Saskatchewan NDP questions Harrison’s no-show at committee meeting

The NDP is seeking answers after $800M in SaskPower funding was approved without the minister present. Wayne Mantyka reports.

The Saskatchewan NDP is criticizing SaskPower Minister Jeremy Harrison for skipping a committee meeting at the legislature this week where additional funding for the Crown corporation was discussed.

“Jeremy Harrison and his officials failed to attend a Crown and Central Agencies Committee meeting,” NDP MLA Aleana Young said. “To be clear, the government picks the time of this meeting, the day.”

Harrison said he did not attend because he felt it was unnecessary. He then questioned the attendance record of the Opposition leader, saying she had only been present for eight of the last 23 sitting days.

“The Leader of the Opposition who has showed up eight days of the last 23. I can only imagine the questions that the Premier would be getting standing here from you if he was only here for eight of twenty three days,” Harrison said.

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The NDP said its leader has been home with the flu in recent days and disputed the government’s attendance numbers.

“I don’t think those numbers are accurate but I wouldn’t have the attendance forms for the Leader,” Young said. “It’s important work for all of us, especially as the leader of the Opposition to be on the road meeting with stakeholders.”

MLAs can have their pay docked for missing sitting days, but absences for work travel or health reasons are allowed, and it is rare for members to lose pay.