Saskatchewan MLA Jeremy Harrison has finally broken his silence nearly two weeks after allegations surfaced regarding his behaviour in the legislature and his admission of bringing a gun into the building. The controversy began when Speaker Randy Weekes accused Harrison of intimidating behaviour and claimed that the minister had once brought a weapon into the legislative building.
Premier Scott Moe initially denied the allegations, but Harrison later confessed to bringing a properly-cased long gun into the building. Harrison explained that he had brought the gun in a decade ago while on his way to a hunting trip and did so with the knowledge of security officials to prevent leaving it unattended in his vehicle.
Following the revelations, Harrison resigned as government house leader but retained his position as minister of trade and export. Opposition leader Carla Beck criticized Moe for not removing Harrison entirely from caucus, stating that bringing a gun into the workplace is unacceptable.
In an interview with Global News, Harrison expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that it was a serious error in judgment and a mistake that should not have occurred. He emphasized that he takes full accountability for his actions and assured that such an incident would never happen again.
When asked about the timing of the allegations coming to light, Harrison expressed surprise and denied any request to bring a gun into the building. He also addressed the text messages read by the speaker, admitting that sending them was inappropriate.
Despite Harrison’s apology, Beck and the NDP called for further investigation into the matter, criticizing the lack of consequences for the minister. However, no discussions have been initiated by Weekes regarding additional investigations into Harrison’s actions.
As the controversy unfolds, with an election expected to be called in October, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the situation and hold their representatives accountable for their actions. The outcome of this incident could have implications for Harrison’s political future and the leadership of the Saskatchewan government.