New Sask. legislative security team a result of heightened threats, rhetoric

Despite heightened threats against public officials, Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said protests at the legislature can continue as normal when the province brings in a new security team.

Tell told reporters Wednesday that “criminal or close-to-criminal type behaviour” would not be acceptable. “If they're going to protest, we want them to protest here,” she said. “We don't want them to protest at people's homes. We want them here … where they can express their views, protest according to our constitution and be safe in doing so.”

Debate over the security changes at the Legislative Building continued this week after MLAS spent more than 20 hours in committee discussing the government's planned overhaul.

The changes, outlined in Bill 70, would diminish most of the sergeant-at-arms' responsibilities and see the hiring of a new security director appointed by the minister.

After the plan's unveiling, former sergeant-at-arms Terry Quinn resigned from the role in early February.

During debate in committee, Tell said police services across the country are seeing more public safety threats associated with the pandemic and heightened political rhetoric. “Here in Saskatchewan we have seen public servants harassed, legislative events interrupted and elected officials threatened,” she told the chamber.

The protest on throne speech day last fall was a factor in bringing in the new security team, she said.

A week prior to the protest, a man was charged with threatening Premier Scott Moe and Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab about COVID -19 measures.

While the province has said the new team is meant to enhance security of the Legislative Building and the grounds, the NDP has continued to question why the changes are needed. The Opposition has long said the security of the building should be run independently, as it does currently through the Speaker's office.

“There are still way too many unanswered questions,” justice critic Nicole Sarauer told reporters.

Tell has said security needs to be run more effectively. According to her, that would be done through the ministry, which she said can better coordinate with other policing departments should they need to prepare for potential threats.

Once established, the new team is expected to be made up of 11 armed government employees, possibly in place by the fall. The province has set aside more than $1.5 million to establish the new force.

Sarauer agreed with the government on concerns about heightened rhetoric and more threats, but said she takes issue with the ministry having control.

On Tuesday night, the NDP had planned to introduce an amendment so the new security director would be appointed by the Speaker rather than the minister — a measure Tell said she wouldn't accept.

That amendment failed to be introduced because the committee reached its maximum amount of time for debate. The NDP accused the Sask. Party members of running out the clock, while the Sask. Party said the NDP had ample time.