REGINA – The Saskatchewan Party convention is set to go this weekend in Saskatoon and already there is controversy.
The uproar is over a proposed change regarding party memberships set to come to the convention on Saturday. The change would impact whether permanent residents to Canada or youth under age 18 would be able to still have voting rights within the Saskatchewan Party on party matters such as policy, party offices, riding nomination meetings and leadership contests.
On the agenda Saturday is a proposed constitutional amendment that had been approved at Provincial Council on Aug. 9. One change under that amendment would strike the words "or Permanent Resident of Canada" when describing any individuals who may be a voting Regular Member of the party. The wording would restrict the criteria for regular voting members to those 18 years of age or older, a Canadian citizen, and ordinarily a resident of Saskatchewan.
The other change impacts Youth Members between ages of 14 and 25, removing the word "voting" from the definition. That change would mean youth members between ages 14 and 18 would not have voting rights in the party.
The third and less controversial change covers Associate Members, striking the words "not ordinarily a resident of Saskatchewan" and replacing with "ordinarily a resident of Canada."
But it was the other two proposed changes that drew the most fire on Thursday — not from the Sask Party's own members, but from outside the party from opposition New Democrats.
Speaking to reporters at the Legislature, several NDP MLAs accused the Saskatchewan Party of attacking political participation at the grassroots level among immigrants and youth.
"This motion that the Sask Party is putting forward is quite frankly discriminatory, is deeply troubling, is disheartening to see that they are discouraging permanent residents and young people from being engaged in the democratic process, and frankly, my question is to Scott Moe. What is driving this motion forward?" said Brittany Senger, NDP Ethics and Democracy critic.
"Our provincial slogan is From Many People's Strength," said Regina Coronation Park MLA Noor Burki. "This will be discouraging many young people from getting into the party… I say it will be really discouraging young people from getting into politics."
In speaking to reporters about the proposed change, Premier Scott Moe said the proposal before the convention was "not limiting anyone. It's mirroring and aligning with Elections Saskatchewan in who can vote in an election in the province."
Right now under Elections Saskatchewan rules, people must be 18 years of age and older to be eligible to vote, and must be Canadian citizens. Permanent residents of Canada who are not citizens are not eligible to vote.
"So in no way is it limiting. It's aligning with Elections Saskatchewan parameters that they have on who can vote in an election in the province, which we think it's prudent for a responsible party," said Moe.
He called it a motion coming from the grassroots of the party, not one from himself or any elected member.
As for whether he would support it, he said he will "decide after we listen to the debate at the convention."
"But I would say you know in large (part) yeah, I would support the parameters that Elections Saskatchewan has that we support in a general election, the parties probably want to mirror it in the nominations that we have."
