REGINA — Security changes at the Legislature dominated Question Period Wednesday.
Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell engaged in a lengthy exchange with Opposition Deputy Leader Nicole Sarauer on Bill 70, the legislation proposing creating a new security service in and around the Saskatchewan Legislature.
The exchange followed a legislative committee meeting the previous night on the topic. It was an almost 12-hour committee hearing, something Tell pointed out repeatedly in her answers to Sarauer’s questions Wednesday afternoon.
Sarauer led off Question Period by noting Tell has admitted that cancellation of ceremonies planned for outside the legislature on throne speech day was a catalyst for Bill 70.
“What about the protest that day was so upsetting to cabinet that they came forward with this bill?”
Instead of a direct answer, Tell responded that across North America and in Saskatchewan, they had “seen increased risks of threats directed at our democratic institutions along with elected and unelected officials.”
Tell pointed to the benefits of protection agencies being unified under the same branch of government. She said they expected the same to occur with the new legislative district security unit, “and have confidence that the new unit will be a success, notwithstanding opposition’s fear mongering.”
Sarauer then asked specifically what got the government “so mad” that they “wanted to take over security at the legislature.”
Tell responded that institutional and structural barriers could get in the way of efficient and effective service delivery.
“This is particularly true when it comes to policing and protective services, when actions are needed to be made relatively quickly, to respond to emergent issues.”
Tell pointed out that co-operation between the local security service and local police can be an issue, pointing to what happened in Ottawa.
“One of the goals of the Provincial Protective Services Branch is to address these issues before a serious incident occurs. And this is the same reason for the transition of legislative security to the Ministry of Public Safety and Policing.”
“There may have been some issues with that in Ottawa, but there were no issues with that here,” Sarauer said.
Tell blasts Trudeau over long-gun registry
Sarauer then asked if the government was planning to create a specified protest zone on the legislative grounds. Tell responded that “my officials and I have answered all of the opposition’s questions during the nearly 12 hours we spent in committee.”
Tell noted that while that was happening, the “‘new NDP leader Justin Trudeau launched another attack on lawful Saskatchewan firearm owners.”
Tell noted that the ‘Liberal-NDP’ government had announced “they would be bringing back the billion dollar boondoggle, the failed long-gun registry.”
“Will the NDP stand up for Saskatchewan firearms owners or will they support the new leader Justin Trudeau and his attack on law abiding citizens?”
“That answer couldn’t have been further from the question I just asked,” said Sarauer.
When Sarauer repeated her question on a specified protest zone, Tell responded that not once was that question asked during 12 hours in committee. She said the government was committed to making sure the area around the legislative assembly and the grounds were safe and secure for everyone.
Later on, Sarauer took aim at the government over the “particular demonstration on throne speech day.”
She said it had “exposed cracks in the government,” and asked if “this power grab was all about quelling discontent in their own ranks.”
“I reject the premise of that question, that is absolutely ridiculous,” Tell responded.
Sarauer later pointed out that during the Grant Devine era, the government-initiated security force “had ended disastrously.”
“Same old NDP,” Tell responded. “They’re going to look back. The government of Saskatchewan is looking forward.”
Tell further added the “world has changed. This is not 1970, Mr. Speaker, we’re in year 2022.”
“Same old Conservatives,” Sarauer shot back.
The tone got even nastier when Sarauer later pointed out that Tell had herself “faced disciplinary action in her previous career for misuse of sensitive data.” That statement would later draw a point of order from Government House Leader Jeremy Harrison, over personal remarks made by the Opposition.
“Same old NDP, drive by smears,” was Tell’s response. “I don’t know when that allegation took place but it was 20 years ago, I’m sure, Mr. Speaker.”
Sarauer spars with Harrison over proposed amendment
As she drew her attack on the government to a close, Sarauer pointed out she had tried to move an amendment at the end of the committee session, one that would have changed the appointment of the new director of legislative security to be done by the speaker, not by the minister. She accused the government of being “so afraid of this amendment that they ran out the clock” last night.
That prompted Government House Leader Harrison to react, as he accused Sarauer of committing “a contempt of the house by releasing her amendment, the text of her amendment to the media, prior to tabling it in the assembly,” he said.
“This is about the third time that members opposite have committed formal contempts of the legislature.”
In return, Sarauer accused the government of being “terrified” of her amendment.
“She’s grandstanding now,” responded Harrison. “She’s had her 18-20 hours of debate on this bill, We’re going to have an opportunity to vote on this, Mr. Speaker, next week and I look forward to that opportunity.”
“Government house leader, terrified,” responded Sarauer.
