Saskatchewan’s conflict of interest commissioner is being asked to make a decision on whether photos posted on social media by an NDP MLA crossed any ethical lines.

MLA for Regina South Albert Aleana Young posted several photos in the cheese shop she owns – and now the government is accusing Young of using her position as MLA to promote her business.

A politician’s personal social media account usually contains a mix of political messages and photos of places they’ve been and people they’ve met.

This is true for Young as well, with occasional shots of family or cheese board creations from Takeaway Gourmet, the Regina cheese shop she owns.

“I use my social media to talk about my work as an MLA, my exhaustion as a mother, sometimes some other sad things like running around the lake, but I also use it to talk about my business every now and then,” she told CTV News.

The government believes Young is using his position as an MLA to promote his company.

It has referred the matter to the provincial land commissioner.

NDP MLA Meara Conway spoke in defense of Young — while welcoming some guidance on social media rules.

“You know we have Aleana, she’s been talking proudly and openly about her little business. We’ve got the top tweeting during harvest time from his tractor from his premier’s account,” she argued.

“This is something that we all have an interest in getting guidance on – so we welcome the commissioner’s inquiry into this and we will be very interested to see what guidance he has to offer.”

The complaint by the government is the first of its kind. Social media guidelines were not previously considered.

Any decision of the Commissioner for Conflict of Interest would be applicable to all members of the Legislative Assembly.