Commissioner rules Sask. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill violated conflict of interest legislation

Saskatchewan's conflict of interest commissioner has ruled Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill violated the province's conflict of interest legislation.

In a report published Monday, conflict of interest commissioner Maurice Herauf ruled that in 2021, Cockrill breached Section 15 of the Member's Conflict of Interest Act, which prohibits any member of the legislature from participating in government contracts where they have a beneficial interest. 

According to Herauf, Cockrill violated the act from June 23, 2021, to Dec. 14, 2021, when Fortress Windows and Doors Ltd. — a business owned by the health minister's in-laws — was contracted by the Battleford Housing Authority.

The company received nearly $180,000 in contracts from the public housing authority in North Battleford, west of Saskatoon. 

Cockrill worked for the company after he was elected in 2020, first as an adviser and later as a part-time salesperson, the commissioner's report says.

Herauf ruled that during his employment in 2021, Cockrill received hourly compensation, was responsible for marketing and got a year-end bonus of more than $2,000.

Cockrill left the company in August 2021, but continued to have an interest in it until Dec. 14, 2021, which is when he received the year-end bonus, Herauf wrote.

However, the commissioner ultimately concluded that Cockrill's violation was not significant.

Herauf said Cockrill properly disclosed his income from the company in public disclosure documents in 2020 and 2021.

Because Cockrill had acted appropriately and consulted Herauf's office on disclosure, the commissioner ruled that the violation of the Member's Conflict of Interest Act was not intentional or deliberate. 

"In these circumstances, I do not consider a fine, suspension or declaration of vacancy appropriate," he wrote. "Nor do I see any purpose in ordering the member to comply with the act, as Mr. Cockrill's interest in Fortress has long ended."

Herauf said Cockrill's only punishment should be a reprimand. 

Saskatchewan NDP MLA Meara Conway requested the investigation into Cockrill, who was elected to represent the Saskatchewan Party in 2020 and sworn into cabinet two years later.

In a news conference on Wednesday, Conway slammed Cockrill's actions.

"I believe that Cockrill needs to face the cameras. He should apologize, and we hope that the Sask. Party will support a motion to reprimand Jeremy Cockrill in the spring session," Conway said.

Herauf's office said the report "speaks for itself."

In a statement to CBC, Cockrill said he accepted the commissioner's findings.

"This matter has been difficult for my family as NDP MLAs and candidates have tried to sully the reputation of both me and my family to score political points ahead of an election," Cockrill said.

The Opposition NDP says Conway will address the investigation's findings at a news conference on Wednesday.

This is the second time this year Herauf's office has ruled that a government MLA violated the province's conflict of interest legislation. 

He ruled former MLA Gary Grewal breached rules by owning motels that profited from government contracts. 

Conway said the Saskatchewan Party needs to do better. 

"I don't think this is a government that can be trusted to address the major challenges that we see facing Saskatchewan people," she said on Wednesday. 

Cockrill cleared in 2nd investigation

Herauf published a second opinion this week, also into complaints against Cockrill. 

This time, Herauf cleared Cockrill of any wrongdoing after investigating his investments into two helium companies that the province had contracts with.

The commissioner found that Cockrill did not take part in any decisions or discussion related to Helium Evolution or Royal Helium. 

Cockrill did attend cabinet meetings where the helium sector was discussed, Herauf said, but found the contracts awarded to the two companies were issued on standards terms and conditions that were made available to the public, an exception allowed under the Member's Conflict of Interest Act.

Conway called the exception a legal loophole "big enough to drive a combine through."

Along with the NDP's motion to reprimand Cockrill, Conway said the NDP would look to introduce a private members bill that would modernize the Member's Conflict of Interest Act.

"This is an act that was created in 1993. It needs to be updated," Conway said.