The legislative session resumed with the start of the fall sitting on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and it was clear right away that much had taken place during the brief time the legislature was in summer recess.
That was apparent when Speaker Corey Tochor recognized the member for Indian Head- Milestone, Don McMorris, who gave his statement.
Mr. McMorris: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on August the 5th I was charged with impaired driving. On September the 7th I pleaded guilty to that charge. At that time I spoke to the media. I apologized and wanted to apologize to my colleagues through the media. This is my first opportunity to do it in person. My actions, there is no rationale and no excuses, absolutely none for it. So with that I apologize to the members of this House.
It was on to the business of the legislature. Not unexpectedly given the news coverage, the first question during Question Period, as recorded in Hansard, was on the issue of youth suicides in the north.
Mr. Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, in politics the words tragedy and crisis are sometimes used so much that we can almost lose sight of what they actually mean. Yesterday we heard of a 10-year-old who ended her own life in our province. She was the fourth child in the North in less than two weeks to decide that she had so little hope, so much darkness and despair, that suicide was her answer.
Mr. Speaker, this crisis is playing out in the North, but it affects all the people of Saskatchewan in every corner of our province. To the Premier: what steps is his government taking to address this horribly tragic crisis that none of us can accept?
The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Mr. Wall: — Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for leading off the first question period of the fall session as he has just done. There really are no words that we have to express our sorrow at the tragedy that has happened. Neither are there words to properly express our concern for what might lead young people to this conclusion in the numbers that we have seen.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that as a result of and prior to these particular examples, these tragedies, this loss of life, there have been actions taken by local leadership and also by the provincial government and provincial agencies. The health region is connected with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band health and Stanley Mission Health Centre to initiate the local emergency operations centre. Health regions, First Nations, community and government partners participate in the daily emergency call. And there was an ops [operations] call this morning to discuss a plan to provide specific support for the Deschambault area.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of suicides in the North has been a top concern for local leaders and for the provincial government for some number of years. We have moved through the health region and through the ministries proper to provide better support, improved support. Clearly more needs to be done, Mr. Speaker. We’ll continue to respond to these suicides and work very, very hard with local leadership to ensure that they stop.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education has confirmed that their ministry works with, will continue working with Lac La Ronge Band and that there will be, through the Northern Lights School District, a meeting upcoming here later this month on this particular issue. That’s just one example of work that we need to do with respect to the North and with respect to our young people there. We can afford to lose no more.
Wotherspoon then moved on to another emergent issue, the GTH.
Mr. Wotherspoon: — … When it comes to the GTH [Global Transportation Hub] land scandal of this government, there are so many serious questions lingering. So let me start with a very simple one: why was the GTH used to buy the parcel of land instead of the normal practice of Highways acquiring it for far less, as they were planning to do?
The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Mr. Wall: — … Mr. Speaker, with respect to the GTH issue, I want to again share with members that when concerns were first raised about the issue, the minister, then minister responsible went to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. The Conflict of Interest Commissioner indicated he was not in any conflict at all.
When the issues continued, it was the cabinet and the Government of Saskatchewan that referred the matter to the Provincial Auditor to ask questions as per what the Leader of the Opposition has just asked in the House. And the order in council, the minute of the order in council I think reflects the fact that the government wanted the Provincial Auditor to look at everything and anything related to the deal.
Mr. Speaker, the minute of that cabinet meeting and the order in council references the land purchases, references the Global Transportation Hub, and asks that the Provincial Auditor undertake an investigation and a review, including examination of any transaction leading up to and following the said acquisition.
So there were no limitations placed on the auditor. Moreover, we made sure that all of the cabinet documents, which isn’t always the case, were shared with the auditor — anything the auditor wanted. She’s made her recommendations, which I expect we’ll get into in a subsequent question. We’re prepared to stand by her recommendations, to implement them, and we hope the opposition will as well.
This line of questioning went on for some time involving Wotherspoon, Wall and Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison (minister of the Economy). Wotherspoon frequently made no secret of his disgust with the answers he was getting on the issue.
Mr. Wotherspoon: — This is pathetic. The question was for the Premier as well. Not a single answer from the government here today.
After this exchange Saskatoon Nutana MLA Cathy Sproule stood up to raise the issue of the Premier’s opposition to the announced carbon pricing plans from Ottawa.
Ms. Sproule: — … When it comes to addressing climate change, we used to be leaders and now we are laggards. The Sask Party cut many of the advancements the last NDP government had made. Now all he wants to do is double down on his carbon capture boondoggle...
So why won’t they admit that what the people of Saskatchewan can’t afford is the Sask Party’s $1.5 billion carbon capture tax?
The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Mr. Wall: — Mr. Speaker, the member’s question is very informative. Yesterday we outlined our response to the federal government’s imposed carbon tax, our own plan which includes the largest per capita investment in carbon mitigation technology in Canada, we actually think in North America and, from a public sector investment, perhaps the world. She’s perhaps ignoring the move to 50 per cent renewables through SaskPower by 2030. That’s also part of our plan.
… I would point out that we have said that when the economy strengthens in this province, we will move to a heavy emitter tech fund. But hear what the NDP are saying. They’re saying, implement the levy now. Increase taxes now.
We’ve seen thousands of layoffs in the oil and gas sector. We’ve seen layoffs in the mining sector. Mr. Speaker, we’ve seen some trouble in the economy, an economy that’s reliant on agriculture and mining and energy, that would be part of the heavy emitters group. And the NDP’s plan is to tax that sector right now.
Or maybe there’s another plan. Her own constituency has a resolution going to the NDP convention this month. Her constituency of Saskatoon Nutana says — and I think this is what she really wants — shut down the coal industry completely in this province. That might be the NDP position, but it’s not the position of the Government of Saskatchewan.
