Sask. NDP slams secrecy in Saskatchewan Marshal investigation

A ruling says Saskatchewan should disclose misconduct outcome involving former marshal who resigned after investigation. Wayne Mantyka reports.

The Saskatchewan NDP is continuing to push for answers surrounding a misconduct allegation involving a former member of the Saskatchewan Marshal Service.

An unidentified marshal resigned last summer, but details about the allegation and the outcome of the investigation have not been made public.

The Opposition says efforts to get clarity have been met with resistance from the provincial government.

“When we sought, and when the public sought transparency on what happened, what this marshal did, the government refused to provide any information,” said NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer.

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Last year, the NDP filed a Freedom of Information request seeking records related to the investigation. In response, the party received approximately 290 pages of heavily redacted emails and documents.

The Opposition then appealed to Saskatchewan’s Information and Privacy Commissioner. In a recent ruling, the commissioner found that while some information was properly withheld under existing exemptions, not all of it should remain undisclosed.

In the decision, the commissioner stated that “the public has a right to know and debate the outcome of allegations involving a marshal who is appointed to act in the public trust when allegations arise.”

Sarauer says the lack of transparency continues to be a concern.

“They’ve been essentially stonewalling anybody who’s asked any questions about what happened, what the marshal did,” she said.

The provincial government and its agencies are not required to follow the commissioner’s recommendations.

In a statement, the Saskatchewan Marshal Service said it is reviewing the findings and will provide a response within 30 days.