REGINA — The Opposition New Democrats are again demanding the Sask. Party government release details of an investigation into a Marshals Service officer who resigned.
NDP public safety critic Nicole Sarauer told reporters in Regina Thursday that they had submitted an access-to-information request seeking the release of all documents related to allegations of misconduct or investigations into Saskatchewan Marshals, and all information relating to submitted complaints from November 2022 to May 2025.
“Instead of releasing any information, the government completely redacted 290 pages of emails and documents,” Sarauer said, holding up copies of the 290 documents.
Sarauer called on Minister for Justice, Policing, Corrections and Public Safety Tim McLeod and legislative secretary Michael Weger “to be transparent with the people of Saskatchewan and release the documents.” Both McLeod and Weger were in Prince Albert for a policing announcement.
She noted the Opposition had already written to the provincial ombudsman seeking an investigation into the conduct of the Marshals Service. She also revealed that earlier that day they referred concerns about the redacted records to the Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner.
As for what the officer in question did to prompt the investigation and resignation, Sarauer acknowledged there have been rumours circulating. “What I have heard, if that rumour is true, is incredibly distasteful and very inappropriate,” she said.
She said it led to the question of what the government is hiding.
“The minister can keep trying to hide it, but the details of this scandal will come out,” Sarauer said. “Folks talk in Saskatchewan. It’s not very often a police force receives a public complaint before even starting to work. It really makes one wonder what this person did.”
It is unclear whether the redactions concern the one marshal or other complaints. The email responses were so completely redacted that Sarauer told reporters she didn’t even know when the emails were sent.
“So, if it’s just about one marshal, it’s a heck of a lot of communication internally about one particular incident. So, I think another question that needs to be asked of the minister is how many complaints have been made against how many marshals since the hiring of the first marshal.”
Sarauer was also asked about McLeod’s previous accusations that the NDP was attempting to politicize the investigation process.
“That’s absolutely not the case here,” said Sarauer. “We have complete respect for the work of the Public Complaints Commission and fully respected them at the time when they were doing their investigation.
“The PCC has concluded their work. We want that work to be made public, that’s all. We just want the government to be transparent. So, it’s highly inappropriate and disappointing to hear the minister say that. I think he’s trying to deflect from what the real issue is, which is the need to be open and transparent.”
SaskToday has reached out to the Sask. Party for comment. In a statement they provided this response:
"Decisions regarding Freedom of Information access requests are made internally by the permanent head of the organizations involved in the request, without the involvement of the elected. In this case it would be the Chief Marshal of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service.
"It should be concerning to the public that the lost and reckless NDP has attempted to pressure and dictate the decisions of not just one, but two independent oversight bodies, the Public Complaint Commission’s (PCC) and the Ombudsman. This not only undermines the independence of these offices but sets a dangerous precedent of politicizing processes that are explicitly designed to be neutral and non-partisan.
"The PCC’s investigation into the complaint involving the Saskatchewan Marshal Service has been completed and, in accordance with the procedure established by The Police Act, 1990, has been provided to the Service for their review and action.
"As set out in The Police Act, 1990, the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety does not direct the day-to-day operations of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service.
"The PCC is an independent, civilian-led body. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General does not direct the day-to-day operations of the Commission."
