SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan NDP continue to hammer the government on the issue of the split lease arrangement at the constituency office of Minister for Advanced Education Ken Cheveldayoff.
Ethics & Democracy Shadow Minister Jordan McPhail again raised the issue and accused the Saskatoon-Willowgrove MLA of lying to the public during a media availability on Tuesday, April 21.
McPhail said there’s been new evidence that has come to light on one of Premier Scott Moe’s cabinet ministers concerning Cheveldayoff’s office space on Central Avenue in the Sutherland neighbourhood.
The Cumberland MLA, speaking across from Cheveldayoff’s office, saiid, “The Minister lied, plain and simple … For weeks, he insisted that there was no sublet scandal, that this was some split lease designed to save money,” said McPhail.
“But a 2025 estate listing tells a very different story. That listing clearly describes the space as ‘sub-lease only’, not a split lease, not something new or innovative, a sublease.”
McPhail said the words on the listing matter because subletting constituency offices has been banned since 2016 under the legislature's rules.
He added that Cheveldayoff needs to explain why his statements differ from the facts provided, noting that the listing markets the space as a prime storefront.
It was also listed as a high-traffic, high-visibility location, with multiple office spaces, a boardroom, sufficient parking, and a staff room.
McPhail said they had already sent all the evidence, including an individual involved in the deal connected to the Sask. Party, to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner Maurice Herauf.
“In the evidence that we provided, we've seen that there are donor records that are public-facing as well. Saskatchewan businesses and people have the right to donate to political parties,” he said.
“This is not a new phenomenon. What is new Is that the minister has placed himself in what we believe to be a conflict of interest with a donor, based on what we've been seeing from the evidence.”
He then challenged Moe and Cheveldayoff to come clean and tell the people of Saskatchewan the truth and what has been going on in the latter’s constituency office.
“I think what Moe and Cheveldayoff can do is they can be truthful with the people of Saskatchewan for a change and start to tell the full picture of what's been going on over the years,” added McPhail.
“We're still working to finalize a few more things in our office, but all pieces of the truth will come out about the scandalous management waste of this Saskatchewan Party government.”
Saving money
Cheveldayoff, however, in a statement, said he had already explained that the split-lease arrangement allows him to save taxpayers’ dollars by sharing the rental costs with a law firm.
“I have always been completely transparent about this arrangement with Legislative Assembly Services, and it was publicly disclosed every year in my MLA disclosure statement,” added Cheveldayoff.
“The arrangement was allowed to continue by successive Speakers, and LAS accepted a payment every month from the law firm, clearly demonstrating they were aware of and allowed the arrangement.”
Cheveldayoff added that the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has also confirmed the fact that successive speakers were aware of and allowed the split lease arrangement for his constituency office.
He said he would let the Conflict-of-Interest Commissioner review the issue, expressed confidence, and looked forward to the Commissioner’s decision, believing he had acted appropriately.
McPhail resumes attack Wednesday
During Question Period on Tuesday the NDP attempted to again raise the issue of Cheveldayoff's lease arrangement, but the line of questioning was shut down quickly by Speaker Todd Goudy.
At a news conference Wednesday in Regina, McPhail resumed his attack on Cheveldayoff. He released to the media a copy of his own lease for his own office in Cumberland and said "I have nothing to hide."
McPhail also accused Cheveldayoff of refusing to release details of his lease. McPhail confirmed he has sent a letter that morning to Speaker Goudy calling on him to "release all leases for the office run by Minister Ken Cheveldayoff."
"Saskatchewan people deserve honesty, they deserve transparency, and they deserve to know how their money is being used. This is simple: release the lease. Sooner or later, the truth, and all of it, will come out."
With files from John Cairns
