Sask. Speaker makes waves in pair of speeches on his way out
Premier Scott Moe says he has 'concern' for the Speaker following his speech
Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly Randy Weekes made his final speech in the assembly a memorable one on Thursday, making explosive allegations against a former caucus colleague the premier is defending.
Weekes was defeated in a contested nomination in the constituency of Kindersley-Biggar in December ending a run of more than 24 years in office.
On Wednesday night, Weekes posted the picture of his membership card cut in two on his social media accounts with the caption "enough is enough."
At the end of proceedings on Thursday, Weekes gave a 10-minute speech accusing the government of harassment and bullying.
"When I became Speaker, the intimidating and harassing text messages began immediately, trying to influence my rulings," Weekes said.
Weekes read a text he said Harrison sent in March 2023: "That's an absolute bullshit ruling. Completely wrong and Iris (the clerk) will tell you that."
Weekes said Harrison's texts stopped last fall but he then received texts from Deputy House Leader Lori Carr.
It culminated in accusations that government House leader Jeremy Harrison had brought a hunting rifle into the building and wanted to bring in a handgun.
"But more disturbing is his obsession with guns and his use of intimidation both verbally and physically. His desire to get permission to carry a handgun in the legislative assembly is particularly disturbing," Weekes said.
"My concerns over his mental stability and his obsession with guns was only confirmed when he heckled after the passing of the motion to devolve all relevant parts of the Firearms Act to the province. He twice yelled, 'open carry, open carry next.'"
Weekes spoke as Harrison and many other government members sat in the chamber.
WATCH | Sask. Speaker accuses government MLAs of trying to influence his decisions:
In an interview in his office after, Weekes would not elaborate on his claim that Harrison wanted to bring a handgun into the legislature or name an MLA he accused of rushing him at a party function and coming "very close to head-butting me."
As for the timing of his remarks, Weekes said he was committed to running for the party in December, but said once he lost the nomination and the sitting was ending he had "nothing to lose politically."
"What did they expect me to do with the continuing harassment and bullying even after the nomination? So like I said, enough is enough."
Weekes said he feels certain individuals in the caucus have become "arrogant" and claimed friends within the caucus are "upset."
He said under Premier Scott Moe, the party has "changed totally" with policies "lurched to the right."
He called last fall's emergency session to pass Bill 137 — which makes parental consent required before a child under 16 can use a different gender-related name or pronoun at school — "unnecessary."
"It was a knee-jerk reaction," Weekes said.
"All of the things that we could have an emergency debate about. That was way down the list."
Moe defends Harrison, says allegations are 'false'
Harrison was not made available for an interview, but on Thursday, Premier Moe said Weekes's comments amounted to him being a "sore loser" who did not raise these concerns with him or legislative security.
"Why wouldn't you go talk to the leader of the party? If I had concerns like that, I wouldn't be airing him on the floor of the assembly," Moe said.
"I'd be talking to either the leader of the party or the Sergeant at Arms or the [legislative security] in this building if he seriously has concerns."
On Friday, Moe questioned the timing of Weekes' claims.
"What we have here is an individual that happens to be the Speaker by the election of his peers and running to be a part of this party up until Dec. 14," he said.
WATCH | CBC's Political Panel discusses Weekes's allegations as sitting wraps:
"And now [he] seems to have some concerns, whether it be about policy that the party has or concerns with one individual member."
Harrison was listed to speak at an event but that changed Friday morning, when Minister of Environment Christine Tell went in his place.
Asked by reporters about Harrison's absence, Moe said Friday he was not aware of that.
Moe said Harrison denies the firearms allegations.
"I have been informed that [the allegations] are all unequivocally false," Moe said.
As for Weekes's claims that Harrison said "open carry next" during debate, Moe said, "I don't know if that's true, and there's no government conversations happening around conceal and carry or those types of things."
Moe said he has confidence in Harrison to continue his role as house leader and in cabinet.
"I would say he's one of the more competent House leaders in the country and I've seen a number of them in my travels. He knows the rules. He works well with the Opposition."
Moe said he has not spoken to Weekes and given his decision to cut up his card and considers him out of caucus.
He said Weekes's comments "make no sense."
"I have concern for him to say the least," Moe said.
WATCH | Premier Moe responds to Speaker's allegations:
Weekes reads 2021 letter from former sergeant-at-arms
The speech Weekes read on Thursday was preceded by another surprise speech on Wednesday afternoon.
Weekes said members had spoken of personal attacks and character assassinations in recent days. Weekes read a letter sent by the former sergeant-at-arms of the legislature, Terry Quinn, and an email from Quinn's wife in the assembly about the "character assassination they endured."
The correspondence was from November 2021 and addressed Weekes. The email from Quinn's wife, Edith Cormier, was sent to Christine Tell, the former minister of corrections and policing.
The communications came as the provincial government was introducing a bill to overhaul legislative security from the sergeant-at-arms to a service under the Ministry of Corrections and Policing.
At the time, Quinn's responsibilities were to be reduced and the security inside and outside of the building was being revamped through Bill 70. Quinn resigned in February 2022 and the bill passed that May.
Quinn wrote, "Mr. Speaker, there has been so many shameful untruths and innuendos regarding my performance as a leader, as well as the performance of the sergeant-at-arms, or SAA, team."
Quinn called it a "smear campaign."
"My reputation has been defamed and I have felt harassed by the statements of Minister Tell both in and outside the chamber since the bill was introduced."
Quinn said he had put forward recommendations meant to enhance building security two years earlier on a committee reviewing building security.
He said only the formation of "the premier's protective detail" came out of those dealings.
He also said Tell had called the competence of Quinn and his staff into question.
He said Tell's chief of staff mentioned three incidents that were not related to the breaching of any security within the building. One involved two ministry employees on a weekend that Quinn said was addressed.
Cormier's email to Tell accused her of "tearing down a human being" to achieve political goals.
"We felt humiliated. You need to know and understand that when you speak harshly so publicly about another human being and call into question their work, there are consequences to them and their family."
On Thursday, the opposition asked the government about Quinn's letter and his concerns. Minister of Corrections and Policing Paul Merriman said, "nobody's calling in Mr. Quinn's service. He's well respected by all, both sides of this House."
Merriman said Bill 70, which created the new security service, "had been settled for years."