Question Period (7 May 2025)

From Hansard (7 May 2025)

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National Unity and Provision of RCMP Services

Hugh Gordon: — Mr. Speaker, the Sask Party government’s weak response to separatism is concerning. I used to serve and protect Canadians as a member of the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police], and I wore that uniform with pride. It was an honour and a privilege to wear the red serge, and it is beyond disrespectful that this Sask Party government is so dismissive of the oath that these officers have taken to protect not just this province but this . . .

Speaker Goudy: — Okay, I am going to ask the member to apologize and withdraw that any member is disrespecting our RCMP officers in this province.

Hugh Gordon: — I apologize and withdraw it.

Mr. Speaker, how does the Premier plan to replace all the amazing work done by the RCMP if he won’t stand up against separating from Canada?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And we certainly agree that there is some fantastic work being done across this province by our RCMP members. Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why our government committed to fund the full annex of RCMP officers that we are allotted under the national agreement, Mr. Speaker. That’s another 250 RCMP officers that we are prepared to fund provided we get them from Ottawa, Mr. Speaker.

In the meantime we will fund an additional 100 municipal police officers. We will fund 70 marshals, Mr. Speaker, to add boots to the ground to make sure that we have safe communities for our citizens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

Hugh Gordon: — And that takes us to the heart of the matter now, doesn’t it, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, the RCMP are part of our national identity. But if Saskatchewan separates, there would be no RCMP in Saskatchewan and there’d be no Depot Division in Regina. Separation is a threat to all RCMP officers and their jobs, and it’s a bad deal for Saskatchewan.

Canada is the greatest country in the world, and my love for Canada is not conditional. Every member in this Assembly should be able to say the same. Why can’t the Premier?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and the Premier and the Deputy Premier and just about every other member on this side of the House who has answered questions recently has made this very clear, Mr. Speaker. We have made that very clear, Mr. Speaker. We are not interested in separation, Mr. Speaker, but we’re also not interested in the status quo.

And in the same respect, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to RCMP officers, we’re not interested in the status quo there either. We want more, Mr. Speaker, and that’s why we’re advocating for more. We have former RCMP officers on this side of the House as well, and we have great relationships with Assistant Commissioner Blackmore, who is currently recruiting more RCMP officers, Mr. Speaker. We are very interested in adding more of the great service that our RCMP officers provide across this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

National Unity and Support for Treaty Rights

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, the Premier says he’s entertaining talk of separatism because he knows . . . he wants to respect the people of this province. He should start by respecting the First Nations and treaties the Crown has signed with them, Mr. Speaker.

Indigenous leadership in this province has been clear. Separating from Canada is a violation of First Nations’ inherent and treaty rights. Does the Premier understand he’s threatening the rights of every Indigenous person in this province by entertaining the talk of separatism?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As we have said many times, Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we are not interested in separation from Canada. We are interested in a strong and united Canada, and being a meaningful contributor and taken seriously as a member of a strong and united Canada, Mr. Speaker. That is what the premise of this government is, and that’s what it will continue to be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

Leroy Laliberte: — Mr. Speaker, this isn’t a matter of opinion. It is the law and it is against him and against those separatists, Mr. Speaker. He doesn’t have the right to change the terms of those treaties. This government doesn’t have the right to change those treaties whatsoever, Mr. Speaker. Danielle Smith, Donald Trump absolutely do not have the right to change the terms of those treaties, Mr. Speaker.

Will the Premier, Mr. Speaker — and I’m asking the Premier — finally stop taking cues from Danielle Smith and threatening our treaty and inherent rights?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And again, Mr. Speaker, nobody on this side of the House is threatening treaty rights. We take treaty rights very seriously. We take the duty-to-consult very seriously, Mr. Speaker. All of this line of questioning is a straw man argument created by the opposition, Mr. Speaker. They continue to throw out the straw man and then attack the straw man, Mr. Speaker.

Nobody on this side of the House is talking about separation. The only talk is coming from that side of the House, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

 

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