“We can’t allow for these lapses in communication to happen and that’s exactly what has happened here,” said Moe.
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Premier Scott Moe says lines of communication have “faltered” but denied anyone lied in the days leading up to an apology by former house leader Jeremy Harrison.
The apology came a week after Speaker Randy Weekes alleged Harrison brought a long gun into the legislative building, an allegation he initially told Moe was “unequivocally false.”
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In his first public statement last week, Harrison changed course and said he initially “didn’t recall it,” but the memory from about 10 years ago came back to him after recent conversations with family.
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Moe addressed the controversy on Monday during an unrelated announcement at Government House.
“(Harrison) gave me the information that he had and he clarified it at the first opportunity,” Moe said. “I deal with the information I have. This is the information I’ve received from him.”
Opposition Leader Carla Beck had a hard time accepting that explanation.
“I simply don’t think it’s credible. I don’t think this passes the sniff test for anyone in the province,” Beck said Monday afternoon. “No one believes that the minister suddenly remembered after talking to one or two family members.”
Harrison resigned as government house leader last week after admitting that he did in fact bring a long gun to the legislative building on his way to a hunting trip.
Moe defended Harrison a day after the initial allegations, saying he’d spoken with him about the claims and was told they were not true.
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On Monday, Moe pushed back on the idea that either of them lied to the public, but said he needs to do a better job around communication between the government house leader, Opposition house leader and the Speaker.
“We can’t allow for these lapses in communication to happen and that’s exactly what has happened here,” said Moe. “This is an issue that I’ve overlooked in the last few years.”
When asked if he owed Weekes an apology, Moe flatly said “no.”
Meanwhile, Beck revisited the concerns read into record by Weekes from the former sergeant-at-arms about the long gun Harrison brought to the legislative building. She also cited Weekes’ allegations of bullying and that the minister sought permission to carry a handgun as well.
“I’m not sure how the premier conflates that as a problem with the house leaders not talking enough,” she said.
Harrison remains a member of cabinet as the minister of export, trade and development. Moe said his resignation as house leader was a result of a “discussion” they had, and that “I wouldn’t say he got to choose his punishment.”
As part of his apology, Harrison said he “brought a properly cased long gun into the building with the knowledge of security officials so as to not leave it unattended” in his vehicle.
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“In retrospect, I should not have done this,” he said in a written statement, which went on to say the “lapse in judgment” occurred “approximately a decade ago.”
Beck again expressed her belief that Harrison should no longer serve in cabinet, questioning Moe’s decision to keep him in the role.
“If he has a cabinet minister who’s lied to him, that’s not someone who he should want to be in cabinet,” she said. “I think it sends a terrible message to the people of Saskatchewan.”
When it comes to past precedent for a minister being removed from cabinet, Beck said Nadine Wilson misrepresenting her COVID vaccine status during the pandemic is a fair parallel to draw.
“The fundamental issue that is the same here is dishonesty,” said Beck
Before speaking to media on Monday, Moe revealed a cabinet shuffle as a result of an announcement by Hargrave, who does not intend to seek re-election. His roles as minister of SaskBuilds and procurement and the minister responsible for the Global Transportation Hub will be assumed by Terry Jensen, who was sworn in Monday afternoon.
Jensen is serving in cabinet for the first time since he was first elected in 2020. Minister of Highways Lori Carr was also announced as the new house leader while Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Paul Merriman has been named the new deputy house leader.
“When you’re first elected, your primary reason for being elected is to serve the people,” Jensen said. “This is an honour and a privilege to be able to join another group of esteemed individuals.”
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