City Cites Act To Refuse Review Records Release
Mum is the word at City Hall when it comes to the ongoing internal investigation into the Planning Department.
In response to an April 16, 2026 Freedom Of Information (FOI) request the City declined to provide any details into the on-going investigation.
In a cover document regarding the FOI request the City declined to provide any documentation because it dealt with personnel, private information and solicitor-client privilege.
Although the City will not be releasing any files - even if redacted - it does show the City has either its or an outside solicitor involved in the file to an unknown extent.
The files were requested after MJ Independent received a tip and heard from City sources confirming an on-going internal investigation of at least one former Planning Department employee.
Copy of the cover letter received in response to a Freedom Of Information request
MJ Independent was told by a confidential source - who asked for anonymity so as not to be fired - that the investigation entailed the review of two and a half years of a former employee’s building files. Allegedly the former misapplied the building codes in their work.
MJ Independent knows the name of the former employee but are not releasing it as that individual has not had the opportunity to respond with their side of the story.
Coincidentally the City recently released two senior Planning Department employees - it is unknown at this time the reason why. That makes three employees who recently are no longer part of the Department.
An attempt to ask questions of Mayor James Murdock was first answered by a request for more time to respond. The extra time came and went without a response from the Mayor.
The questions asked the Mayor to respond about the internal probe as well as the potential legal, financial and reputation hits the City could take from it.
The Ministry of Government Relations in Regina responded in an email they could not respond to the on-going situation in Moose Jaw.
The Ministry did speak in generalities and help to decipher the applicable legislation.
One point made by the Ministry was the Construction Codes Act was set up to operate in a cooperative manner.
Additionally the Ministry helped clarify legal liability under the Construction Codes Act.
Under Section 5 of the Construction Codes Act “An owner of a building or an owner’s contractor or employee is not relieved from the obligation to carry out any work that is within the scope of section 6 of the Act and section 38 of these regulations in accordance with the Codes by reason only of:
(a) the granting of a permit;
(b) the review of drawings and specifications;
(c) the making of inspections; or
(d) the absence or omission of any of the things mentioned in clauses (a) to (c).”
We’ll keep you updated as this story develops.