Sask. NDP asking questions about provincial WE charity deal

Saskatchewan’s NDP says a new contract between the provincial government and the WE charity is bringing up more questions than answers.

The contract to provide mental health services in Saskatchewan classrooms was revealed by Postmedia, with the government saying it still intends to partner with the charity. The program would cost about $260,000.

WE is the charity under a very public spotlight in Ottawa over the $900-million federal contract it was awarded and then declined and its ties to the Trudeau family and the family of the federal finance minister, Bill Morneau.

The NDP’s Carla Beck said she had some serious questions about the contract with the provincial government including what the goal is, who was consulted on it, why this model, why this charity, and why now.

“I know that teachers have a lot of questions, a lot of concerns, as do parents and other staff members in classrooms. I’m not sure that this was top of mind for anyone at this time,” said Beck.

Beck explained she has concerns about the fact the contract is with this charity, but added she would still have concerns about the contract even if it weren’t with WE.

She said she’s all for encouraging kids to get involved with their communities and to be kinder to each other, and that there are mental health challenges in schools.

“I’m not questioning the need for some added investments and real scrutiny, but I’m not sure that an off-the-shelf contract with WE at this time, with sort of unspecified goals, is what’s needed,” said Beck.

Beck pointed out most of the programming is available online for free right now. She said money couldn’t fix the underfunding in schools, but could be a start in fixing some of the problems she sees.

“We have ministry staff that are working on curriculum right now. Why we would contract WE for a quarter of a million dollars to deliver content in Saskatchewan schools? It does seem a stretch to me that this is only way we can go about this,” said Beck.

She said the government is reaching for a quick answer to these problems, but culture and mental health aren’t simple issues.

Beck is also critical of the way the contract was awarded. It was done through an advanced contract award notice which puts the idea out so other charities have an opportunity to look at a proposal, but Premier Scott Moe said no other charities came forward.

Despite comments from the health and education ministries to Postmedia that the government intended to go ahead with the contract, Moe said Tuesday the contract and the work haven’t been decided on yet. He said the government was in active discussions with WE about the opportunity.

“If we feel there is an advantage or a service that can be provided in our school system to our students, we may move forward with this. That’ll be a cabinet decision when this process is complete,” said Moe.

Moe and his wife went on a trip with WE last winter to Kenya to help work on a college there. Moe said there’s no conflict because it was a personal trip paid for by him and his wife and they didn’t get paid for their participation.

Moe said he checked with the conflict of interest commissioner and it was OK’ed — he said the government didn’t have work with the charity at the time, though school divisions did.