'Puppet show' text leads to apology, dismissal in unprecedented moment in Sask. assembly

The Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly played host to an unprecedented chain of events this weekwhen the Speaker read a private text he'd received from Saskatchewan's deputy premier,leading to the ejection of another high-ranking member.

Speaker Randy Weekes rose to his feet after question period Monday, cellphone in hand, and read the contents of a text message sent by Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer.

"I have as speaker received literally hundreds and hundreds of text messages from the government House leader [Jeremy Harrison], the deputy government House leader [Lori Carr], and occasionally from the minister of finance," Weekes said.

"I'd just like to read into the record what the minister of finance just sent me. 'Randy, if you can blame, lie, and tarnish reputations of elected and unelected individuals with innuendos but no proof, we have no avenue to push back. This assembly has become a joke and a stage for an Opposition puppet show. Disappointing.'"

Weekes said if Harpauer wanted to raise a point of order on something that was said, she could "get on your feet."

He asked Harpauer to withdraw and apologize for the text, "and any others that you may feel inclined to send me off the record."

Harpauer stood and apologized.

Momentslater, House leader Jeremy Harrison made a comment that caught Weekes's attention.

"I askthe government House leader to stand and withdraw and apologize for that comment too.I'm not deaf," Weekes said.

"I'm not," Harrison said, before storming out of the assembly.

WATCH | CBC's Political Panel weighs in on 'childish' behaviour in legislative assembly:

Saskatchewan Political Panel weighs in on 'childish' behaviour in Sask. Legislature

6 months ago

Duration 4:51

It was a wild week in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly. The Speaker read a private text from the deputy premier, who then apologized for the text, and he ejected the government House leader, who refused to apologize. Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger talks with Leader Post columnist Murray Mandryk and CBC Saskatchewan provincial affairs reporter Adam Hunter in this week's political panel.

Harrison and Weekeshad already had a tense exchange the previous week. On April 8, Weekes called on Harrison to apologize after he said, "Deloitte doesn't lie." Harrison withdrew and apologized, but did not fully stand to doso.

"Stand up please, don't slouch," Weekes said, drawinggasps in the assembly. "You've disrespected the institution, stand up."

Harrison stood and apologized a second time, both men sounding and looking annoyed withthe other.

WATCH | A wild afternoon in Saskatchewan's legislative assembly:

Text messages and tantrums: a wild afternoon in Saskatchewan's legislative assembly

6 months ago

Duration 1:47

The Speaker called out Finance Minister Donna Harpauer for sending him a private text message during the legislative assembly that suggested his ruling on a matter made the assembly a "joke." When he took her to task, she apologized, followed by an outburst by the trade minister.

The irony of the whole chain of events was that before question period began on Monday, Weekes ruled on a previous point of order raised by Carr the week prior, in which Opposition Leader Carla Beck said, "Saskatchewan people expect their leaders to be honest and forthright."

Weekes ruled that the point was well taken given "escalating disorder in this chamber and similar statements over the past few weeks."

"In addition to insinuations of dishonesty, I also found that members on both sides of this chamber have increasingly engaged in inflammatory and provocative statements, personal attacks, and name-calling, which have caused disruption in this chamber,"Weekes said in his ruling.

He said this was not limited to question period but happened "throughout routine proceedings."

He did not call for Beck to withdraw and apologize. This may have led to Harpauer's text.

Harrison is not the first member to leave the House after breaking the rules and not apologizing. Earlier this spring, Saskatchewan United Party Leader Nadine Wilson did not apologize and was escorted out. Last December, NDP MLAMeara Conway was toldto leave for not offering an apology. In May 2023, Opposition Leader Carla Beck was escorted out after refusing to apologize.

But it has been a while since a government MLA was forced to leave, let alone a government House leader.

Ejected members are suspended for the remainder of the day and fined $400.

Weekes lost nomination bid after 24 years as MLA

Weekes waselectedto the Speaker's chair in 2020after several rounds of voting knocked off former speaker Mark Docherty. Weekes is now somewhat of a lame duck Speaker, because after more than 24 years in officehe will not be running for the Saskatchewan Party in the fall.

In December, Weekes lost his nomination bid to Kim Gartner in the new constituency of Kindersley-Biggar. Weekes is one of only two incumbent Saskatchewan Party MLAs to lose a nomination vote.

Weekes, Harpauerand Don McMorris are the longest-serving MLAs (all were elected in 1999). Harpauer and McMorris announced in February they would not seek re-election this fall.

WATCH | Weekes rebukes Harrison last week:

'Don't slouch': Saskatchewan's speaker of legislative assembly rebukes MLA for disrespect

6 months ago

Duration 1:52

Saskatchewan Party MLA Jeremy Harrison was forced to apologize twice in the legislative assembly on Monday after failing to properly stand up for the first one. The speaker of the legislative assembly, Randy Weekes, gave Harrison a stern rebuke.

2 colleagues exchanging texts: Moe

On Tuesday, Premier Scott Moe spoke to reporters about the events from the previous day. He did not criticize either Harpauer, Harrison or Weekes.

"I think after yesterday you'd see hesitance of anyone texting the Speaker with how that was handled, but again it's his job solely to maintain the decorum of the assembly. He did that yesterday and he's done it before and we expect him to do it again tomorrow if necessary," Moe said.

Moe chalked up Harpauer's text to old colleagues sharingdiscourse.

"I won't comment on behalf of what is appropriate and what's inappropriate for those two to be communicating."

He was asked if Harapuer was attempting to influence Weekes with her text.

"I don't think there's influence. I think what you have are two colleagues who have served for over two decades together in the assembly exchanging texts."

Moe said he advised his caucus to be careful of what they text, but thatMLAs and House leaders on both sides of the assembly send texts to the Speaker to "help the building run smoothly."

Harpauer text 'unthinkable': NDP

Opposition deputy House leader Meara Conway agreed that texts are a tool to communicate House business, but said what Harpauer sent crossed a line.

"I can tell you that texting the Speaker about a ruling he makes, criticizing him, that would be unthinkable to myself and my team. It's never been done nor would we ever dream of it," Conway said.

Conway and others in Opposition seem to be raising the ire of Saskatchewan Party MLAs with questions and comments during question period.

Recently, the NDP has raised concerns about a $6-million sole-sourced contract given to a Calgary-based health company to perform knee and hip surgeries on Saskatchewan patients. The company employs former Saskatchewan Party MLA Kevin Doherty as a lobbyist.

Meanwhile, for the last several months, Conway has asked questions about the Ministry of Social Services using two hotels in Regina to house clients. Regina Northeast MLA Gary Grewal is an investor in both businesses.

Newly released documents show that the two motels got $731,194 in government business after he was elected in 2020, after only receiving$1,309 in the years prior.

Government MLAs have called the questions about Doherty's lobbying and Grewal's motel ownership "personal."

This week, Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky accused Conway of playing "gutter politics" with herquestions about Grewal.