Moe thanks commissioner Kuttai, says resignation is 'perplexing'

Carla Beck read part of Heather Kuttai’s letter to the Legislative Assembly, touching on her statement on Bill 137 that “it’s something I cannot be a part of and I will not be associated with a provincial government that takes away the rights of children.”

Published Oct 17, 2023 • 2 minute read

Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe answers question from the press after Question Period at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

The day after one of Saskatchewan’s Human Rights commissioners resigned from her position, the Leader of the Opposition took time to read parts of her resignation letter during question period.

“It’s something I cannot be a part of and I will not be associated with a provincial government that takes away the rights of children,” Carla Beck read to the legislative assembly, citing Heather Kuttai’s letter regarding Bill 137.

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Beck asked Premier Scott Moe what he had to say to that statement.

Moe started his response by thanking Kuttai for “her service at the Human Rights Commission,” while adding that recalling MLAs for an emergency session and utilizing the notwithstanding clause came about as a way to unify the provincial approach to pronoun use in schools.

Moe said some iteration of the province’s bill already existed “by policy or by practice” across Saskatchewan schools “for the last number of decades.”

Beck responded by calling it “a status quo scenario that requires an emergency sitting and the use of the notwithstanding clause,” which drew applause from Opposition MLAs.

She urged the province to listen to Judge Michael Megaw, the Saskatchewan Advocate for Youth and Children, “the thousands of parents who have spoken out against this policy and they should listen to Heather Kuttai.”

Moe said the government is listening to parents and school divisions, saying similar policy has already long been used in Saskatchewan.

“He’s talking against his own reasons for being here,” said Beck.

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But Moe said again when speaking to reporters, “the initial intent of the government was to standardize the policy across school divisions.”

As for what it meant for a commissioner to resign in the face of the bill, Moe said it was “a bit perplexing” since the policy “was largely in place in 2014” when Kuttai first became a commissioner.

But from Beck’s perspective, with a large rally held last week and with students planning a walkout on Tuesday afternoon, “certainly the opposition is mounting,” she said.

On Monday, Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre said she was sorry to hear of Kuttai’s resignation and planned to read her letter.

“People have different views on this issue, and lawyers have different views on this issue,” Eyre told reporters.

Harini Sivalingam, a representative from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), said in an email the resignation is in line with what the organization is hearing, which is, “more Saskatchewan residents (are) taking a stand.”

“All across Canada, people are shocked and appalled by the measures taken by the Saskatchewan government to erode Charter and human rights protections for trans and gender diverse students who are among the most vulnerable youth in the province,” said Sivalingam.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission was not able to offer a statement on Kuttai’s resignation by print deadline.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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