SaskScandal: The Death of Political Idealism in Saskatchewan

Joseph Garcea is a professor of political Studies at the University of
Saskatchewan.

SaskScandal is a balanced account of the biggest political scandal in
Saskatchewan’s history—namely, the improper and illegal use of
public funds, more than one decade ago, by Members of the Legislative
Assembly (MLAs) and some of their administrative assistants.
Approximately 20 members of the Progressive Conservative Party caucus
and staff were charged. Although not all were convicted, most incurred
heavy financial, personal, and political costs. Senator Eric Berntson
was compelled to resign from the Senate, fined $41,000, and sent to jail
for one year.

Jones focuses attention not only on the deficiencies of the central
figures in the scandal but also on the failure of government to provide
clear and enforceable guidelines and regulations for the use of public
finance by members of the legislative assemblies. His book, which is
lucidly written and reads like a mystery novel, is not just about the
death of political idealism in Saskatchewan; it is also about the death
of the Progressive Conservative Party in that province.