NDP accuses Moe of misusing power on teacher transfers
Premier says he was acting as local MLA during meeting with school trustees
The Saskatchewan NDP accused Premier Scott Moe of pressuring a school division in his riding to reverse a position on teacher transfers, but Moe insists he was doing nothing more than advocating for his constituents.
On Thursday, the NDP’S education critic said the premier “seriously overstepped” his authority during what she called an “acrimonious” June 2019 meeting with trustees for the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division.
“I do think that that intimidation by the premier was wholly inappropriate in this case,” said Carla Beck.
Beck drew on heavily redacted internal emails where the executive director of the school division pointed to the board’s “concern,” and called the premier’s position an “urgent topic.”
Another email, from a partially redacted source with the same first name as the board chair, urged school officials not to “stress” over the issue.
Moe did not apologize for his advocacy. He said the division’s plan to transfer four teachers then in Shellbrook in 2019 produced more letters, calls and emails to his office than any other issue. He acknowledged that he “requested that they have a look at this policy,” but denied “absolutely” that he raised the prospect of any consequences.
But he said he was unable to recall whether he made clear at that specific meeting that he was appearing in his capacity as MLA for Rosthern-shellbrook, rather than as the premier.
That’s a problem for Beck. “I think it’s totally inappropriate that a sitting premier would go into a school board meeting, request a meeting with the school board, with the expressed intent of overturning a decision that that board was tasked with making,” she said.
Robert Bratvold, director of education of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, was unable to speak directly to what transpired at the June meeting because it was a closed session and is subject to a freedom of information request.
But he said Moe “regularly” appears at such meetings along with other area MLAS. He said that it would “surprise” him if the premier raised any consequences or the possibility of funding cuts at those meetings, and that he does not recall anything of the sort.
“I would say we have really good relationships with our MLAS and sometimes we see things from different perspectives,” said Bratvold. “But that conversation has been very clear and open and respectful of each other’s roles.”
He said there have been occasions where the conversations have been “more difficult” but that they are “usually productive.”
Asked if the premier generally makes clear he appears at the meetings as MLA, Bratvold said the following:
“All of the MLAS will speak to that,” he said. “They’ll speak to, ‘I’m here representing my constituency, but also as a part of the government of Saskatchewan,’ and so that’s the conversation. So I would say to that question, yes, it’s clear that he is speaking as an MLA.”
The school division did follow through with the teacher transfers from Shellbrook, according to the government.