Sask. MLAs asked to apologize, Opposition member forced to leave on final day of sitting
CBC
Saskatchewan's Speaker of the Legislative Assembly called for two apologies on Thursday. An Opposition NDP MLA was expelled from the chamber after refusing.
The final day of the fall sitting was punctuated by statements from Government House Leader Jeremy Harrison and Opposition Deputy House Leader Meara Conway.
The members were discussing the Nov. 20 protest inside the legislature, which led to the suspension of debate. Dozens of protesters attended question period that day to call on Premier Scott Moe to ask for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
When many started chanting "ceasefire now" in the gallery and did not stop, Speaker Randy Weekes cleared the assembly floor.
Following Harrison and Conway's statements Thursday, the Speaker asked Conway to apologize for "provocative and personal attacks." He also asked Harrison to apologize, but did not specify what for.
Harrison apologized, while Conway refused to apologize and was escorted out by the sergeant-at-arms.
"I didn't apologize today because of serious personal and professional accusations that were made not just to me, but my team. I'm proud that I didn't withdraw and apologize. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I meant every word that I said in there," Conway told reporters afterward.
Conway and Harrison began the back and forth on Wednesday in a committee meeting. MLAs were deciding whether to investigate the cause of the protest.
Harrison said his caucus decided not to pursue the investigation because it would have required significant resources.
In the days following the protest, Harrison and the government accused the NDP of playing a role in the incident. Eventually, the government voted for an investigation but on Wednesday that plan was cancelled.
"[Harrison] knows that the NDP had nothing to do with this. He knew it wouldn't be the outcome of this investigation," Conway told the Canadian Press on Wednesday.
The issue spilled over into the assembly on Thursday morning as Harrison and Conway exchanged statements about the situation.
"Yesterday in committee we witnessed an appalling and frankly embarrassing display by the NDP member for Elphinstone Centre [Conway] vigorously defending antisemitism and an antisemitic phrase that was chanted in this legislature," Harrison told the assembly.
Harrison was referring to protesters who chanted "from the river to the sea" as they left the legislature on Nov. 20.
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