Sask. NDP questions Moe's comments at conspiracy theory-filled town hall (2024)

Opposition leader Carla Beck called Premier Scott Moe’s conduct “disappointing” in regards to a recent town hall that touched on conspiracy theories and questions critical of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

At an April gathering in Speers, Sask., several conspiracy theories were presented to the premier about the World Health Organization (WHO), the SHA deploying bioweapons, chemtrails, the United Nations and more.

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In a video of the event, Moe did little to refute the claims and even said he would look into some of them.

“It shouldn’t have been difficult for the premier to simply say, ‘You know what? That’s not the case. Saskatchewan health-care workers and the SHA were not involved in poisoning the population,” Beck said Wednesday.

At the beginning of the video, which was posted online, a host mentioned the anger and distrust that exists within the province and made allusions to the American Revolution and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

“Yes, we are angry,” said the man.

Responding to one comment about carbon taxes and emissions, Moe said “it is a scam; it’s a scam to take your money.”

“Will you denounce the WHO pandemic treaty?” another crowd member asked.

“I should look at it a little closer,” responded Moe, agreeing that organizations like the WHO “don’t have people in this room’s best interests in mind.”

In an emailed statement Wednesday, the Government of Saskatchewan said the premier “accepted an invitation from the Mayor to attend a town-hall meeting in Speers where he did just that, listening to and responding to constituents’ concerns on a number of different topics.”

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“I did not invite Scott Moe; I had nothing to do with it,” countered Speers Mayor Kenneth Rebeyka in an interview Wednesday, adding that it was a local private group that held this town hall and others in the community.

When notified that Rebeyka refuted the claim he had invited Moe, the government said it had made an error.

Beck argued the premier could have taken an opportunity to push back on the town-hall comments and “show leadership.”

“He spent much of a two-hour private meeting essentially running down our health-care system and our health-care workers,” said Beck, adding that Moe should have done more to praise and support the SHA.

Moe said at the time he would “look into” a number of items raised that day and committed to reading a document handed to him by an audience member. A government spokesperson said the premier has not directed any government officials to look into claims made by audience members during the town hall.

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In response to one question about vaccines, Moe said: “I’m not going to commit that we’re going to get rid of mRNA,” adding he would work with private and public options to make sure people have access to the health care they want.

The conversation also shifted to ideas of Saskatchewan and other provinces seceding from Canada. Moe said he understood the “sexiness” of separating, but cited a lack of access to ports and general feasibility as reasons why he wasn’t for it.

“If you can’t do what’s right in the small moments, I think it shows a lack of leadership,” said Beck on Wednesday.

“It’s uncomfortable to look someone in the eye and say, ‘You know what? I disagree with you,’ but that’s leadership.”

alsalloum@postmedia.com

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