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* That was before it was clearly understood Edmonton businessman Robert Tappauf had a conditional offer on the table in April 2012 to purchase that 204 acres for between $45,000 and $55,000 an acre at a time when Boyd was getting mysterious calls to sell the land that he can now barely remember.

* That was before any of us knew Boyd and then-Crown Investment Corp. Minister Donna Harpauer had placed before cabinet in November 2012 a plan to purchase the 204 acres for $78,000 an acre. The deal was nixed because the Justice Ministry could not identify the seller and feared a conflict of interest.

* That was before we learned that SaskPower (also under Boyd’s authority at the time) ponied up $25 million in December 2013 to buy other GTH land that has not been developed and may never be used, the Crown electrical utility now says.

* That was before we knew that in December 2013, Laurie Pushor — Boyd’s former chief of staff and then assistant deputy minister — had been ordered by Boyd (unbeknownst to the GTH) to negotiate the purchase of the 204 acres from Regina businessman Anthony Marquart, who had bought the land from Tappauf in February 2013. And that was before it was established by Ferguson that Marquart knew full well that cabinet (also known as executive council) had granted approval tobuy the 204 acres.

Now, one might think all that would at least pique the curiosity of the average Saskatchewan MLA.

After all, it’s their tax-paying constituents who were saddled with the $21-million bill for the 204 acres appraised (tops) at $11 million — the very land upon which two private individuals (both of whom have political and/or business connections to Boyd and/or the Sask. Party) pocketed $11 million.