'Puppet show' text leads to apology, dismissal in unprecedented moment in Sask. assembly
CBC
The Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly played host to an unprecedented chain of events this week when the Speaker read a private text he'd received from Saskatchewan's deputy premier, leading to the ejection of another high-ranking member.
Speaker Randy Weekes rose to his feet after question period Monday, cellphone in hand, and read the contents of a text message sent by Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer.
"I have as speaker received literally hundreds and hundreds of text messages from the government House leader [Jeremy Harrison], the deputy government House leader [Lori Carr], and occasionally from the minister of finance," Weekes said.
"I'd just like to read into the record what the minister of finance just sent me. 'Randy, if you can blame, lie, and tarnish reputations of elected and unelected individuals with innuendos but no proof, we have no avenue to push back. This assembly has become a joke and a stage for an Opposition puppet show. Disappointing.'"
Weekes said if Harpauer wanted to raise a point of order on something that was said, she could "get on your feet."
He asked Harpauer to withdraw and apologize for the text, "and any others that you may feel inclined to send me off the record."
Harpauer stood and apologized.
Moments later, House leader Jeremy Harrison made a comment that caught Weekes's attention.
"I ask the government House leader to stand and withdraw and apologize for that comment too. I'm not deaf," Weekes said.
"I'm not," Harrison said, before storming out of the assembly.
Harrison and Weekes had already had a tense exchange the previous week. On April 8. Weekes called on Harrison to apologize after he said, "Deloitte doesn't lie." Harrison withdrew and apologized, but did not fully stand to do so.
"Stand up please, don't slouch," Weekes said, drawing gasps in the assembly. "You've disrespected the institution, stand up."
Harrison stood and apologized a second time, both men sounding and looking annoyed at the other.
The irony of the whole chain of events was that before question period began on Monday, Weekes ruled on a previous point of order raised by Carr the week prior, in which Opposition Leader Carla Beck said, "Saskatchewan people expect their leaders to be honest and forthright."
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