Moe, Meili defend maskless photos
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe and Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili both defended photos of themselves in retail locations while not wearing a mask after one of Moe's recent social media posts received public backlash.
On Tuesday, Moe took to social media to say he had picked up a new coat at Cowtown in Regina. The post included two photos showing him browsing in the store without wearing a mask.
Just hours earlier, the province's chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab stressed the importance of wearing a mask in any public place as Saskatchewan's COVID-19 case numbers climb.
“This is the time to really put on that mask even for that brief visit to a retail location. Every little piece counts,” Shahab said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
The response to Moe's social media posts was overwhelmingly negative, with many comments indicating this was a missed opportunity to highlight the importance of mask use.
Moe told reporters at a campaign announcement in Regina on Wednesday that he had been wearing a mask earlier in his visit to the store and had only removed his mask when he could maintain physical distance from other people.
“Could I have been wearing a mask the entire time? I suppose I could have. I didn't and I suppose after the media today I probably will reconsider that, but the fact of the matter is we've been very clear on our masking policy and I've been following that masking policy,” Moe said.
He added that he went grocery shopping later that evening and wore a mask the entire time.
“The masking policy in the province is very clear. When you are able to create that physical distance, a mask is not necessary,” he said.
Meili also faced criticism for photos he posted to his social media on Sept. 29, which showed him in Prairie Bee Meadery and Ultimate Fanzone in Moose Jaw without a mask.
Meili told reporters at a campaign announcement Wednesday morning that he believed mask use and maintaining a physical distance are important and that “extra measures” were taken to ensure physical distancing before any photos were shot.
“We've been extremely careful, wearing masks everywhere that we possibly can and when taking photos, any photos that you see where I'm not wearing a mask, we were very careful to make sure that we had physical distancing in place,” Meili said.
HIGHWAY FEES
Moe said the Saskatchewan Party has no plans to implement highway tolls for truck drivers after Gordon Wyant, Saskatchewan Party candidate for Saskatoon North West, said in a debate held Tuesday evening by the Regina Chamber of Commerce that the province would consider exploring highway tolls for truckers after consultations with the trucking industry.
Wyant's answer came after a question during the debate about if the province should put tolls in place on some roads to help pay for infrastructure.
“We haven't had any requests for that conversation and we haven't had that conversation, nor do we have any plans to have that conversation,” said Moe.
Meili vowed the NDP would not consider implementing any kind of tolls on highways.
“The fact that they're even willing to have these conversations and not rule them out means that this is something that is very much a risk for Saskatchewan people,” Meili said.
2SLGBTQ+ REPORT CARD
Both leaders also addressed a report card released by Outsaskatoon and Saskatoon Pride, which gave each of the province's political parties a grade for “their plans, commitments to, and support for Saskatchewan's 2SLGBTQ+ community,” according to the report posted to Outsaskatoon's website.
The Saskatchewan NDP received an A-, the Green Party received a B+ and the Saskatchewan Party scored a C-.
Meili praised Outsaskatoon for its continued advocacy and its report card and said his party is committed to ensuring “every child who wants to” is able to be part of a Gender and Sexuality Alliance group.
Moe said he understands the party received the low grade because of its focus on existing initiatives and programs instead of new initiatives.
He said the Sask. Party has “always been engaging with the community on where we need to go from a government support perspective.”