The Official Opposition are demanding answers from the Sask Party government on why the spring sitting of the provincial legislature will be delayed until March 19, with Sask NDP Leader Carla Beck pointing out that President Donald Trump has threatened at least two rounds of potentially devastating tariffs before that date.
Beck said that a more appropriate action would be to call an emergency session so that Saskatchewan Party MLAs and Saskatchewan NDP MLAs can work together to respond to the US regime.
Instead, the Sask Party announced on Tuesday that the session will be delayed. In a media availability at the Legislature building on Wednesday, Beck and NDP House Leader Nicole Sarauer criticized the decision.
"Not only are we not seeing an emergency session, we are seeing two and a half weeks less accountability at a time when I think we need more," Beck said. "We could be inviting the voices of producers, industry groups, those on the front lines to the legislature to ensure that when we're in discussion with the federal government about a response, that their voices are on the table. Basic accountability around financial issues, I mean, the list goes on and on."
Sarauer noted they are not accusing the provincial government of rule-breaking, but pointing out the hypocrisy of delaying the sitting given the circumstances: "People want to see us at work in the legislature debating these things and being ready to be able to act quickly to respond to whatever's coming next."
In responding to the Sask NDP criticism, Moe first suggested that in fact, having the first day of the session at the same time as Budget Day is the norm, and questioned why Beck wouldn't know that.
"She may not be aware what the norm is, and I would ask why," Moe said. "If you look back, it's actually the norm."
However, the Opposition provided data showing that the only other time a similar delay has taken place was in 2021 during the pandemic.
In response to further questioning, the premier said that using the time to meet with American counterparts is more productive than calling back the Legislature to talk to the Sask NDP.
"Those are the people we need to be meeting with on behalf of Saskatchewan industries, Saskatchewan jobs and Saskatchewan families. We'll have much time to talk to the leader of the Opposition and you know, the various critics that they have," he told media.
"I would suggest that they are not influential in the Trump administration, and we need to take the time that we have now to engage with those that are."
Moe spent last week in Washington meeting with American government officials, then traveled to Mexico to speak to the government there.
The Saskatchewan NDP continues to call on the Sask. Party government to reopen the Legislature immediately.