{
  "id": 14303358,
  "title": "Saskatchewan politician says paid nearly $30K for private jets; NDP wants answers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/saskatchewan-politician-says-paid-nearly-30k-for-private-jets-ndp",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T22:03:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/10/13/saskatchewan-politician-says-paid-nearly-30k-for-private-jets-ndp-wants-answers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saskatchewan Party backbencher Kevin Weedmark has claimed he paid nearly $30,000 out of his own pocket for two private jet trips, one of which was for government business, according to a statement from the province's conflict of interest commissioner. The flights took place over the course of a year, with the first occurring on August 21, 2025, and the second on August 27, 2025.\n\nThe first flight saw Weedmark transport the owners of the Moosomin Dairy Queen and two family members to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon, where the Dairy Queen had raised $42,000 for the facility. Weedmark was a volunteer in this effort. The second flight took place on August 27, 2025, for two government functions in the province, including an official opening of an addictions treatment facility in Lloydminster and a celebration of a seniors complex in Saskatoon.\n\nConflict of Interest Commissioner Maurice Herauf stated in a letter that Weedmark's invoices indicate he paid for the flights from his personal funds, thus he did not violate the Conflict of Interest Act. However, the opposition NDP is still seeking answers, with health critic Meara Conway requesting to know if Weedmark paid commercial value for the flights. She referenced a private jet quote of over $20,000 for a similar aircraft, suggesting that if Weedmark's flights were below this value, it could constitute a prohibited gift or personal benefit under the act.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}