REGINA — There was frustration, bitterness and even calls for Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Tim McLeod’s removal after the Moe government slammed the door on an Opposition motion for a public inquiry into the wildfire response.
Opposition MLA for Cumberland Jordan McPhail had tried to move an emergency motion on the floor of the Assembly for an independent public inquiry into the wildfire response.
But the Sask Party majority said no to the unanimous consent required to bring the motion to the floor under Rule 61 as a matter of pressing and urgent necessity, ending the motion right there.
Residents attending the Legislature from Denare Beach, whose community was devastated by the wildfires, were stunned by what transpired in the Assembly.
“What we've seen, and I speak on behalf of all my colleagues and friends and family, is the truth in people and the lies in people,” said Dustin Trumbley, who lost his home in the disaster.
In his remarks to reporters, Trumbley had particularly harsh words about Minister McLeod.
“He's not doing his job, period. He is not protecting the people and asking to get people out of the way when an emergency is coming is, yes, greatly appreciated. He couldn't even get that right. We had an evacuation that was a complete nightmare for so many people.”
He had this message for Premier Scott Moe: “I am urging you to ask Tim McLeod to step down as a minister of our public safety because I do believe he is not able to do his job or do his job correctly.”
Rhonda Werbicki, another Denare Beach resident, said this was “very disappointing” after meeting Premier Moe and Minister McLeod the previous day.
Premier Moe had issued a public apology to Denare Beach residents for not going there sooner, but Werbicki said she was disappointed that no similar apology was forthcoming from McLeod.
“He doesn't even need to apologize to us for actions. He could even just apologize to us for say ‘I'm sorry you felt like there wasn't a response,’” said Werbicki.
She also didn’t understand why the government wouldn’t go along with a public inquiry.
“If they really did everything they could to help us in the North, why wouldn't you want a public inquiry? Why wouldn't you want to prove us wrong? Why wouldn't you want to say, we did everything that we could?… Now I am even more convinced that something really went wrong. So I just think again, and I'm calling to Mr. McLeod and even to Mr. Moe, really, if you guys have nothing to hide, why not accept this? I challenge you. Please give us this public inquiry.”
McLeod defends actions during Question Period
During Question Period, both McPhail and Opposition Leader Carla Beck demanded the government call a public inquiry. Instead, Premier Scott Moe reiterated his government's commitment to "rebuild the communities" in northern Saskatchewan.
McPhail also wanted to know why Minister McLeod didn't join Premier Moe in "apologizing to the people of the North." In response McLeod noted his "excellent conversation" with Denare Beach residents the previous day, and said he "deeply sympathize(d)" with them.
"The folks in the North don't need his sympathy," McPhail responded. He said "the North was not supported," that some people "still haven't seen a dime" of support and that "half of the water bomber fleet remained grounded" during the wildfire season.
"Yes, there was tragic and unprecedented loss. But for the member to suggest that the government hasn’t invested anything in those communities and not put any dollars towards that is absolutely untrue," McLeod said.
He pointed to $30 million in recovery supports for the families who have lost their homes, $10 million allocated in financial support for evacuees, and $22 million for shelter and food and security and supports. McLeod also responded to criticism about grounded airplanes.
"The fact of the matter is the SPSA repairs their planes during the off-season. They knew that some of these planes required parts that were not available, Mr. Speaker, they’re waiting for parts. We can’t send a twin engine up in the air with one propeller, so yes there were planes that were not available. However, the SPSA knew that, so they had procured other planes from other jurisdictions through our contracts, so every plane that was accounted for on the ground was represented by another plane that was on loan from another jurisdiction."
"I guess after that answer the only thing that I can confirm to this House is I've seen thicker spines on audio books," McPhail said. That response drew a rebuke from Speaker Todd Goudy and McPhail withdrew the comment.
When asked by McPhail if he would support a public inquiry, McLeod pointed to consulting firm MNP being awarded the contract the previous day to do an "fulsome review of the entire fire season," including the fire response, evacuation supports, and recovery efforts.
"It will also show the history of the fire, which my friend across the aisle is not representing to the people of Saskatchewan with fact," McLeod said. "Mr. Speaker, he’s indicated that there was no response to the Wolf fire for days, for weeks, and that’s not accurate."
He noted the fire was discovered on May 19, 32 km west of Denare Beach and was caused by a lightning strike.
"Mr. Speaker, the SPSA responded with two air tankers, helicopters and ground crews the following day, Mr. Speaker. That fire was attacked continually and it’s important I think for the people of Saskatchewan to understand, Mr Speaker, that extremely dry conditions and sustained winds turned that fire into a rank six fire, Mr. Speaker, which is the highest ranking fire. We’re talking about a 100 foot wall of fire pushed by winds."
The launch of an MNP review of the wildfire response doesn't go far enough for the NDP, who have argued for a full and transparent public inquiry conducted by a judge, with powers to subpoena witnesses and government officials. McPhail made it known he did not feel the MNP review will go far enough.
“When the government chooses who gets to speak in a review, I think that will answer for itself,” McPhail said to reporters afterwards.
“There are a lot of people that want to have their story told and make sure that these things never happen again in the North. What I've heard time and time again is this Minister and this Premier is not willing to listen to the people of the North. I asked a question in the spring about are they willing to co-ordinate with Northern First Nations, local Métis people to co-ordinate a fire response and what we're hearing time and time again is they're not even willing to listen to them, so I highly doubt that they are going to call those folks forward for their recommendations on what's going to be brought forward. And if they do, is it going to be done in a public way so that they can be accountable as their mission statement of the SPSA states they should be? I don't think so.”
When asked if he was surprised the government wouldn’t even allow his motion to the floor for debate, McPhail said “I would say that a year ago today I may have been surprised. What I've seen for the last year as being the MLA for Cumberland is I don't know what lows this government can go to."
"I think that the folks that came here today deserve to see their government explain the reasons why they didn't want a public inquiry and that would have happened if they allowed the motion to go through.”
