Jeremy Cockrill under 2nd investigation by conflict of interest commissioner

Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill is under investigation by Saskatchewan's conflict of interest commissioner for a second time.

According to Meara Conway, Opposition critic for ethics and democracy, Cockrill is being investigated for his investments in two helium companies the province had contracts with.

In a statement to the CBC, Cockrill said he did not participate in any government decisions regarding the helium industry. He also denied having any inside information.

In a letter to conflict of interest commissioner (COIC) Maurice Herauf, Conway wrote that according to Cockrill's 2022 disclosure, he invested that year in Helium Evolution and Royal Helium while a member of cabinet.

Both of those companies have been granted permits by the province.

"These particular investments raise questions given government initiatives to develop Saskatchewan's helium industry, as well as ongoing government contracts with these companies," wrote Conway.

In a news conference outside the Legislature on Wednesday morning, Conway provided details from her letter and said Saskatchewan citizens should be aware of the investigation.

"The facts suggest that Minister Cockrill abused insider knowledge to buy into a helium company, and right before that company scored big on government tax breaks," she said.

Section 29(1) of the Member's Conflict of Interest Act says any member with reasonable grounds can request the commissioner give an opinion on whetheranMLAhascontravened the law.

In an email to the CBC early Wednesday afternoon, COIC Maurice Herauf confirmed his office has received Conway's request.

"I determined there were reasonable and probable grounds to proceed as directed by ss. 29(1) and 30(1)(a) of the Act. The parties were advised of that determination in late July 2024."

Herauf said he has no further comments as the matter is ongoing.

In her letter, Conway quotes the year-end financial statement from Helium Evolution. She wrote that the company has significant land holdings because it was given helium permits covering 5.6 million acres of land by the Government of Saskatchewan.

On Wednesday, Conway said Helium Evolution and Royal Helium are the two helium companies "arguably partnering most closely with the Sask. Party government."

"As a member of Cabinet, [Cockrill] had behind the scenes access to the government's helium action plan and access to fellow ministers who were rubbing shoulders with these companies, joining them at international trade shows and conferences and hosting them at the legislature," Conway said.

"It's a conflict of interest and it even looks like it could amount to insider trading."

Cockrilll is already under investigation by the COIC for his connections to the family business Fortress Windows and Doors, which he had managed before he became an MLA in 2020.

According to Saskatchewan Housing Corporations Payee Disclosure Report, Fortress Windows and Doors received $179,137.46 from the Battlefords Housing Authority in 2021-22.

MLA disclosure statements from 2022 show Cockrill held a part-time sales position at the company and an adviser's position at the same company in 2021. The company's name or address doesn't show up in Cockrill's 2023 or 2024 statements.

Cockrill denies any wrongdoing

In a statement to the CBC Wednesday afternoon, Cockrill said he is fully co-operating with the COIC's review and is confident that he acted appropriately.

"While I understand the Commissioner is proceeding with a review under Section 3 and 15 under the Act, there is no review of insider trading under Section 4. Ms. Conway is aware of that but chose to make this unfounded allegation at her media event today," said Cockrill in his statement.

The education minister then quoted two sentences from a letter from the COIC, each of which outlines a specific point where the commissioner agreed with Cockrill:

• The commissioner agreed that Conway's request did not identify any specific meeting or decision where Cockrill failed to disclose a conflict of interest or to withdraw from a meeting.

• The commissioner agreed that the province's 2021 Helium Action Plan could not be the basis for a conflict of interest for Cockrill in and of itself, because Cockrill wasn't a member of cabinet and didn't own stock in the two companies at the time.

"While the NDP is focused on slinging mud, we are focused on Saskatchewan people and keeping our economy strong to ensure a bright future for everyone," Cockrill's statement concluded.

NDP accuses Cockrill of 'cherry-picking'

Approximately one hour after Cockrill released his statement, the NDP accused him of "mischaracterizations," saying he cherry-picked from the Commissioner's letter and distorted its meaning.

According to the NDP, the section where the commissioner says the 2021 plan doesn't constitute a conflict in and of itself then goes on to say, "The 2021 Helium Action Plan contemplates ongoing actions through to 2030."

The commissioner also outlines other points in Conway's request:

• The province subsequently granted helium permits to the two helium companies and the timing is not clear.

• Helium Evolution's 2023 financial statements refer to "an amount expected to be returned by the Government of Saskatchewan due to overpayment of unfulfilled work commitments " and "a royalty agreement."

• The province's partnership with the two companies has continued, including participating in a 2024 conference together.

The quoted portion does not say whether these points constitute conflicts of interest, only that Conway pointed to them in her request to the commissioner.

The NDP said in the statement that Cockrill has yet to answer the following questions:

• When between did he buy his stock in Royal Helium and Helium Evolution? Was it before July 26, 2022, when the companies publicly announced they had received government incentives?

• Did he do so with prior knowledge that these companies would be receiving royalty credits from the province?

• Did he recuse himself as a minister from future government and cabinet decisions and discussions regarding the helium industry after the purchase of these stocks including voting on budgets that saw these companies' royalty credit caps increased from $30 million to $100 million?

Conway told the media on Wednesday that she expects the COIC's investigations into Cockrill to take some time.

When asked why the Opposition chose to share this news so close to the provincial election call, she said she believes Saskatchewan residents deserve to have the information before they head to the ballot box.

"It's time to put an end to the backroom deals and corruption that have defined Scott Moe and the Sask. Party for years. It's time for change."