Posted July 26, 2010
Today the Saskatchewan NDP called on
Premier Brad Wall to take seriously his responsibility to uphold the democratic
process in Saskatchewan, drop his legal stalling tactics, and admit the
Saskatchewan Party's role in denying the Progressive Conservative Party of
Saskatchewan access to its $3 million Trust Fund.
Deb Higgins, NDP Deputy Leader, further said that Wall should return control of
the Trust Fund to the PC Party so it could fund its operations. "The Court of
Appeal's unanimous rejection of Wall's argument - that there is no reasonable
case against his party - speaks for itself. Having received this rebuke from
Saskatchewan's highest court of appeal, Wall and others named in the lawsuit
should return the $3 million, that they took, back to the PC Party," said
Higgins.
Higgins also noted that the legal effort to allow the PC Party of Saskatchewan
to have access to the Trust Fund established for its benefit has been going on
since before the last election in 2007, and that further delaying tactics by
Wall threaten to interfere with the vote scheduled for 2011.
"The Sask Party's troublesome internal workings are extending into their
government operations. Wall is already playing partisan games with the hiring
of a Chief Electoral Officer, someone who should be a neutral referee ensuring
the 2011 election race is fairly run. To weaken another political party
by denying their funds does nothing but threaten democracy in Saskatchewan,"
said Higgins.
"Simply put, the people of Saskatchewan have a right to expect that their
Premier is not using his legislative majority or courtroom manoeuvres to conspire
against or interfere with the democratic process," concluded Higgins.