NDP Jobs Critic Aleana Young. (Britton Gray/980 CJME file photo)

By Lara Fominoff/CKOM News

NDP: Moe’s comments on trucker convoy are ‘egging on disruption and uncertainty’

Feb 10, 2022 | 2:57 PM

Saskatchewan’s NDP is taking aim at Premier Scott Moe and comments he made recently during a national broadcast.

During that interview, Moe was asked how he felt about convoys in both Ottawa and Alberta and whether they should be blocking cross-border trade to the U.S.

“Well, it certainly is going to get everyone’s attention when they do,” Moe said. “And it isn’t for me to judge whether they should or not. There’s obviously laws in place that they may be liable for, and I understand that the federal government is looking at procuring some RCMP and police resources.”

He later added: “I’m going to stay out of telling (protesters) what to do. There’s laws in place.”

NDP Economy and Jobs Critic Aleana Young said Thursday those answers were not acceptable because two years ago, Moe was “lighting his hair on fire” against blockades on provincial rail lines, demanding they end.

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“And now we see a man who will go on a national stage as our representative to wink at bad actors,” Young said. “Because let’s be really clear: What the premier is doing is not about truckers or vaccination mandates.

“This is about the premier’s ego and cowardice. How hard is it to stand up to those who are hurting small business, the economy of our neighbours, and potentially the economy of Saskatchewan? Our premier is egging on disruption and uncertainty.”

Young called Moe’s position “shameful and dangerous.”

“The last thing that we need is uncertainty, given the fragility of our economy,” Young said.

She said 70 per cent of what Saskatchewan produces is exported by truck, rail or pipeline. She claimed the protests in Ottawa and Alberta the premier has spoken about are now tarnishing relationships with trading partners.

Late Thursday morning, Moe issued a statement about the protests blocking cross-border roads across the country.

“Our government supports everyone’s right to peaceful protest, but not unlawful activity,” he wrote. “As I have stated publicly on several occasions, including prior to the trucker convoys in Saskatchewan, everyone has this right but it needs to be done within the law. If that is not the case, in this or any other demonstration, I would expect the law to be enforced and upheld.

“The right to peaceful protest should not be impeding others’ right to access public transportation routes and border crossings. I would call on all the protesters to continue to advance their valid concerns about the federal vaccine mandates without engaging in unlawful activity and obstructing the rights of their fellow Canadians.”

But Young said the premier is failing in his job while damaging both the health and economy of the province.