Hargrave resigns from cabinet over Palm Springs trip

Joe Hargrave resigned as Saskatchewan’s highways minister Monday in the wake of his trip to Palm Springs, Calif., over the holidays.

During a media conference in Saskatoon, Premier Scott Moe said he had accepted Hargrave’s resignation from cabinet. Hargrave will remain in the Saskatchewan Party caucus and will stay on as the MLA for Prince Albert Carlton.

“It’s clear that his decision to travel to Palm Springs just before Christmas was an error of judgment and it sent the wrong message at a time when everyone in this province was being asked to limit their household gatherings over Christmas and the holiday season (due to COVID-19),” Moe said.

“While out-of-country travel is not prohibited at this time, we have been recommending against any unnecessary travel. Admittedly, I did not explicitly tell MLAs that they could not travel outside of country, leaving it to them to determine whether their travel was necessary.”

Hargrave had been under fire for travelling to Palm Springs during the Christmas break despite COVID-19 measures suggesting everyone avoid non-essential travel. In a statement last week, Hargrave said he was there to finalize the sale of personal property and move things back to Saskatchewan.

Hargrave apologized Thursday for what he too termed an “error in judgment,” but Moe’s office said in a statement that day that Hargrave would not be removed from cabinet.

On Monday, the premier said he spoke to Hargrave and they agreed Hargrave should step down as minister of highways and minister responsible for the Water Security Agency.

“We came to the mutual agreement that he would offer his resignation and I would accept that resignation,” Moe said.

Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw was named the new highways minister and minister responsible for the Water Security Agency.

Earlier Monday, the NDP alleged Hargrave wasn’t telling the truth about why he went to California on Dec. 22.

The party pointed to an online property listing for a home in Indio, Calif., owned by a Joseph Hargrave which was only listed for sale as of Dec. 26.

“Anyone who owns a house knows there’s a big difference between finalizing a sale and listing it,” NDP Ethics Critic Matt Love said in a statement.

“Why did the Minister feel the need to lie about this? Was he just trying to make his flimsy excuse for ignoring the rules sound better when really all he wanted was a sunny Christmas vacation by the golf course and pool in his gated community?”

Asked about the discrepancies in the timing of Hargrave’s arrival in California and the listing, Moe said they were “irrelevant.”

“The issue here is the perception that we have a different set of rules for governing members versus the broader population,” Moe said.

“There were no rules that were broken by Minister Hargrave in his travel. However, he has deemed that it was not the right decision and he has offered his resignation here today.”

Love pointed out people across the province have missed seeing their loved ones, taking vacations and doing business because of the pandemic.

“Scott Moe and his Ministers seem to think they are too important to do the same,” said Love.

Moe knew about the travel and his office said he expected all his ministers to obey all local public health orders. On Monday, he was asked if he too made an error in judgment in not telling Hargrave to stay in Saskatchewan.

“I should have been more clear with all of our caucus on ensuring that we were not travelling when we’re asking the people of the province to do so much,” Moe replied.

He noted the Saskatchewan Party caucus had a meeting Monday during which Moe told all members they shouldn’t travel outside of the province “except in cases of emergency or pressing government business and any such travel would require prior approval from the caucus chair.”

The NDP also contended Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell travelled to Palm Springs to visit a sick relative.

In an emailed statement, Executive Council staff confirmed Tell travelled to California from Oct. 30 to Nov. 9 to “be with a close family member who was very ill with a non COVID-19 related illness.”

The statement notes Tell followed all public health guidelines, including self-isolating for 14 days upon her return to Canada.

“If you think back to that period of time, we were under very different circumstances (and) very different measures here in the province,” Moe said.

Politicians across Canada have been criticized for taking international trips during the Christmas holidays.

In Ontario, Rod Phillips resigned as finance minister after it was revealed he took a trip to the Caribbean. NDP MP Niki Ashton was removed from shadow cabinet for travelling to Greece. And numerous members of Alberta’s government and caucus were demoted after taking trips abroad.

Moe said the public’s view that there are different rules for elected officials and for themselves is at the root of the backlash.

“The fact of the matter is that perception is not good for any government across Canada wherever they may be,” Moe said. “You’ve seen action taken in other areas of Canada and you’re seeing similar action here today with the resignation of Mr. Hargrave from cabinet.”

NDP Leader Ryan Meili issued a statement after Moe’s media conference, accusing the premier of failing to show leadership.

“Three days ago the Minister’s actions were fine,” Meili wrote. “Today when his bogus story about finalizing the sale of his house was exposed, Premier Moe said it was ‘irrelevant’ but because of public pressure the Minister had to go.

“(Moe) shows no real understanding of the anger his government’s arrogance has caused. We all know none of this would have happened if they hadn’t been caught. There was no apology. The people of Saskatchewan deserve much better.”