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A long-serving MLA appears to be cutting ties with the Saskatchewan Party.
Randy Weekes, who has served as Speaker of the House in the Legislative Assembly since 2020, shared a photo on social media late on Wednesday night showing his party membership card cut in half, along with the caption “Enough is Enough.”
His message was shared just before the final day of the legislative session.
Weekes’ first term was spent as the MLA for Redberry Lake. He represented Biggar from 2003 to 2016, and Biggar–Sask Valley since 2016.
Back in December, Weekes lost the nomination race in the Kindersley-Biggar riding to Kim Gartner.
“Enough is Enough” pic.twitter.com/d0fvm3DYs5
— Randy Weekes (@randyweekes) May 16, 2024
Weekes posted his cut-up membership card just hours after reading letter in the legislature from Terry Quinn, the house’s former sergeant at arms. Quinn resigned in 2022, following the Sask. Party’s introduction of Bill 70, which stripped the role of most of its duties beyond ceremony and security within the chamber itself.
Randy Weekes has served as speaker since 2020. (Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan)
Weekes said he received the letter from Quinn during the fall session in 2021 when the bill was introduced.
“It says, ‘Mr. Speaker, there have been so many shameful untruths and innuendos regarding my performance as a leader as well as the performance of the sergeant at arms or SAA team, that I know it is time for me to give my side of this smear campaign,’” said Weekes, reading from Quinn’s letter.
“‘My reputation has been defamed, and I have felt harassed by the statements of Minister (Christine) Tell, both in and outside the chamber since the bill was introduced.’”
At the time, Tell was serving as minister of corrections, policing and public safety, and it was her who introduced Bill 70. According to Weekes, Quinn felt “battered” and “stunned” when his role was reduced to a largely ceremonial one.
Weekes has recently butted heads with several Sask. Party MLAs.
Last month, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer sent Weekes a text accusing him of lying and favouring the opposition.
“Randy, if you can blatantly lie, tarnish reputations of elected and unelected individuals with innuendos, but no proof, we have no avenue to push back,” Harpauer wrote. “Then, this assembly has become a joke and a stage for an Opposition puppet show. Disappointing.”
Harpauer issued a retraction and apology after Weekes read her messages aloud in the assembly.
Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan’s trade and export development minister, was also chastised by Weekes during an apology of his own.
“Stand up, please. Don’t slouch. Disrespect to the institution. Stand up,” ordered Weekes.