Sask. NDP still waiting for answers from province on Sunrise Hotel controversy
CTV
The Minister of Social Services has yet to provide information on the Sunrise Hotel controversy in Regina after promising answers, the provincial NDP claims.
The Minister of Social Services has yet to provide information on the Sunrise Hotel controversy in Regina after promising answers, the provincial NDP claims.
On Thursday, NDP MLA and Ethics and Democracy Critic Meara Conway called for answers to the scandal, saying that Gene Makowsky, the minister of social services, refused to respond to two freedom of information requests about payments into the Sunrise Motel.
“Minister Makowsky promised answers months ago and still hasn’t delivered. All the evidence suggests that he’s running interference for a teammate possibly playing dirty,” Conway said in a news release.
“Saskatchewan people work hard for their tax dollars. They deserve to know whether Sask. Party MLAs are using their influence within government to benefit the private businesses of politicians.”
The provincial NDP originally alleged that the Sunrise Motel in Regina, owned by Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal, inflated a room rate for a Regina resident on social assistance on Nov. 15. The price of a room for Evelyn Harper rose by 50 per cent once the Ministry of Social Services began footing the bill.
The provincial government disputed that claim, calling it “unfounded.” Grewal said he does not play any part in the day-to-day operations.
The provincial NDP submitted two freedom of information requests to the minister’s office on Dec. 12, one asking for policies on hotel stays and one asking for clarity on which hotels are used by the Ministry of Social Services.
