SASKATOON — Opposition MLA Hugh Gordon on Wednesday doubled down on the Saskatchewan NDP’s position against any movement in the province to separate from Canada, either by becoming an independent country or otherwise.
The non-profit group Unified Grassroots held a town hall meeting on May 25 at the Terrace at Prairieland Park, where they said they are looking to use a referendum for Saskatchewan as leverage, which the provincial government could then utilize to negotiate better terms with Ottawa.
Gordon said the notion of entertaining the idea of separation is different from planning and holding several town halls — six of which were scheduled to take place in Royal Canadian Legion branches across the province.
“You don't want to say on one hand, we're just here talking about separatism, nothing going on, but yet entertain these notions that would lead to separation, it makes absolutely no sense. You can't have it both ways. It's not to say that Western alienation isn't an issue,” said Gordon.
“The NDP and Carla Beck, in the last election, have sent letters to all the federal leaders to indicate the priorities that we feel that we have here in Saskatchewan that need to be addressed by Ottawa.”
He added that federal and provincial leaders could surely do more in terms of infrastructure projects, such as building a national pipeline that would link the West and the East, extending to the Maritimes.
Unified Grassroots had scheduled gatherings at multiple legion branches, most of which have been recently cancelled.
Gordon said that holding town halls in legion branches across the province on the topic of separation is insulting to all Canadian veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. He said the issue holds personal significance for him, as he is a retired RCMP officer.
“My first posting was in Spiritwood. It is there where I met a young man, Dustin Wasden, who saw fit to join the Armed Forces, and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan,” said Gordon.
“I think of my two colleagues, Mark Bourdages and Robin Cameron, who also made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty in Spiritwood in 2006. The Legion’s mission is to serve veterans, military personnel and their families, including those of the RCMP.”
He added that as part of the RCMP Veterans Association, which meets regularly at the Saskatoon Legion in Nutana, they consider it a sacred place for remembrance and treat it with honour and respect.
