NDP urges Sask. Party committee members to show up for meeting that could launch bullying investigation

A Monday morning meeting has been set for a committee that could start the process into reviewing allegations made by Speaker Randy Weekes, but it remains to be seen whether members of the government caucus will show up.

The Saskatchewan NDP say it's a test of leadership for the government.

"Leadership is about not just making rules for other people. It's about holding yourself accountable as well. And this is not something that we see from this government," said NDP Leader Carla Beck.

Weekes announced late on Thursday in a letter to members of theHouse services committeethat he had scheduled a meeting Mondaymorning.

At the heart of the dispute are allegations made by Weekes last monththat he had been bullied, harassed and intimidated by government members and staff.

He also alleged thatformer government House leader Jeremy Harrison brought a firearm into the Saskatchewan Legislativebuilding at some point in the past.

After initially denying all allegations, Harrison would later admit that he had brought a hunting rifle into the building. He then resigned as government House leader.

The NDP have called for an investigation and last week, the Oppositionsent a second letter asking the committeeto consider two motions in a meeting:

• Appointing an independent investigator.
• Calling Premier Scott Moe, Jeremy Harrison, Lori Carr and others to answer questions about allegations made by the Speaker.

The government has already indicated they willnot accept the NDP's request, saying there is a "clear processfor dealing with allegations of harassment."

WATCH | Sask. Speaker accuses government MLAs of trying to influence his decisions:

Sask. Speaker accuses government MLAs of trying to influence his decisions

5 months ago

Duration 7:42

On his final day of the spring sitting, Sask. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Randy Weekes spoke at length about his experience in the position. He accused Saskatchewan Party MLAs of trying to influence his decisions as Speaker with 'intimidating and harassing text messages.' He read into the record several examples of text messages he said he had received.

On Friday, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck urged Sask. Party MLAs to show up.

"I think they need to show up and to answer to these allegations, again, not just of [Speaker Randy Weekes], but there were other allegations that were made of staff, about staff in the building,"Beck said during a news conference in Saskatoon.

The committee has eight members: fourgovernment MLAs including Harrison and current House Leader Lori Carr, the Speaker and three opposition MLAs.

Five members are required to attendfor the committee to meet quorum so if the Sask. Party MLAs don't show up,the meeting cannot go ahead.

The meeting is scheduledto begin at 11 a.m.