REGINA —Members of the legislative assembly are on their way home this May long weekend, as the session came to an end this past week.
This was a long and emotional session, but Thursday saw a less heated day with members toning their rhetoric down, and in general looking forward to heading back to their constituencies until they return in October.
Wednesday saw royal assent granted on a multitude of bills, as well as the passage of Bill 70, which calls for changes to the way security is handled in and around the legislature. The bill passed on third reading by a 44 to 12 vote.
Passing of Bill 70 ends long debate
Bill 70 has been a controversial one, calling for changes to the sergeant at arms function. Instead of the sergeant-at-arms overseeing four to five security officers and reporting to the Speaker, the changes call for a reduced and more ceremonial role for the sergeant-at-arms and an appointment of a security director by the government, who would report to the minister and oversee security at the Legislature. Underneath the security director would be 10 uniformed and armed officers.
The changes have drawn fire from the opposition, who have questioned the need for changes and raised concerns about the new structure’s independence from government. They had called for an amendment where the security director reports directly to the Speaker instead, but those opposition attempts have been thwarted repeatedly.
On Wednesday, Opposition Deputy Leader Nicole Sarauer had tried one last time to move an amendment. She sought leave to move to committee of the whole so she could move amendment to the bill, but the government said no to leave.
“They clearly don’t want to discuss this, it’s clearly a power grab for the government at this point,” a frustrated Sarauer told reporters Wednesday.
“It’s a real slap in the face to the sergeant-at-arms and his team who’s worked so effectively to keep all of us safe who work in this building for so long.”
Cost of living raised during final Question Period
Thursday was notable as Opposition leader Ryan Meili’s final day in the assembly as NDP leader and as member for Saskatoon Meewasin.
During his final Question Period, Meili raised the issue of the cost of living with Premier Scott Moe.
“Today, too many Saskatchewan people are struggling to afford the basics. Prices are through the roof and with them, government revenues and windfall profits for resource companies. Why has this premier, who right now has the means right in front of him to help people make ends meet, why has he chosen to do nothing instead?”
Moe responded they were “about 40 days into this fiscal year, Mr. Speaker. We’re not going to make a decision about 40 days into a fiscal year that may have impacts that would affect the entire year.”
But he did say that in the coming weeks and months, the minister of Finance would be “watching very, very closely.”
“In the event that we do have higher-than-expected revenues to the province of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, understanding they’re coming from natural resource revenues that have increased and the people of this province own those natural resources, Mr. Speaker, we would look at what opportunities we have to benefit the entirety of the province, all of the people equally across the province, Mr. Speaker.”
Health care, mental health raised one last time
Meili also repeated something he had called for previously: an inquiry into the province’s response to COVID-19.
“Mr. Speaker, it’s as clear as day. We need an inquiry into this province’s COVID-19 response. There are too many unanswered questions and too many lessons that need to be learned.”
Moe instead noted that Saskatchewan, like the rest of Canada, had “two very challenging years in our health care system and in society in general, I think. Where we are today in our Saskatchewan health care system is we’re about 87 per cent of our medicine acute care beds are being utilized in the province, about 73 per cent of our ICU [intensive care unit] beds.
“What we’re seeing with respect to attrition rates across the Saskatchewan Health Authority is about three and a half per cent. That is very similar to what we saw pre-pandemic, Mr. Speaker.”
Meili also repeated his call for an all-party committee to address mental health and addictions and noted “the premier, his cabinet, his backbenchers, they’ve been so offended by the suggestion that they don’t care. But when they have an opportunity to show differently, there’s nothing.”
In response Moe pointed again to the strategic and oversight committee that was in place, and noted that “many members, if not all members, share the emotion that was shown by the member from Cumberland on the floor of the assembly yesterday.”
Moe said it was “disappointing, quite frankly, to have anyone in this assembly say in any way that there are members in this assembly, that were elected, duly elected, Mr. Speaker, by their constituents, to indicate in any way that they might not care about this topic.
“To insinuate in any way that there’s any member in this assembly that doesn’t care, Mr. Speaker, is just simply wrong. And the fact that they’re in this assembly, elected by their constituents, I think most certainly does say they care.”
Final tributes to Meili
On his final day as an MLA a motion of thanks was passed in recognition of Ryan Meili. Here are some of the remarks made about Meili from his fellow MLAs, as recorded in Hansard.
Carla Beck:
"A commitment to helping those who need help the most, fighting to improve access to affordable housing, healthy food, head-to- toe health care, good jobs, equity, fairness, justice — all of it for all of us. It’s driven by core values that I’m proud to say I share and we all share with Ryan Meili. And for putting that commitment into action, again I say thank you, Ryan."
Scott Moe:
"Mr. Speaker, this is a man, Ryan Meili is a man . . . He did serve true to his beliefs. He can be proud of that. He’s showed utmost perseverance in his political career in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of our entire governing caucus on the very last day that he will be in this Assembly, I think it’s fair to say that we wish Ryan, we wish Mahli, we wish Abraham and Gus the very best in whatever you choose."
Vicki Mowat:
"We always say that people work tirelessly, but he really is an Energizer Bunny. I stand by that statement. Being with him on the road, he won’t take . . . If there’s a 30-minute break in the agenda, he’ll want to go out and meet local business owners. If there’s lunch on the agenda, forget about it. That is getting scrapped for something else. I always pack a lot of snacks and usually enough for the staffers that are along for the ride too because they don’t always anticipate that they’re going to need to bring their own lunch as well."
Trent Wotherspoon:
"Throughout his service and leadership, there was never any question that the member from Meewasin, Ryan Meili, never any question that he was always committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives and in our province. This was always his focus, and he put his heart and soul into that work. And as we’ve seen through this last session, as the leader has made some personal decisions regarding change and his next steps, he’s continued to hit the floor of this Assembly, this legislature with good fight for the people of this province who deserve nothing less."
Ryan Meili:
"I have had a chance to live such great adventures in medicine and politics. Health and adventure is kind of all I know, and that’s where I’m headed next. Who knows what exactly that will look like, but I know this experience will have done so much to inform the next steps.
"And I’m so grateful again for the kind words and for all of the folks who came to join us and show support today for my colleagues here. And understanding that the praise is excessive, but nonetheless I will reluctantly support the motion."
