(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Provincial politics

MLA’s resignation receives mixed reviews from constituency leaders

Oct 1, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Less than 24 hours after Nadine Wilson officially severed ties with the Sask. Party, community leaders within the Saskatchewan Rivers constituency are reacting with mixed emotions to the actions of their elected member of the legislative assembly (MLA).

In a Thursday afternoon news conference, Premier Scott Moe said he accepted Wilson’s resignation as a result of her “mispresenting her vaccination status.” While initially indicating she had received her vaccination, it was later confirmed she had in fact not. Rural Municipality (RM) of Garden River Reeve Ryan Scragg told paNOW he was disappointed in Wilson.

“I believe everybody has a right to protest and to express their views but I think we expect more from our elected leaders,” he said.

Wilson has served the riding of Saskatchewan Rivers since 2007, having been re-elected for her fourth term in 2020. Since distancing herself from the Sask. Party, Wilson will now sit as an independent. Scragg believes Wilson should step down entirely.

“If she believes that the people of Sask. Rivers support her, I think she should be willing to stand up for a byelection to prove that,” he said.

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Earlier in the year, Moe was quoted as saying the entire caucus was either vaccinated or in the process of being vaccinated. Christpher Lake Mayor Chris McShannock said he was not sure of the details surrounding Wilson’s resignation so did not want to speculate.

“I respect people opinions and decisions, even if they don’t align with my opinions,” he said.

(Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan video archives)

In a statement sent to paNOW on Thursday, Wilson explained she could no longer support the direction of the Saskatchewan Party government or follow them with true conviction regarding the current health situation. She said she believes in the fundamental values of freedom of personal choice, voluntary informed consent, without the element of duress or coercion. Choiceland Mayor Rob Mardell expressed his support for Wilson.

“It’s nobody’s right to ask your personal medical information except your doctor,” he said. “And yet the premier is asking business owners to ask private medical information from its residents.”

Mardell argued Wilson should not have to resign.

“Just because her views differ from the Premier’s I don’t think means she should resign,” Mardell said.

Terry Kostyna is the Mayor of the Resort Village of Candle Lake and did not want to comment on anyone’s personal beliefs. He said he does think Wilson’s now independent status will not have an impact on the resort village.

“We’re confident that her status as an independent isn’t going to have an impact on the support that the province does provide to our resort village and our community,” he said.

Lyle Whitefish, Principal of Mistahi Sipiy School at Big River First Nation, ran against Wilson in both the 2016 and 2020 provincial elections as an NDP candidate. He said he was disgusted with Wilson’s actions.

“We worked hard in the election to try and win a seat, only to have a person who is supposed to represent us now has no voice and how is she going to represent the people that supported her in the last election,” he said.

“Just step down, step aside and let’s have a by-election so the constituency can at least have a voice.”

Whitefish did note he had personally received both of his vaccinations. The Sask. Party has also confirmed that all 47 of its remaining MLAs are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell