Sask. government continues with plan to scrap sergeant-at-arms' security team at Legislative building
The Government of Saskatchewan is pushing ahead with a plan to replace the independent sergeant-at-arms’ security team at the Legislative Building with a police precinct that reports to the government.
The government introduced Bill 70 – An Act to amend the Legislative Assembly Act, 2007 – on Tuesday.
The bill was introduced, the government said, in response to increasing demonstrations at the Legislative Building over the last few years.
Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell declined to speak to any specific security issues that may have prompted the proposed bill, but said it’s a “combination of many, many things over the past number of years.”
She said anything is on the table including vehicles, uniforms and arms for the proposed officers.
The Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) is a non-partisan committee consisting of the chair, the speaker, two members from cabinet, two government caucus members and two members from the opposition. The committee works to approve budgets for branches like the Legislative Advisory Committee and the sergeant-at-arms. It also manages the hiring of independent positions like the Ombudsman and the Advocate for Children and Youth.
The Saskatchewan NDP said they feel the change to security is not needed, and any proposed changes to security should go through the BOIE.
“In the past, every time there’s been conversations about security in this building it’s always happened at the BOIE table,” NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer said.
Sarauer said it’s important that the legislature retains an independent security team that does not answer to the government.
Tell said the province does not dictate the actions, operational or otherwise, of any policing or security agency in the province.
“There’s no question about any independence to whatever we do with safety and security in this building and beyond the walls,” Tell said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.