SNC LAVALIN AND THE REGINA BYPASS

Volumes of information were provided to the RCMP, and an investigation was conducted on the land transactions at the GTH. In 2018, the RCMP closed the file on the Regina Bypass Scandal stating they conducted an extensive and wide-ranging investigation that lasted two years. They spent 7500 hours investigating documents that were freely provided to them and never met the threshold to subpoena evidence.

During the same time, Premier Brad Wall resigned as well as MLA Bill Boyd and Finance Minister Kevin Doherty. Gordon Wyant, now Deputy Premier said while he was campaigning for Premier that he would call for a Public Inquiry into the Regina Bypass to clear the air even if the RCMP found nothing wrong. This was soon swept under the carpet, and a statement was issued that the RCMP did their job and no Public Inquiry was necessary. It is very obvious that there is a lot more going on here than the government and the RCMP want us to believe. Through all of this, we can see a tangled web of corruption and collusion that is being covered up by the government much the same as the SNC-Lavalin scandal.

As the completion of the Regina Bypass approaches, we have been able to see the flaws in the design and implementation of the engineering by Vinci. It is clear that this project is not up to standards with round-about issues, a confusing diverging diamond, the Bypass is sinking off Tower Road, and light poles are falling over and have to be redone. Saskatchewan engineers and contractors have engineered and constructed overpasses and highway successfully in our province for over a century. Which begs the questions, why was a French company given the lead on this project when they are unaware of our standards and conditions?

If we turn a blind eye to wrongdoings of our government, how can we expect change? The issues of accountability and responsibility from our elected officials when handling public money are critical and fundamental. Whether they are elected or appointed, we should expect a high ethical standard of practice and conduct from them. In light of the current scandal involving our PM, a call for greater accountability and reforms to ethical standards are necessary both on the federal and provincial levels. Georges Santayana, the Spanish born aphorist from the last century, said it well when he wrote:

“…Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

It’s time to demand accountability, transparency, and real advocacy from our elected officials. We are the people who must bear the cost of these mistakes. If we fail to engage in the process, we will continue to be victims.

John F. Kennedy said, “Our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibilities.”