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No explanation is being offering by Premier Scott Moe or his office about why a Sask. Party MLA was removed from some duties but not others.
Sask. Party MLA Racquel Hilbert recently apologized after calling federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh a “terrorist” in her budget speech.
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After an outpouring of frustration from members of the Opposition NDP and hurt from members of the local Sikh community, Hilbert was removed from a handful of her additional MLA responsibilities and committees. However, she remains on the Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice committee.
Moe was asked about this by NDP members during Question Period last week, but his answers offered no further insight into the decision.
He said the comments were retracted and that Hilbert had apologized.
“In light of those comments, which are entirely, Mr. Speaker, inaccurate and very, very inappropriate, Mr. Speaker, there has been a removal of a number of duties from this member, however the member is going to remain in caucus,” said Moe in the Assembly.
His answers over three days of questions were either the same or similar.
Deputy Premier Jim Reiter also responded to a couple of questions about the committee, clarifying that committee doesn’t oversee the human rights commission and repeating the premier’s sentiments.
“The premier’s been very clear on this, Mr. Speaker, the comments were inappropriate and inaccurate. The member has apologized both publicly and on the floor of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker. The premier spoke to it last week, again today, Mr. Speaker. She’s been removed from most of her duties, Mr. Speaker, but will remain in caucus,” said Reiter in the Assembly.
Moe was not made available last week to answer questions from the media about the decision to keep Hilbert on this committee but remove her from others and his office offered no explanations either.
“Following the comments made by MLA Hilbert, she apologized in the house and in the media. Following that apology, it was determined to be appropriate that she be removed from some of her additional MLA duties,” read the statement from his media team.
On Thursday last week, government members consented to speed through and pass a private member’s bill from NDP MLA Bhajan Brar to make April Sikh Heritage Month permanently in Saskatchewan. The bill was introduced after Hilbert’s comments.
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