“After weeks of pressure from the NDP Opposition, the public and the media, today we won an important victory for democracy.
“We look forward to returning to the Legislature to push for an economic recovery plan that puts people first. And we’ll continue to push for accountability and answers to the government’s handling of COVID-19 and its economic fall-out.
Government House Leader Jeremy Harrison and Opposition House Leader Cathy Sproule today announced that they have agreed to a modified arrangement for the Legislative Assembly to meet starting in June.
The Assembly will meet for 14 days from June 15 to July 3 with sittings from Monday to Friday each week. There will be no sitting on Canada Day, July 1. Only 10 government members and five opposition members will be in the Assembly at any time in order to ensure safe physical distancing.
With the Sask. Party government writing itself yet another blank cheque in the form of a $56,000,000 special warrant, the Saskatchewan NDP is calling for the government to reopen the Legislature with sufficient time to properly scrutinize and pass a budget.
“Yet again, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are writing themselves blank cheques behind closed doors” said NDP Finance Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Meanwhile, Saskatchewan people wait in vain for the government to present a comprehensive plan to guide the recovery from COVID-19.”
NDP Leader Ryan Meili updated the public about negotiations to recall the Legislature today, responding to the Sask. Party government’s proposed terms for a limited reopening of the Legislature by calling for more sitting days and greater democratic scrutiny than the limited scope the government had proposed.
“The Sask Party is writing themselves blank cheques behind closed doors,” said Meili. “Their attempts to hide from scrutiny reveal a government that is arrogant and secretive. Scott Moe was only willing to discuss opening the legislature after repeated pressure from the opposition, the media and the public. Now he’s put forward an extremely limited proposal that gives the illusion of scrutiny but not enough time to do the work.”