Sask Party MLAs should resign to allow for byelection, says NDP leader
CBC News | Posted: July 29, 2019 8:17 PM | Last Updated: July 29, 2019
MLAs Warren Steinley and Corey Tochor running in upcoming federal election
Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili is raising concerns about two Saskatchewan Party MLAs running in the upcoming federal election.
MLAs Corey Tochor and Warren Steinley are running for the federal Conservatives. They plan to resign their seats when the official federal campaign period begins in September, according to a provincial government official.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili says that's not fair to their constituents. Meili is calling for them to resign their provincial seats now so a byelection can be called. If they wait until September, there is no requirement to call a byelection.
Without a byelection, the seats will remain vacant until the next provincial vote in the fall of 2020.
"I think it's pretty cynical of those MLAs and the premier to not insist on a byelection happening," Meili said in an interview Monday.
Premier Scott Moe has said that the two MLAs are following the rules. Moe noted NDP candidate John Solomon did the same thing in 1993.
An emailed statement from the government caucus office Monday reiterated those points.
"Mr. Tochor and Mr. Steinley continue to work on behalf of their constituents and engage citizens on the priorities they want their government to act on," read the statement.