“The people in the North deserve answers from a genuinely independent public inquiry, led by an independent judge,” said Jordan McPhail, Saskatchewan NDP Cumberland MLA and Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs.
“This was a horrific summer for the people of the North and we know the Sask. Party wants to cover up the depths of their failure. My constituents are demanding a public inquiry so they can finally get the answers they deserve.”
Wildfire evacuees travelled to the Legislature today to call for an independent public inquiry and demand answers from the government on why many were forced to go without financial supports, why half of the government's the water bomber fleet was grounded, and why federal supports were left on the table.
The independent public inquiry the Saskatchewan NDP pushed for in an emergency motion would have been fully independent of government and could have been led by a former judge.
Members of the Cabinet and senior leaders of government agencies responsible for the wildfire response could have been subpoenaed to testify at public tribunals.
“If this government really has nothing to hide, they should have agreed to our call today and launched the public inquiry,” said Saskatchewan NDP Athabasca MLA Leroy Laliberte.
“The people of the North are tired of being forgotten by this out-of-touch Sask. Party Government which has failed them over and over this summer and, really, over the past 18 years.”
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