The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has submitted his resignation from the Sask. Party.
Randy Weekes submitted his letter of resignation Monday, but said that he will continue to act as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
Weekes added that he will continue to represent Biggar-Sask Valley as an independent MLA for the remainder of his term.
Allegations from Weekes of threats and harassment from Sask. Party MLA Jeremy Harrison have been circulating since before the end of the spring legislative session.
In May, Weekes said Harrison would brag he could sway the Speaker on any ruling and would send harassing text messages towards him.
On March 22, 2023, Weekes claims he received a message from Harrison saying, “that is an absolute bulls–t ruling.”
He also said Harrison brought a hunting rifle into the legislative building.
“My removal as Speaker was discussed on a regular basis in the government caucus.”
He said Harrison wasn’t the only member of the Sask. Party to send inappropriate messages to him.
Premier Scott Moe’s reaction to these allegations in May was that none of these issues were discussed with him and that they came from Weekes after he lost his nomination.
“It really is sour grapes,” Moe said in May. “Most of this allegedly occurred prior to December 14th, when the Speaker was still running in a nomination for this party. I’ve never talked to him about any of these items of concern.”
“It’s unfortunate but nothing more than a sore loser.”
Weekes had tried to get the house services committee, which he chairs, to start an investigation into Harrison bringing a gun into the legislature, but the members of the committee from the Sask. Party turned down the motion, with a spokesperson from Moe’s office saying that Weekes can have his claims investigated through the assembly clerk.
Weekes said Tuesday that the result of that committee meeting wasn’t unexpected, but said this had more to do with guns in the legislature and that there were many questions still left unanswered.
“The still lingering question out there is how many times (Harrison) has brought guns into the legislative assembly.”
He wondered if guns are allowed in the legislative assembly, saying nobody has told Harrison that he couldn’t bring one.
Weekes said he owns a gun himself, but said as elected members they should be held to a higher standard of conduct.
— With files from Andrew Benson and The Canadian Press
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