NDP TAKES AIM AT SASK. PARTY

Meili pushing for assembly to sit at least 14 days

The Saskatchewan NDP is demanding a 14-day legislative sitting as it pushes back against what it calls an “utterly insufficient” government proposal for passing a budget.

Though the government has not publicly revealed its position, it sent an offer to the NDP on Thursday. Opposition Leader Ryan Meili told reporters on Friday that the government is offering just eight sitting days including five Question periods, as well as 40 hours for committees to consider budget estimates.

Meili called that “an insult to our public responsibility.”

“It’s far less than the type of scrutiny that this budget needs,” he said. “It’s far less than the type of legislative activity that we’re seeing in other provinces.”

An ordinary legislative session would include 28 sitting days after a budget is proposed, as well as 75 hours of committee work to study spending estimates for government ministries and programs. That’s what the current house rules say. It was also the original NDP position, though Premier Scott Moe countered that it’s far more than what is happening in other provinces.

Meili said he is open to a “compromise” that foresees a 14-day sitting beginning on June 15.

“The government came back with something that was almost laughable in the lack of time available,” he said. “This is a reasonable compromise position.”

On Friday, NDP house leader Cathy Sproule sent a letter to her government counterpart rejecting the government proposal as “utterly insufficient.” Her letter lays out an alternative plan for how the legislature could meet and pass a budget. The government is currently funding its operations through cabinet order, a practice that is valid over the short term but cannot legally continue indefinitely.

Under the NDP proposal, the legislature would resume on June 15 to introduce a budget and change house rules. There would then be 11 days with normal proceedings, with July 8 the date for passing the budget and July 9 set for adjourning the legislature. All 14 days would include question period, according to the plan outlined in the letter.

Meili called that “a bare minimum.”

“We hope that the premier will see that, will understand that any less than this is really inadequate and insufficient for any scrutiny, will not satisfy the public’s need for answers, and we hope that he will see that move forward to accept this proposal,” said Meili.

“We can get past this haggling over the number of hours and number of days and get back to work.”

The NDP is proposing a skeleton contingent of MLAS, with just five opposition members facing off against 10 members of the government caucus, plus the speaker and a limited number of legislative staff.

Jim Billington, press secretary to Premier Scott Moe, confirmed that the government house leader, Jeremy Harrison, has received the NDP letter and will now take the time to review it.

Billington would not confirm or deny whether the NDP had correctly characterized the government’s offer.

“The plan sent to the Opposition by Minister Harrison represents the most legislative scrutiny of any budget in Canada since the pandemic began. As an example, Alberta passed its budget in three hours,” Billington wrote in an email response.

“As stated, we will review the Opposition’s response and respond directly to the Opposition. We will not be politically grandstanding by publicizing important work that is occurring by our house leadership team.”

Saskatchewan has gone longer without legislative work than almost any other province. Though Alberta did limit budget debate to just three hours, it has met periodically to debate bills during the pandemic and is set to resume on May 27 for what Premier Jason Kenney described as “fairly regular” sittings. Manitoba MLAS are meeting once a week for Question Period.

Ontario’s government shelved its budget in March, but legislators have met for question period multiple times this month. British Columbia’s legislature has been adjourned since March 23, but Premier John Horgan said it will reconvene in June. Quebec’s National Assembly is scheduled to sit for 11 days between May 26 and June 12.

Meili said the Opposition has “big questions” about what the government will do as it faces a major fiscal crisis as revenue dries up in the midst of a deep economic downturn.

But the NDP has little in the way of leverage to force the government to change its position. The assembly’s rules and procedures can be changed by a simple majority in the legislature, meaning the government caucus holds all the cards.

“Our only leverage right now is this conversation that we’re having with you, with the public, about what’s needed and what’s right and about respect for the traditions and procedures of the legislature,” Meili said.

He would not say exactly what the NDP will do if the government insists on pushing through its eight-day proposal, except to say that his caucus wants “to get back to work.”

“We think this 14 days, with 14 question periods, is the best way to go ...” Meili said. “It seems preposterous to me that the government wouldn’t see this as a very reasonable way to go.”

It’s far less than the type of scrutiny that this budget needs. It’s far less than the type of legislative activity that we’re seeing in other provinces.