REGINA - The Saskatchewan legislative week ended Thursday with plenty of talk about separatism and the “51st State.”
Thursday was the day of the 75-minute debate in the Legislative Assembly, at which time NDP MLA for Regina South Albert Aleana Young moved that “the Assembly opposes Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada the 51st state, and also opposes the threats of western separation supported by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and others.”
This latest motion also comes after an NDP emergency motion was presented in the Assembly earlier this spring that would have condemned Trump for proposing the annexing of Canada as the 51st State. That motion ended up being heavily re-written by the Sask Party majority to take out the language directly condemning Trump.
Young’s motion also comes after renewed musing by President Trump this week about Canada becoming the 51st State, as well as changes announced by Smith to trigger a referendum in Alberta with just ten per cent of voters in the last election required to put it on the ballot.
In speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Young said the fact that they had to hold such a debate “speaks volumes.”
“The current Sask Party leader, Premier Scott Moe, had two opportunities this week to shut down talk about Saskatchewan leaving Canada. But Premier Moe declined to unequivocally rule out a referendum on Saskatchewan’s future in Canada saying it was unlikely t9 happen under the current rules. Meanwhile Danielle Smith, Premier Moe’s closest ally, is actively opening the door to a separation referendum in Alberta…
“That’s dangerous, and it’s incumbent on the Saskatchewan Party government to call it out, condemn Smith, and unequivocally shut down any talk of Saskatchewan leaving Canada.”
Young said that during the debate she would be calling on the government to do three things: unequivocally affirm Saskatchewan's place in Canada, condemn Smith’s referendum bill, and commit to rejecting any push now or in the future for Saskatchewan to separate from Canada.
“No hedging, no dodging. Say it clearly. Saskatchewan is stronger in Canada.”
During the 75-minute debate that followed, those Sask Party MLAs who spoke on the motion made it known they were against the talk of Canada becoming a 51st State. But they also accused the NDP of spreading fear on the issue.
“Two parties ran on fear in the last election, the NDP and the Liberals,” said Canora-Pelley MLA Sean Wilson in the Assembly.
“Now that the NDP have been essentially taken over by the Liberals, it is clear that they’re one and the same. Despite our government being consistently opposed to tariffs and Donald Trump’s annexation comments, the opposition NDP continue to spread fearful rhetoric, just like their federal counterparts.”
The 75-minute debate expired before Young’s motion could be put to a vote.
On another topic, Sask Party MLA Cut Knife-Turtleford James Thorsteinson moved a private member’s motion for the Assembly to “call upon the new Liberal Government of Canada to stand up for Saskatchewan by eliminating Bill C‑69, the industrial carbon tax, the methane cap, the oil and gas cap, and the clean electricity regulations.”
That was followed by a motion to adjourn debate, with the Legislature now adjourned to Monday afternoon.
