Moe cautions Sask. Party members over texts to legislature Speaker

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he has cautioned his caucus about texting the Speaker after his finance minister landed in hot water for doing so.

Moe said Tuesday he told Saskatchewan Party members that messages to Speaker Randy Weekes can have consequences and instructed them to govern their actions accordingly.

“Use at your own peril,” he said of his conversations with caucus.

“If you send a text that is going to be read into the record, you should be fully aware of that.

“Yes, it’s important to bring some emotion to the floor of the assembly with the policies we’re bringing forward and defending, but we’re here to represent our constituents ... and we should do so with honour and so should the Opposition.”

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer texted Weekes during legislature proceedings earlier this week to complain that government members can’t push back during debate and said the house was turning into an “Opposition puppet show.”

Weekes, who is a member of the governing caucus but must be impartial, demanded an apology from Harpauer and said he has also received hundreds of texts from government house leader Jeremy Harrison and deputy government house leader Lori Carr.

Moe said he didn’t scold the members and wouldn’t say whether Harpauer’s text was inappropriate.

“I won’t speak on behalf on what’s appropriate and not appropriate for those two to be communicating,” he said.

Harrison and Harpauer were not available to speak with reporters.

Opposition NDP ethics critic Meara Conway said Harpauer’s text crossed the line by appearing to pressure and criticize the Speaker.

She said NDP MLAs have texted Weekes about house business. Moe had also said this is common.