SASKATOON — Opposition MLAs Jordan McPhail and Brittney Senger criticized Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party for holding a golf fundraising tournament instead of visiting residents displaced by northern wildfires.
McPhail held a joint press conference with Senger and Denare Beach resident Dustin Trumbley on Monday in Saskatoon.
McPhail, the shadow minister for northern affairs, said residents from his Cumberland constituency were angry to learn the Saskatchewan Party’s golf tournament at Elk Ridge was to raise money for their political campaign.
“My constituents felt abandoned since day one of the wildfire crisis in the north. Because, for the record, they have been abandoned. They were evacuated with no notice and given no support or funding for weeks or even months,” said McPhail.
“When they raised concerns about their communities, they were ignored. They were told that we were ready for wildfire season repeatedly, while we were grossly understaffed, and critically needed water bombers were staying idle on the tarmac in La Ronge.”
Senger added that holding the golf fundraiser in the north was unfathomable and showed the Saskatchewan Party-led government was out of touch with reality.
In a statement sent to SaskToday, the government pushed back on the opposition’s call to cancel the fundraiser, accusing them of dishonesty after already holding two golf tournaments on June 13 and 24, with another scheduled for Aug. 21 with leader Carla Beck.
Both Opposition MLAs also called on Moe and other government officials to visit and tour affected areas in northern Saskatchewan and meet with residents in evacuation centres in Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, Regina and Saskatoon — despite claims they had already done so.
The government clarified that Moe was in northern Saskatchewan on Monday, Aug. 11, along with ministers Tim McLeod (Corrections, Policing and Public Safety), Jeremy Harrison (Crown Investments Corp.), Travis Keisig (Environment) and Eric Schmalz (Government Relations) to meet with communities impacted by this year’s wildfires.
“Our government understands the challenges of this year’s wildfire season and the devastating impact it has had on our northern Saskatchewan communities. Our government is committed to supporting our northern communities in the recovery process. Last month, our government announced a commitment of $20 million to help communities and individuals affected by this year’s devastating wildfires. In June, our government provided $15 million to the Canadian Red Cross for further support to wildfire evacuees,” the statement said.
“The Recovery Task Force, established in June, continues to collaborate with communities heavily impacted by this wildfire season and support them through the recovery process. The task force includes dedicated representatives from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the ministries of Government Relations, Social Services, Environment and SGI. This joint effort has allowed the task force and communities to accelerate the achievement of multiple milestones, including establishing a Community Resiliency Centre in Denare Beach for individuals and families, clearing debris from properties and removing hundreds of lost vehicles.”
