Policing minister apologizes for MLA comment
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 11:24 AM CT
CBC News
Saskatchewan's minister responsible for policing says he's sorry for asking an opposition MLA whether police had come to visit him yet.
"I apologize for that remark," Yogi Huyghebaert told the legislature Thursday, a day after he said he was just joking when he asked New Democrat Kevin Yates about a possible police visit.
Huyghebaert, also the minister responsible for corrections and public safety, said Thursday he does not have any influence over police investigations, as his comment suggested.
On Wednesday, Huyghebaert said he wasn't trying to threaten Yates and was just "giving back" some of what he was receiving. He was also upset that Yates called him a liar the day before.
At the root of the dispute was a debate the two men have been having about the mistaken early release of a sex offender, with Yates asking why the minister didn't tell the public about it.
Huyghebaert has accused Yates of possessing confidential documents that he is not allowed to have and said the leaking of those documents is being investigated.
The apology comes a day after the Speaker of the Saskatchewan legislature scolded politicians for behaving badly and failing to answer questions.
"I want to remind members to conduct themselves in a manner befitting this assembly," Don Toth had said. "In the last few days, there have been several instances where members have hurled insults across the floor."
He referred to one recent incident where Health Minister Don McMorris "hurled a comment across the floor that caused considerable disorder."
Toth also said there were two recent cases where cabinet ministers gave answers during question period that didn't deal with specific questions they were asked.
"I want to remind members that the language used in the assembly should be temperate and worthy of the place it is spoken. Members are responsible for the words they choose."
