Latest news with #CarlaBeck
Toronto Star
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Saskatchewan NDP's anti-separation bill dies as legislative session wraps up
REGINA - Saskatchewan's legislative session ended Thursday and with it an anti-separation bill went up in flames. The Opposition NDP's proposed legislation was repeatedly blocked this week by Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party, as New Democratic Leader Carla Beck tried to force a vote.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Here's what Saskatchewan's political parties spent during the 2024 election campaign
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe speaks at a media event where he released the Saskatchewan Party's election platform in Saskatoon, Sask. on Saturday, October 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards. Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck applauds during a rally organized by Saskatchewan Union of Nurses outside of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, on Thursday, October 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
National Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Saskatchewan NDP bill aims to make it harder for province to separate
Article content REGINA — Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP introduced legislation Wednesday that, if passed, would make it tougher for the province to separate from the rest of Canada. Article content Article content Party leader Carla Beck told the legislative assembly it's a chance for Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party government to put its money where its mouth is and quash separatist sentiments after Prime Minister Mark Carney's win for the Liberals. Article content 'I'm going to ask him to lead by example,' Beck said. 'Will he allow a free vote on my legislation so we can see once and for all who actually over there wants to keep Saskatchewan in Canada?' Article content Moe told the assembly he would allow a free vote on the bill. He also accused the NDP of trying to silence the public through the legislative changes. Article content 'This is a government that is not interested in condemning people,' Moe said. Article content 'The legislation is in place in Saskatchewan that if there are the required number of people that sign the petition for that event to happen … the people of Saskatchewan will have the voice under this government.' Article content The premier has said Saskatchewan is not interested in separating, but he wouldn't stop a vote on the issue from coming forward. Article content Beck's bill doubles the threshold for citizens to initiate a plebiscite on separation, requiring 30 per cent of eligible voters to sign on to a petition instead of 15 per cent. Article content The threshold of 15 per cent would continue to apply to other issues. Article content 'Citizen-led referendums are part of our democracy. People deserve to have a say,' Beck told reporters before tabling the legislation. Article content 'But, we also need to be clear as leaders that a vote to separate from Canada would damage our economy for years to come and the bar has to be set high to reflect the gravity of that vote.' Article content Beck said the legislation would also prevent the government from unilaterally launching a referendum on separation unless it has a clear mandate from voters, which could come in the form of a general election. Article content She said a referendum vote, even if it fails, would scare investment away from Saskatchewan. Article content She pointed to economic issues that followed the Quebec independence movement in the late 1970s into the early 1990s, where businesses moved their corporate headquarters out of Montreal. Article content 'The worst thing we can do is send a message of instability,' Beck said. Article content There is an online petition in Saskatchewan calling on the province to negotiate new terms with Ottawa or look at separating. It had more than 3,000 digital signatures as of Wednesday. Article content Saskatchewan law allows public votes to come forward through plebiscites or referendums. Article content The public can initiate plebiscites through a petition, provided 15 per cent of eligible voters sign. The province can also direct a plebiscite and legislators can initiate a vote should they get a motion passed in the assembly. Article content Referendums are ordered by government. The result is binding if more than 60 per cent of ballots are cast in the same way on a question. Referendums aren't binding unless at least 50 per cent of eligible electors vote, the law says. Article content Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government has introduced legislation that, if passed, would sharply reduce the bar petitioners need to meet to trigger a provincial referendum. Article content Smith has said she doesn't want Alberta to leave Canada, but she would allow a vote on separating if enough residents sign a petition. Article content
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Saskatchewan NDP to introduce anti-separation bill that aims to amend rules
NDP Leader Carla Beck and Sask Party Leader Scott Moe speaking to reporters after the leaders debate on Oct. 16, 2024. (David Prisciak/CTV News)
Global News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Moe says he's Canadian but wouldn't stop vote on Saskatchewan separating from Canada
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he's a true Canadian but wouldn't stop a public vote on separating from the country if it came forward. Residents are allowed to trigger provincial legislation for a plebiscite on the issue, Moe told reporters Thursday. 'Why would you condemn Saskatchewan people that might have an opinion? I'm not about condemning people,' he said. 'We very much believe there is a path forward to work with the new prime minister on ensuring that Saskatchewan can have a growing, vibrant economy — within a strong and united Canada.' 2:10 Alberta separatism: Smith wants provincial sovereignty 'within a United Canada' Saskatchewan law allows the public to bring forward a petition for a plebiscite, as long as 15 per cent of eligible voters sign on. Story continues below advertisement Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck questioned Moe about whether he would condemn those who want to separate from Canada. She accused his Saskatchewan Party government of pandering to separatist sentiments following Prime Minister Mark Carney's election win Monday for the Liberals. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's something that should be shot down clearly and immediately. It's bad for jobs, it's bad for investment and it's bad for the future,' she told the legislative assembly. Beck later told reporters that talk of separation is irresponsible and plays into the hands of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has mused about annexing Canada. 'It's incredibly reckless, what we're seeing right now,' she said. View image in full screen Saskatchewan Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck, seen here speaking to reporters at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, in Regina in March 2025, has said talk of separation is irresponsible and plays into the hands of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has mused about annexing Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeremy Simes Moe has said he's willing to start fresh with the new federal government and work together to develop energy projects in the province. He's called on Carney to scrap clean electricity regulations and emissions caps for oil and gas. Story continues below advertisement 'We have not given up on the role and opportunities Saskatchewan can play in our federation … and I truly believe that our new prime minister has certainly not given up on Saskatchewan's opportunity to be a part of this nation,' Moe said. He also accused the NDP of bringing up separation. 'The government of Saskatchewan is not interested in separation, and the government of Saskatchewan certainly isn't interested in the status quo,' he said. 'It is not a straw man argument where it is status quo or separation.'Moe accused New Democrats of suppressing the public's ability to have a say by not allowing a plebiscite on the matter. 'The important thing is that citizens do have an avenue to have their voice heard,' he said. 'If those particular benchmarks are met in this province, the citizens of this province will have their voice heard.' Asked about not giving people the right to vote on separation, Beck said the legislation should be looked at. 'I do not believe that Saskatchewan should hold a referendum on separating from the country,' she said. Concerns of separation have also flared up in Alberta, where Premier Danielle Smith has been accused of stoking the issue. Story continues below advertisement Smith's government has proposed legislation that would make it easier for citizens to call for a referendum. She has said it would be up to Albertans, not her government, to put the separation question on a ballot.
