Saskatchewan NDP MLA apologizes for Jubilee medal nomination

Another medal recipient, another medal given back.

On Monday, it came out that a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal nominated by a Saskatchewan NDP MLA had a history with the courts.

Saskatoon Centre MLA Betty Nippi-Albright nominated local activist Christine Freethy for one of the medals. However, Freethy pleaded guilty in 2019 to a charge of criminal harassment and was given a 20-month conditional discharge.

In a statement, Nippi-Albright said the nomination was put forward through her community nomination process. She also apologized for the nomination.

“I was not aware of this conviction when I nominated this person. To be clear, I would never have nominated someone for this honour if I had known,” read the statement.

Nippi-Albright also noted that with a conditional discharge, it likely would not have come up in a criminal record check.

A few weeks ago, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit apologized after nominating a man for the same medal who had pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge.

The NDP roundly criticized the government at the time for what the nomination — and the invitation extended to Colin Thatcher for the fall Throne Speech — said about the government’s stance on violence against women.

Both recipients have since returned their medals.