Jeremy Harrison. (File Photo/Canadian Press)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

SRC Inquiry

Progressive Conservatives renew call for Saskatchewan Research Council inquiry

Oct 23, 2024 | 1:50 PM

Following a CBC report that Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison fired a Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) whistleblower earlier this year, the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is renewing calls for an inquiry.

In a news release, PC Leader Rose Buscholl called the reports “extremely serious” during a Regina news conference.

“This involves Jeremy Harrison, the same minister who lied earlier this year about bringing a gun to the legislature and bullying colleagues. Now that summer is over, and we are in the midst of a provincial election, perhaps the powers that be will take this more seriously,” she said.

According to the release, former SRC chair Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick, came forward with conflict-of-interest allegations that involved the CEO of the SRC bringing two business colleagues onto the board without proper disclosure

“I have been involved with more than 50 boards throughout my career,” Fitzpatrick said during the conference.

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“My primary function as the board chair of SRC was to act in the best fiduciary interest of the Saskatchewan Research Council, and in the best interest of Saskatchewan taxpayers. That was not the case here.”

Fitzpatrick spoke with Harrison, who in turn had the premier’s office begin an investigatio but Fitzpatrick was not interviewed as part of the process and was eventually fired.

“In fact, the board chair and vice-chair were fired, re-hired, and subsequently fired within months, by Order in Council. Despite this Harrison recently insisted he was not involved in board matters, adding that nothing “un-normal” took place,” the release from the PC Party read.

Meanwhile, the new Chair George Prudat was someone who “donated $1,600 to the Sask. Party in 2022.”

“The Sask. Party is running this province and the SRC like its own private fiefdom,” said Buscholl in the release, adding that the NDP also knew about the situation but did not act.

“The SRC is currently involved in rare earth mineral and nuclear files, which are worth tens of millions of dollars. When you look at the current organization chart for the SRC, you will find that the vice-president for the nuclear file has a background in human resources. Why is an HR professional heading up that division, when we are talking about moving forward with small modular nuclear reactors, and micro-reactors?”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com