Sask. NDP wants education minister to quit over comments to mother whose child died

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for the resignation of Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill after controversy surrounding comments Cockrill made to a mother whose daughter died.

The call comes after Taya Thomas had a private meeting with Cockrill to discuss teachers wanting more supports for students with extra needs.

The woman’s daughter, 13-year-old Mayelle, died last year after dealing with multiple medical conditions.

She had seizures and used a wheelchair. Her mother says the girl was not able to attend high school, because there was no room for her in a specialized program.

Thomas said during the meeting with Cockrill to discuss negotiations with the teachers’ union, he asked her, “What do they want me to do? Give up my first-born child?”

Sask. NDP leader Carla Beck said this is yet another example of Cockrill lying.

“For me, this minister’s treatment of Taya was the final straw. It just shows that this minister lacks basic empathy and honesty,” said Beck.

Cockrill told members of the legislature he apologized to Thomas.

“In that meeting, Mr. Speaker, I used an expression that was a poor choice of words on my part. I did apologize to Ms. Thomas,” Cockrill said during question period.

Thomas claims she did not receive an apology.

“He did not apologize to me. I had a friend there who witnessed that, he did give me his condolences but then he made that careless comment afterwards,” Thomas said.

Cockrill reiterated to reporters following question period Thursday that he did in fact apologize to Thomas.

“I apologize for that and I am human. I made a mistake,” Cockrill said.

Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe was asked about the comments made by Cockrill during Question Period Monday.

“I would agree with the minister of education when he said he selected a very poor choice of words,” Moe said. “He (Cockrill) made a terrible mistake. He has apologized for that mistake I understand privately, on the floor of this assembly and apologized publicly in the rotunda.”

Moe went on to say Cockrill has done a lot of work in the best interest of students, teachers and classrooms across the province, pointing to the investment of $3.3 billion for schools in the 2024-25 budget.

“(Cockrill) retains the full confidence of myself, the full confidence of the cabinet and the full confidence of his caucus.”

In the NDP’s announcement calling for his resignation, it said Cockrill has “repeatedly misled the media and public,” throughout contract negotiations with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, and implementing the province’s controversial pronoun policy.

“I’ve heard from teachers and parents over the weekend who believe that this minister has lost the trust of the education sector,” Opposition Education Critic Matt Love said.

“Small wonder why this job action has dragged on for months when this minister isn’t trusted by teachers and parents.”

The NDP say in Cockrill’s first interview as education minister in August 2023, he lied about the pronoun policy.

“Cockrill said that every MLA in every riding had heard concerns from parents about teachers withholding information on what pronoun their child was using in school. The next MLA to step up to the mic, Everett Hindley, contradicted Cockrill, saying that he had never encountered such concerns.”

“During the emergency session, Cockrill told the media that his government’s pronoun policy was informed by widespread consultation with ‘tens of thousands ‘of concerned citizens,” the NDP went on to say.

NDP made a freedom of information request on the issue and say only 18 letters were received by the province from concerned parents asking for a new policy on pronoun use and sexual education.