A bizarre and irritable end to session
Saskatchewan politics is filled with random events. In this weekly feature, political reporter David Fraser shares some of those stories.
NORTHLANDS COLLEGE APPOINTMENT
Some tense debates over Vince Natomagan — a man with a violent history of domestic abuse — being appointed to the board of Northlands College made for some strange moments in the Legislative Assembly.
NDP MLA Carla Beck raised the issue during Tuesday’s question period, asking why a man who pleaded guilty to domestic assault as recently as Nov. 19 had been appointed to the board by the provincial government.
Advanced Education Minister Tina Beaudry-mellor looked surprised by the question, like someone who didn’t know about Natomagan’s history. She told the Assembly she was “not aware of this issue” and would be looking into it immediately.
Things took a turn for the bizarre after that. Beck pointed out Natomagan was “no stranger to the Saskatchewan Party” because he had briefly sought a nomination from the party in 2016. Sask. Party rules require criminal record checks. Beck was aware of this, and described what Natomagan’s lengthy record would show.
But by the time she was done asking her question on the issue, the Sask. Party (led by Jeremy Harrison) was shouting at Speaker Mark Docherty that the issue was about “party business” and therefore not allowed to be asked in question period.
Beck continued on, describing Natomagan’s rap sheet, before finishing with: “This is someone who has a serious history of violence, including domestic violence. Can the minister explain the complete failure in governance that led to Mr. Natomagan being appointed to the board of Northlands?”
Docherty subscribed to what his Sask. Party colleagues were selling, and told Beck, “We’ll take some time to think about this, but you’re on a line here, member. You know full well.”
After that, NDP Leader Ryan Meili carried forward a line of questioning similar to Beck’s, and was allowed to do so.
On Wednesday, Docherty said “I’m allowing it” when Meili again raised Natomagan’s history, but eventually told him “to keep ‘party’ out of this” — to which Meili responded by asking another question about what Premier Scott Moe’s cabinet knew about Natomagan’s history.
By Thursday the debate got ugly. Beck pointed out Natomagan endorsed Beaudry-mellor during her failed leadership bid and charged, “Is it possible that the endorsement that really mattered for this appointment was the endorsement of her candidacy?”
That prompted a point of order raised by Harrison, who charged Beck made a personal charge or accusation against Beaudry-mellor. Docherty asked Beck to withdraw the remark and apologize, which she did.
AN IRRITABLE END TO SESSION
The Northlands College/natomagan debate was not the sole source of tension during the final week of session.
Martensville-warman MLA Nancy Heppner had a particularly (mean?) spirited member’s statement on Thursday, listing “13 major deficiencies in the NDP.” An example: “We see only accusations, baseless allegations, innuendo, and drive-by smears. New leader, same old NDP.” She also accused the NDP of wanting to “axe the GTH,” despite her government actively trying to sell the Global Transportation Hub.
That member statement came one day after Moe displayed his most fiery response yet in the Assembly, accusing Meili of attacking and denigrating “the professionalism and the integrity of the public service” and child protection workers of “taking babies away from their mothers.”
He said Meili has used “inflammatory and racially charged statements” and “continues to virtue signal and say he’s above the fray.”
The premier’s comments prompted Meili to show his own emotion. While Moe was speaking, Meili yelled back from his seat.
NOMINATIONS
Each of the current Regina NDP MLAS will run again in the next election. Saskatoon-willowgrove MLA Ken Cheveldayoff and Saskatoon-westview MLA David Buckingham were acclaimed to run again for the Sask. Party.