Saskatchewan’s Conflict of Interest Commissioner is investigating Sask. NDP MLA Aleana Young for a potential conflict of interest in regards to posts she made about her personal cheese business on social media.
On Monday, Commissioner Maurice Herauf confirmed to 980 CJME that Young was being investigated following a request made to his office under the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act.
Read more:
- MLAs Jeremy Cockrill and Gary Grewal under investigation
- Jeremy Cockrill under investigation over helium investments
- Grewal says conflict report ‘completely misinterprets’ motel transactions
The request was made after a social post made by the Regina South Albert MLA celebrating her Takeaway Gourmet cheese business on the same account she uses for official posts.
“I determined that there were reasonable and probable grounds to proceed,” Herauf said in a statement.
Since the matter is still under investigation, Herauf declined to comment further.
Meara Conway, shadow minister of ethics and democracy, said the Sask. NDP welcomes the investigation, saying the matter was a very “novel” issue.
“We see multiple MLAs (on social media) — whether it’s Aleana Young promoting her small business, or the premier tweeting about harvest from his tractor (on) his political account — (and) I think everyone from backbenchers to Scott Moe will benefit from the ruling of the commissioner,” Conway said at a media event on Monday.
“It will provide much-needed guidance.”
Conway said it was important for MLAs to conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity when using social media.
She said the incident poses the question of whether or not MLAs are ever operating as private people through social media – saying that while some of the posts in question were on Young’s official MLA Facebook page, other posts under review were from her personal Instagram page.
Conway said social media can be a bit of a grey area in regards to the Legislative Assembly and its members, as it was invented long after the establishment of governance rules.
“I think it’s fortunate that the Commissioner is looking into this, and will provide some clarity,” Conway said. “Probably, we’ll end up being ahead of many jurisdictions in Canada for having this investigation.”
Young suggested the same thing.
“Technology is changing fast, and I’m sure my work with the Commissioner will be helpful for all members of the Legislature,” said Young in a news release.
“It’s a privilege to represent our constituents, and we’re always looking at ways we can best use these new tools to communicate directly with them.”
980 CJME also reached out to the Saskatchewan Party for comment, but it declined.
Read more: