GTH won't release land deal appraisal because it could 'harm the reputation' of preparer

The Global Transportation Hub is refusing to publicly release an appraisal at the heart of the controversial GTH land deal, saying that if public, the document could damage the reputation and finances of the company that produced it.

"Disclosure of this information could be expected to harm the reputation and cause financial loss to the preparer of the appraisal," wrote Bryan Richards, president and CEO of the GTH, in a letter to CBC's iTeam.

In addition, Richards argues releasing the document could harm the government of Saskatchewan too.

• Sask. government charging $180K for access to GTH land deal documents

Private appraisal central to GTH land deal

Earlier this year, the iTeam reported that the government-owned GTH purchased land from a couple of Regina businessmen back in 2014 for two to three times more than government-procured appraisals said it was worth.

• Businessmen made millions on Regina land that wound up in taxpayers' hands

Those appraisals valued the land between $30,000 and $65,000 an acre. The GTH paid $103,000 an acre.

In a December interview, the minister responsible for the GTH, Bill Boyd, said the GTH paid the higher price because the sellers had an appraisal that said the land was worth about $125,000 an acre.

"We had appraisals at a lower amount, we had appraisals at a higher amount and we came in somewhere in between," Boyd explained.

The government publicly released its two appraisals, belonging to the GTH and the Ministry of Highways, but that private one has never been disclosed.

CBC files access to information request

In early March, CBC's iTeam requested a copy of the $125,000 appraisal as part of a series of access to information requests. Initially the GTH lumped them all together and sent CBC a $111,845.50 fee estimate.

However, after CBC complained to the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the GTH changed its mind and responded to a couple of requests individually, including this one.

Disclosure of this record could interfere with current negotiations of the Government of Saskatchewan.- Letter from Bryan Richards, president and CEO of the GTH

In a letter, the president and CEO of the GTH Bryan Richards explains that in addition to concerns about the appraiser's reputation and financial condition, there are other compelling reasons to withhold this document from public scrutiny.

Richards argues "disclosure of this record could interfere with current negotiations of the Government of Saskatchewan."

He also points out that it would be inappropriate to release the document because "this information was provided by a third party in confidence."

'I'd like this appraisal out there': premier

In the midst of the recent election campaign, Premier Brad Wall was asked about that private appraisal.

"I hope the appraisal comes out. I think there's no reason that it can't," Wall said. "I'd like this appraisal out there."

• 'I'd like this appraisal out there' says Brad Wall about private GTH land appraisal

The provincial NDP asked the GTH for the document in a freedom of information request earlier this year, but that request was denied. 

Wall said that was "for good reason, for legal reasons. They can't release it without the permission of the owner, the seller and the appraiser."

Despite that, Wall said, "What we can do is encourage the GTH to have another look and to reach out the appraiser and reach out to the seller and get their permission to release it."

While the GTH said it won't release the document publicly, an official in the premier's office told CBC the government does have permission to provide the appraisal to the provincial auditor, who is reviewing the transactions.

In Richard's letter he told CBC if it doesn't like his decision to withhold the appraisal it can file a complaint with Saskatchewan's Information and Privacy Commissioner.

CBC has followed that advice.