Clemett’s report will examine how the province procures hotel rooms for social services clients.
Last year, the Official Opposition said motels owned by Grewal raised the price on rooms once social services started footing the bill to house clients at those locations.
That prompted Clemett’s office to examine the topic, with her conclusions to be tabled as part of her second 2024 report.
Documents released this year by the Opposition NDP show The Sunrise Motel and the Thriftlodge, which Grewal has ownership stakes in, received a combined $384,178 from social services in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Then-social services minister Gene Makowsky defended the province’s use of the hotels for immediate assistance to individuals or families in emergency situations, or for longer-term support for families and children in crisis.
The province’s options are limited, because some hotels won’t accept people on income assistance, he said.
Saskatchewan’s conflict of interest commissioner eventually ruled that Grewal violated conflict of interest laws with the contracts between the hotels and the provincial government.
Grewal denied any wrongdoing and did not run in the fall election.
Saskatchewan’s conflict of interest commissioner has ruled that outgoing Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal breached rules by owning motels that profited from government contracts.
In response to scrutiny, the Ministry of Social Services changed how it procures rooms, requiring three quotes from hotels before picking one.
The Ministry must also enter into a formal contract with hotels in Saskatoon and Regina.
Clemett’s report is also expected to look at other topics including:
- Regulating foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland.
- Timely 911 call taking and dispatching for fire emergencies.
- SaskPower’s transition to low and non-emitting energy sources.
- Planning for social housing units in Regina.
- Critical incident reporting to improve patient safety.
- Monitoring quality of care in homes supporting adults with intellectually disabilities.
- Several health care follow-ups including diabetes-related health complications, analysis of surgical biopsies in Regina and Saskatoon and efficient use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines in Regina.
- Concerns with implementing strong financial controls, complying with financial and governance-related legislative authorities, or preparing reliable financial statements at 10 agencies including the Ministry of Highways, Western Development Museum, the Northern Municipal Trust Account and provincial colleges.
Clemett’s report will become publicly available once it is tabled with the legislature.
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