“I am doing something about all these situations (now) … I have nothing to lose, politically. I don’t need a job.” — Speaker Randy Weekes
More explosive allegations from Speaker Randy Weekes of rampant racism in Saskatchewan Party government ranks will be seen by some as election politics.
But the serious nature of Weekes’s suggestions that governing MLAs used vile racist terms directly to minority MLAs and in earshot of minority staff members, treated a visible minority anti-racism group in a racist manner and engaged in an immigration policy that prefers immigrants from white European countries could be damning.
Tuesday — a week into the 2024 election campaign — Weekes leveled a whole set of new allegations against his former caucus.
“I am doing something about all these situations and incidents (now),” Weekes said in one of several media interviews. “I have nothing to lose, politically. I don’t need a job.”
But given how quickly at least one of these allegations was confirmed by both the Sask. Party and at least one individual involved, the veracity of the Speakers’ charges is starting to speak for itself.
His most recent allegations include:
— A Sask. Party caucus employee of colour on April 24, 2023 experienced a racist incident, overhearing MLA David Buckingham repeat a racist term allegedly used by another now retiring Sask. Party MLA, Weekes said. As of deadline, Postmedia was trying to confirm the first MLA’s identity, but Buckingham confirmed he did repeat the slur.
— An anti-racism group, including a young Muslim woman wearing a hijab, was horrified by the same MLA’s racist views. Weekes said the matter was directly brought to his attention in the hopes he could address it.
— Another now retiring MLA referred to two minority members of caucus in a racist manner, Weekes said, adding that he personally overheard the conversation.
— According to a Sept. 27, 2023 emailed memo from Harrison as immigration minister, as read by Weekes: “We want a certain type of immigrant.” The memo further suggested the government only focus on immigrants from eight countries — seven of which are white European countries.
After Weekes’s interview, the former senior Sask. Party caucus staffer confirmed to Postmedia, under the condition of anonymity, that she overheard two MLAs using “the n-word” in conversation.
The two individuals did apologize to her; Sask. Party caucus senior officials said they would be required to take sensitivity training and that the premier had been informed of the incident, the former staffer said.
However, the incident seriously strained working relations — especially after questions as to whether she intended to pursue the matter further. She said she chose to stay on because of a heavy caucus workload during last year’s Bill 137, the pronoun bill, but successfully sought work elsewhere in government.
But before she could start her new job, she was told she was being fired for “not being a team player” and was ordered to leave immediately. She was given a box to pack her things.
The Sask. Party campaign issued a statement after Weekes’s interview on Tuesday, confirming Buckingham’s use of a racist term. It did not confirm Weekes’s other allegations.
Nevertheless, the havoc all this already wreaks on the Sask. Party campaign seems all too obvious.
Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
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