P.A. Carlton MLA and Highways minister Joe Hargrave is currently on a trip to Palm Springs, California. (file photo/Alison Sandstrom paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

COVID-19

NDP calls for minister’s resignation over California trip; Hargrave apologizes

Dec 31, 2020 | 4:42 PM

Calling his trip to California “disgusting”, the opposition New Democrats have called for the resignation of Saskatchewan Minister of Highways and Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave. Meanwhile, Hargrave has issued an apology for “an error of judgement,” while the premier says he will remain a minister.

Hargrave has been in Palm Springs since Dec. 22, for what he has called a personal choice to address personal business he deemed necessary. He is finalizing the sale of a personal property and moving personal items back to Saskatchewan.

However, NDP leader Ryan Meili labelled Hargrave’s cross-border trip south during the COVID pandemic “a Christmas vacation” and a “slap in the face” to Saskatchewan families who have made real sacrifices this Christmas.

“While Saskatchewan families have done what is right to help flatten the COVID-19 curve and protect each other, Joe Hargrave had other plans. Worse, the premier knew about it,” Meili said. “The minister must return to Saskatchewan immediately. He and the premier have serious questions they must answer about their judgement in this matter.”

Later this afternoon the government issued a statement from Hargrave.

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“In discussions with the premier, I realize that my decision to travel was an error in judgment at a time when so many people have had to make sacrifices during the pandemic,” he said. “I apologize for this error in judgement, and am returning to Canada as soon as my self-isolation period is over in California on January 5th.”

Premier Scott Moe’s office said the premier spoke with Hargrave and agreed with his assessment that the trip was an error in judgment. Hargrave travelled there with his wife.

The statement added no other members of the Saskatchewan Party caucus or Moe’s cabinet had travelled internationally during the holidays, and that “Minister Hargrave will remain Minister of Highways.”

Moe said in a statement Wednesday he was aware of Hargrave’s trip and expected all members of cabinet and caucus to follow all public health orders and guidance. He said he conveyed to Hargrave the expectation that he follow all public health guidelines and self-isolate for 14 days upon his return.

But Meili criticized Moe’s approval of the trip as flying in the face of his own messaging from earlier this month to Saskatchewan families in which he told them: “We have a few more miles to travel and we need to see this through together.”

Meili asks why Hargrave has not heeded the advice on the government’s own website that says: “The best way to protect yourself, your family, and those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in our communities is to choose to stay in Canada.”

Meili added Southern California has been struggling with high COVID-19 caseloads and stretched hospital capacity since early December and asked why the premier would approve Hargrave’s decision to travel to Palm Springs during a pandemic. Meili is also asking why Hargrave didn’t simply handle the sale and moving of any personal materials remotely, as many families have done during this pandemic.

“[He should] at the very least resign from cabinet,” Meili told reporters during an online media conference Thursday afternoon. “Whether he thinks after this he’s a good representative for Prince Albert Carlton is a fair question, but at the very least he should be gone out of cabinet.”

Meili’s deputy Nicole Sarauer said the NDP was disappointed and angry about Hargrave’s trip and the premier’s approval of it, noting difficult decisions about travel and gatherings had to be taken this Christmas by families all across the province.

“When you see the minister flagrantly disregard the work so many people have done to help lower the curve… it’s nothing short of disgusting frankly,” she said. “We haven’t heard any reasonable or credible explanation why he went to California and nothing in the way of an apology…” she said a few hours before Hargrave’s statement of apology.

On Thursday Ontario MPP Rod Phillips announced he was stepping down from his role as provincial finance minister in the wake of a Caribbean holiday that went against pandemic guidelines. Phillips returned to Canada after spending more than two weeks in St. Barts, which he admitted was a “dumb, dumb mistake.”

Premier Doug Ford says he’s accepted Phillips’ resignation.

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With files from The Canadian Press

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow