SaskScandal: The death of political idealism in Saskatchewan

By Gerry Jones and Gerry Jones

SaskScandal is the story of dirty politics, fraud, and abuse of public trust in Saskatchewan's Conservative government between 1982 and 1991. More than one million dollars in taxpayer's money went missing, twenty-one people were charged - many of them former cabinet ministers from the Grant Devine government - and fifteen have been convicted so far, including former Deputy Premier Eric Bernstson. Their legacy has been one of wide-scale public disillusionment, tainting the province's faith in the political system for years to come. CBC investigative reporter Gerry Jones takes readers into the back rooms where dishonest politicians and party people schemed to defraud the public. He follows the story through the courtroom right up to former Premier Grant Devine's doorstep, exposing the levels of corruption, numbered companies, false expense claims, and secret safety deposit boxes along the way.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1894004582
• ISBN13: 9781894004589
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Fifth House Publishers
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Project Fiddle

There will never be a proper history of the Devine years in Saskatchewan, as most of the Ministers shredded their department's documents. (eg. Minding the public purse p. 69). So all we get is a few clues about what went on. Saskscandal tells a tale that begins with a safety deposit box at the Cornwall Centre, in Regina, containing 90 $1,000.00 bills. That got the RCMP's interest, and they opened an investigation called "Project Fiddle". This is the story of numbered companies, money laundering, false expense claims etc. The Appendix (p. 189-200) includes the names and charges connected with Project Fiddle. Highly recommended.