REGINA – The NDP's demand for the government to release records on a Marshals’ officer, who resigned due to allegations of misconduct, have been met with pushback from the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union.
SGEU President Tracey Sauer has issued a letter to the Saskatchewan NDP posted on the union's website, which is “in response to recent public comments made by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party regarding allegations involving a former member of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service.”
In that letter Sauer states that SGEU's position is that “any attack on one worker is an attack on all workers.”
“While we recognize the important role elected officials play in ensuring accountability and transparency, we are deeply concerned by the way this issue is being discussed publicly. Allegations involving individual workers must be handled through appropriate processes through collective bargaining agreements and respect confidentiality. SGEU members do not deserve to have their privacy threatened.
“Public commentary that risks identifying or otherwise targeting individual workers can have serious and lasting impacts, not only on the individuals involved, but on the broader public service. SGEU will always defend our members’ fundamental rights, including the right to fair disciplinary process, privacy, and protection from public speculation.”
Sauee said if there are legitimate concerns related to public safety, that those should be addressed clearly and responsibly. However, “discussions must not involve exposing or targeting individual workers; they should instead remain focused on broader systemic accountability and public safety.”
Sauer also urged the NDP to “take a measured and responsible approach to this issue and to respect the confidentiality of those involved.”
“An injury to one is an injury to all. Do not expect SGEU to stay silent as you publicly attack our members, past, present or future. We will not allow attacks on our members from any political party. I urge you to reconsider your approach and your political posturing. Saskatchewan workers deserve better.”
Minister of Community Safety Michael Weger brought up the letter in Question Period and in speaking to reporters afterwards, in which he made it known he agreed with Sauer’s sentiments.
“I think that the actual wording that was used by the president of SGEU, Tracey Sauer, was attack. It's an attack on the men and women that are employed with the Saskatchewan Marshals Service.”
Meanwhile on Wednesday, the NDP continued to push ahead with criticism of the government over a lack of details being released about the case. They noted that the Marshals Service released just 28 of the 290 pages that day, with few details provided.
Both Nicole Sarauer, critic for Policing, Corrections and Community Safety, and deputy critic Hugh Gordon again called for Weger to release the documents, and accused him of withholding information.
“The public has a right to know what happened and why,” said Sarauer. “However Minister Weger continues to refuse to step in and ensure these documents are released… public trust depends on openness and accountability and right now that trust is being undermined.”
“I spent 24 years in policing here in Saskatchewan. I can clearly say when there were allegations of misconduct, we disclosed them — period,” said Gordon. “That is how you maintain public trust. What we see here unfortunately is the opposite. There is a clear order from the Privacy Commissioner to be more transparent, and instead we get scraps covered in black ink.
“As someone who proudly wore a uniform for decades, I can say with confidence that the Minister’s decision to hide these documents hurts all of the proud, upstanding officers in this province who work day in and day out to maintain the confidence and the trust of the public.”
In response to criticism from the NDP that not enough documents regarding the investigation had been released, Weger said it was up to the Chief Marshal and Deputy Chief Marshal to determine what information should be released.
“So we'll defer to them on what they choose to release and don't release,” said Weger. “And I think the opposition should know that this isn't an area that would be appropriate for government to weigh in on. The Privacy Commission is independent and the opposition should know that. And so I'm not weighing in on whether or not the marshals or what they should or shouldn't release.”
When asked about whether there ought to be transparency, Weger replied “of course. Listen, we have to have transparency in government. But, of course, there's some operations of a police service that can't be fully transparent. And so I'll leave it up to the Chief Marshal and Deputy Chief Marshal to have their discussions and review the recommendations of the Privacy Commissioner and make their decision accordingly.”
