'Puppet show': Saskatchewan finance minister apologizes for text to Speaker
Saskatchewan's finance minister was ordered to apologize Monday after she sent the Speaker a text accusing him of letting the legislature devolve into an "Opposition puppet show."
Donna Harpauer delivered the apology in the house after Speaker Randy Weekes said the minister had messaged him saying government members can't push back during chamber debates and that as a result the house was turning into a "joke" in favour of the Opposition NDP.
Harpauer was not the only member of the Saskatchewan Party government singled out by the Speaker. Weekes is a member of the governing caucus but must remain independent and impartial in his role.
During proceedings, Weekes stood up and said he has received "literally hundreds and hundreds" of texts from government house leader Jeremy Harrison, deputy government house leader Lori Carr and occasionally some from Harpauer.
He then read one of Harpauer's messages from his phone:
"Randy, if you can blatantly lie, tarnish reputations of elected and unelected individuals with innuendoes, but no proof, we have no avenue to push back. Then, this assembly has become a joke and a stage for an Opposition puppet show. Disappointing."
Weekes said Harpauer should stand up and make a point of order if she has complaints. He asked her to apologize for the message and "any others that you may feel inclined to send me off the record."
Harpauer got up and said she was sorry.
After her apology, Harrison appeared frustrated and began making comments that were inaudible in an online feed of the chamber. Weekes then asked Harrison to apologize as well.
"I'm not deaf," Weekes said.
Harrison said he wouldn't apologize and immediately left the house. Weekes suspended Harrison for the rest of the day for disregarding his authority.
Carr said in a statement that members' emotions can at times get the best of them.
"The role of the Speaker is to maintain decorum and, if necessary, make rulings to achieve that. We respect the authority of the Speaker and accept his rulings," she said.
Opposition NDP house leader Nicole Sarauer said the messages to the Speaker reflect a government that wants to strong-arm its way out of having to answer tough questions.
"They'll do anything they can to avoid accountability, and it's a government that's completely out of touch," she said.
"We were asking hard questions, questions about government misspending and potentially scandal on behalf of some of those MLAs."
Earlier in the day, the Opposition asked about a $6-million sole-source contract the province signed with a private surgical company in Calgary.
The company, Clearpoint Health Netowrk, donated $14,000 to the Saskatchewan Party since 2016, and a former finance minister lobbied on its behalf.
Health Minister Everett Hindley told the assembly Monday the province chose Clearpoint because it's the only company that can offer short-stay hip and knee surgeries.
Hindley said the government consulted with the chief procurement officer, who was satisfied with the approach. Hindley clarified last week that the contract was not done through a request for proposals.
Hindley accused Meara Conway, the Opposition ethics critic, of "character assassinations," a comment Weekes said was out of order.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
Bouchard scores late to lift Oilers over Canucks, tie series
After a final frame that saw the visiting Vancouver Canucks claw their way back and tie the game late, a slap shot from the point by Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard with 38 seconds left (until what seemed like certain overtime) iced the 3-2 victory for Edmonton to knot the series.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alberta announces the 4 health agencies that will replace AHS later this year
The province has released more information on its plan to break up Alberta Health Services and replace it with four sector-based health agencies.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.