THE BATTLEFORDS — On Friday, March 8 a peaceful sit-in protest of approximately a dozen supporters of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation, filled Education Minister Jeremy Cockrills (MLA for The Battlefords) office.
And despite saying last year that peaceful protests were essential in democratic countries like Canada, the sit-in protest that filled Cockrill's waiting room in North Battleford, ended abruptly with a call to the RCMP.
Eyewitnesses told SASKTODAY.ca that despite Cockrill having told the crowd that if they remained quiet they could stay until the office closed at 5 p.m.
After the media had arrived and been told to leave and interviews were conducted outside, a member of the RCMP arrived and told the group to clear out at approximately 4 p.m.
"I felt that we were actually disrespected," Erik Hansen, a retiree and concerned citizen from Unity told the media after the group was removed from Cockrill's office.
He also noted that Cockrill had said they could stay until the office closed. When a secretary has asked them to stay quiet, which he said they did, mostly sitting in the chairs and reading books.
"And then all of a sudden we have a police officer come in. There's no need for it, it's the way of this government, and it's unfortunate we have to come together as a society [instead of] being divided."
"I want a fair world to live in. And right now, we're not being treated that way by our governments," Hansen added, saying that he has no vested interest in education.
He said, that he just wants people to talk.
"The government is unwilling to bend on something that has been important ... for decades," Hansen said.
He said that children are not getting properly educated because teachers don't have enough support.
"And that's just not right. Education is our one tool of improving the world."
Ignoring the plight of students, Hansen added, is negligent on behalf of the Saskatchewan Government.
Comments from STF and Tri-West Teachers' Association
"A group of community members have joined us today at Jeremy Cockrill's office," Micheal Hagal, president of the Tri-west Teachers Association and who sits on the STF board told the media on Friday before the RCMP had arrived.
He said they're asking for class complexity funding to be included within the scope of a bargaining agreement with the STF.
The plan originally, was to stay at Cockrill's office until the government takes action.
"We want it in the contract so that there's a mechanism if that money isn't delivered ... a dispute resolution process," Hagal explained.
"So the agreement with the school boards right now, it's a start, but there's also no way to make sure it happens."
Hagal also explained the government's comments that the STF have only been at the table for half an hour in five months.
"So when they refused to talk about [class size and complexity] everything else happens after that," he said, noting that if the government isn't willing to discuss those concerns, there's no point meeting.
Protests key in democracy: Cockrill
Last year, when protesters had gathered in front of his office rallying against his ministry's controversial 'Pronoun Policy,' Cockrill had said that peaceful protest was the cornerstone of a democracy.
"It's just a part of our democratic system ... in other countries, people go to jail for doing that, and in Canada, they don't," Cockrill had told SASKTODAY.ca on Sept. 11, 2023.
"You know, there's lots of ways to express your opinion, I mean obviously, you get a chance to vote every four years ... but between elections, you have an opportunity to talk directly to your elected officials, whether that be through a meeting, or email or phone call.
"And you know, protest is one of those ways as well," he had added.
At this time, Minister Cockrill's office has not responded to a request for comment sent March 9, as to why the RCMP was called on the protesters.
With files from Averil Hall.
