Unruly day at the Sask. Legislature: Harpauer apologizes, Harrison storms out
CBC
It was an unruly afternoon at the Saskatchewan Legislature Building on Monday.
Before question period began, Speaker Randy Weekes told both government MLAs and the Opposition to cool off on inflammatory statements.
Weekes read a review of incidents from last week, including when he gave Sask. Party MLA and Government House Leader Jeremy Harrison a stern rebuke for suggesting an opposing member was lying, something Weekes called unparliamentary behaviour.
Later Monday, Weekes rose to tell the house he had received "hundreds" of text messages from several government MLAs.
He then took out his cellphone and read a message he said was from Finance Minister Donna Harpauer.
"Randy, if you can blatantly lie, tarnish reputations of elected and unelected individuals with innuendoes, but no proof, we have no avenue to push back. Then, this assembly has become a joke and a stage for an Opposition puppet show. Disappointing," Weekes read, before speaking directly to Harpauer.
"First of all, if you want to make a point of order, get on your feet."
Weekes asked Harpauer to apologize, which she did.
Things soon got more heated. Harrison seemed frustrated after Harpauer's apology and said something that Weekes heard, although it was inaudible on the online feed from the chamber.
Weekes stood up again and said, "I ask the government house leader to stand and apologize for that comment too. I'm not deaf."
Harrison said, "I won't," and stormed out of the legislature.
At times shaking as he spoke, Weekes said Harrison would be ejected for the rest of the day.
Weekes has been a Sask Party MLA since 1999, but lost the nomination for the Biggar-Sask Valley riding in the provincial election coming later this year.
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