Both sides of the Saskatchewan Legislature agreed on something Tuesday afternoon in a rare occurrence during Question Period, but it didn’t last for long.
In light of Monday’s federal election results, NDP Leader Carla Beck asked Premier Scott Moe if he would commit to never holding a vote on Saskatchewan’s separation from Canada.
Scott Moe says he couldn’t agree more that we need a united country.
“What we saw on full display is the division that we have in this nation. The division that starts on the west side of Toronto and extends right over the Rocky Mountains into the lower mainland of British Columbia, including this province, which voted 65 per cent not for the governing party,” Moe recapped.
Beck acknowledged that Moe didn’t answer the question and then accused both the national and provincial governments of neglecting Saskatchewan’s trade infrastructure, leaving the province dependent and vulnerable to the wrath of the United States and Donald Trump.
The Official Opposition also condemned the provincial government for defending its decision to replace doctors with webcams in rural emergency rooms.
NDP MLA Meara Conway asked Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill if he believes the Virtual Physician program is an adequate substitute for a functioning emergency room, citing that 26 rural communities have been equipped with the online service.
“I think we can be very proud of the Virtual Physician that’s in communities across the province. It’s been used over 1500 times in nearly 30 communities. This is a stabilization strategy while we work to recruit staff,” Cockrill assured.
He acknowledged that the cameras are not the final solution.
Conway replied that the Virtual Physician Program is meant to compliment emergency rooms, not replace them when they are closed due to lack of staff.
The Saskatchewan NDP was also curious as to why a member of the new provincial Marshal service has been put on administrative leave before the service has even begun operations.
In mid-April, the service confirmed that one of its members was the subject of complaint being investigated by the Public Complaints Commission, but did not disclose details.
MLA for Regina-Douglas Park Nicole Sarauer asked the minister responsible, Tim McLeod, if he knows what his suspended marshal is being investigated for.
“When a complaint is made against any officer, whether it’s a municipal police officer, and RCMP officer or a marshal, the Minister’s office isn’t involved in that. The complaint goes to an independent civilian-lead organization called the Public Complaints Commision,” McLeod replied.
He adds that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on any investigation while it is currently underway.
