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On Monday, Premier Scott Moe answered questions for the first time outside of Question Period about his MLA calling federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh a terrorist.
The comment was made by Racquel Hilbert during her budget speech in March, when she was talking about international trade markets.
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The comment was publicized on Wednesday last week and on Friday the premier announced she would be stripped of her addtional MLA duties. Neither Moe nor Hilbert were made available to answer questions at that time.
On Monday, the premier explained why he waited to give out the punishment.
“At times I’ve maybe spoken too quickly and off the cuff and it’s at times maybe incumbent on me to take a breath, make a responsible decision that is really representative, I think, largely of the people of Saskatchewan and that’s what we’ve done in this case,” said Moe.
He said he hadn’t known about the comment until it got media attention.
Moe claimed Hilbert had apologized to Singh and the Sikh community. However, when asked about it, the Government’s Executive Council only referenced her apology in the assembly, which matched the statement that was sent out on her behalf to media.
“I recently made an inaccurate and inappropriate statement about the federal NDP leader. I apologize for and withdraw that statement,” it read.
Premier Scott Moe sent letters to the Sikh Society of Regina and the Sikh Society of Saskatchewan on Friday. Both referenced her apology on the record, explained that she’d been relieved of her additional duties and described how much Saskatchewan appreciates its Sikh community.
Neither letter offered a direct apology on behalf of Hilbert or the Premier.
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck said on Monday that she’d been meeting with members of the Sikh communities in Regina and Saskatoon.
“There’s a lot of hurt that was caused by these comments — incredibly misinformed and hateful comments — that are on the record in this province now forever,” said Beck.
She said those she had spoken to don’t feel the apology was adequate or sincere and she and the NDP continued their call for Hilbert to be removed from the Sask. Party’s caucus.
“I think the premier needs to understand the hurt that these comments have caused and he needs to listen to the community about what they would like to see for redress,” said Beck.
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