Opposition Leader suspended from Sask. assembly after accusing minister of lying
CBC
Saskatchewan Opposition Leader Carla Beck was suspended from the legislative assembly on Wednesday after refusing to withdraw her remarks and apologize after accusing Minister Jeremy Harrison of lying.
The exchange came after questions from Opposition MLA Aleana Young regarding support for Evraz steelworkers in Regina.
Many workers were in the gallery to witness the debate.
"Everything that minister just said is a dead lie," Beck said in response to an answer by Harrison.
Beck's microphone was immediately cut by Speaker Randy Weekes, who asked Beck to withdraw and apologize, because accusing a member of lying is considered unparliamentary and has been ruled out of order regularly by Weekes.
"Mr. Speaker, I stand by what I said. Everything he just said is a dead lie."
When asked two more times to apologize and withdraw, Beck refused and said "I am afraid I have to draw a line. I will not withdraw here."
Weekes then suspended Beck for the remainder of the day and she was led out of the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms.
Beck was referencing an exchange that began when Young asked the government what it was doing to increase work for Evraz employees.
"There aren't enough orders and there aren't enough pipelines getting built," Young said. "So what is the plan from this Sask. Party government to make sure that steel from that plant gets used in Saskatchewan projects to create Saskatchewan jobs here?"
Harrison, the trade and export development minister, responded.
"I hardly know where to start, Mr. Speaker. This is an Opposition that has stood up at every opportunity to vote against pipelines. This is an Opposition that has stood up at every opportunity to oppose the energy sector," he said.
"This is an Opposition whose national leader has made it a condition of his support for Justin Trudeau to make sure that no further energy projects happen in this country."
Harrison continued by saying the Opposition had no credibility on energy or pipeline issues.
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