The Government of Saskatchewan is looking to change how security is implemented at the Legislative Building.
Currently, the provincial government is looking to pass Bill 70, which would see the transfer of security responsibility from the Sergeant-at-Arms to the Minister of Justice. If passed, the number of officers would be increased from four to 11.
Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Christine Tell said the changes are needed as there is an increased risk at political institutions.
“Across much of North America, including right here in Saskatchewan, we’ve seen increased risk and threats directed at our democratic institutions as well as our elected and unelected officials.”
Nicole Sarauer, the critic for justice, corrections and policing, says they have many concerns with the bill.
“The director of Legislative security will answer to the Government, answer to the Minister, and we have some real concerns about that,” she said. “We take issue with the Government deciding to unilaterally take over control of security.”
Sarauer said that Bill 70 was rushed and that the Government has no idea what the impacts could be.
“I don’t know if they even knew what they were doing when they initially introduced the legislation. It seems like it was put together rather quickly by a government that didn’t really know what the Sergeant of Arms is capable of doing.”
“They had no idea what this was going to be. They had no consultation with policing services prior to introducing the legislation,” she continued. “They can’t tell us what exactly this is going to look it, how much this is going to cost, what the qualification of these folks is going to be.”
The required legislation is expected to be passed next Wednesday, with Tell adding that nothing will be formed until the bill is passed.
