REGINA - The fallout continued at the Saskatchewan Legislature over remarks made by Humboldt-Watrous MLA Racquel Hilbert about federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
On Wednesday, Hilbert apologized in the Assembly for comments made during the budget debate on March 25, when she called out the provincial NDP for not “denounc(ing) their federal leader as being a terrorist”.
On Thursday in Question Period, Premier Scott Moe was grilled at length by Saskatoon Fairview MLA Vicki Mowat and Saskatoon University Sutherland MLA Tajinder Grewal about Hilbert’s comments. Mowat called Hilbert’s remarks “pre-meditated hate. She planned to say this, Mr. Speaker.”
Grewal asked why the member had not been removed from the government caucus over the remark.
In response, Moe repeatedly said Hilbert has “apologized and retracted” for her “inaccurate”and “very inappropriate” comments. He also pointed to the province’s motto: “From Many Peoples’ Strengths.”
“The apology’s not good enough,” Grewal responded.
In speaking to reporters afterwards, Grewal pointed to the negative reaction he had received from the Sikh community to the remarks.
“My phone is constantly ringing" since the story broke, Grewal said. “People are calling me, texting me, emailing me. Our community is really upset and there is so much harm.”
Grewal said it was up to Premier Moe to “show the leadership.”
“He has to ask her to leave the caucus or leave the Chamber. We're looking to the Premier, and I'm asking the Premier to show some leadership on this issue because the community demands it.”
Greal added that the Premier was not showing leadership.
“We are still waiting for his personal apology, and we are waiting for him to come into the media and say something. We have not heard anything so far from the Premier.”
The President of the Sikh Society of Saskatchewan, Harpreet Singh Jassal, has also written a letter to Premier Moe denouncing the remarks. In that letter provided to the media, he called for a formal censure of Hilbert and removal from any caucus or committee/legislative roles, mandatory anti-racism and cultural competency training, and a “clear and public affirmation” from his office denouncing hate speech and affirming support for Sikh Canadians.
“We urge you to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that elected officials are held to the highest standard of conduct — especially when they misuse the power of their platform to spread hate,” he stated.
