Province opposes NDP call for investigation into Speaker’s allegations

Article content

The provincial government says a policy already in place is sufficient to address recent accusations of bullying and harassment made by the Speaker.

But the Opposition NDP argues it does not “adequately address” concerns.

The Government of Saskatchewan this week rejected calls for an investigation — beyond what is already set out in the legislative assembly’s anti-harassment policy — into claims made last month by Speaker Randy Weekes. Among them were claims that Saskatchewan Party MLA Jeremy Harrison brought a long gun into the legislative building without prior permission and sent the Speaker “intimidating and harassing” messages “trying to influence” his rulings.

Article content

“Because there is a clear process for dealing with allegations of harassment, we will not be supporting the Opposition motion,” the province said Tuesday in a statement.

Last month, NDP MLA Meara Conway wrote a letter to Weekes asking him to convene the all-party House Services Committee and call for an investigation into allegations related to guns and inappropriate behaviour by Harrison. The Opposition repeated calls last week for the committee to meet as soon as possible to appoint an independent investigator and hear witness testimony.

“Please advise as to how committee members would like to proceed with this request,” Weekes wrote in a letter addressed to the committee dated June 3.

The province said Tuesday it “appreciates” the Speaker having reached out to House Services Committee members for direction, and that house leadership has responded to the Speaker’s letter.

In another letter to Weekes, sent on Tuesday, deputy leader of the Opposition Vicki Mowat said the current anti-harassment policy does not “adequately address” concerns addressed by the Speaker on May 16.

Article content

Article content

“Though we acknowledge the policy is designed to be fair and impartial regarding member-on-member harassment, this policy on its own is ill-suited to getting answers to the questions many Saskatchewan people still have,” Mowat said in the letter.

The province on Tuesday said the anti-harassment policy “spells out a clear process for reporting and resolving allegations of harassment. It includes an investigation process and a provision to engage an independent outside investigator if necessary.”

Harrison resigned last month as government house leader — but remains as minister of trade, export and development — after the allegations made by Weekes in his end-of-session address.

The minister initially denied the claims, and was defended by Premier Scott Moe. But days later, Harrison said a conversation with family members jogged his memory and he admitted to bringing a gun into the building before a hunting trip years earlier.

Article content

Last week, Mowat gave the Speaker notice that members of the NDP will introduce two resolutions if a date is set for the House Services Committee to meet.

The first order would call for Moe, Harrison, government house leader Lori Carr and senior adviser to the premier Reg Downs to appear before the committee and answer questions connected to the allegations made by Weekes.

The second order would call for the appointment of an independent investigator, who could have subpoena power to compel witnesses to testify under oath.

— With files from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix

AnAmato@Postmedia.com

The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.

With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.

Article content