Opposition Leader Ryan Meili kicked off question period today by pressing the Saskatchewan Party government to set a timeline and date for when they would issue an apology for the Sixties Scoop.
“Since 2015, we’ve heard repeated promises from this government to issue an apology for the Sixties Scoop, the Sixties Scoop that separated First Nations and Metis children from their families, but we’ve never seen this government follow through on that promise,” said Meili.
“Accountability matters, words matter, when will the premier keep his word (and) keep his government’s word and issue that long overdue apology for the Sixties Scoop?”
Premier Scott Moe says the apology is a priority and will be issued after consultations with Indigenous leaders.
“We will, as we speak, be setting up (and) contacting First Nations leaders, contacting leaders in the province and contacting our Metis Nations leadership in the province as well, so that we can work with them on how that apology would be delivered on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan,” said Moe.
When asked for a specific date that the apology will be issued, Moe said that it will be done as soon as possible.
“The timeline will be as soon as we are able to put this together, work with our First Nations leadership in the province of Saskatchewan (and) work with the leadership of the Metis Nation to put this together, so that it can be delivered in an appropriate fashion on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan,” said Moe.
“The timeline, to be clear, is as soon as possible, and as soon as we’re able to work with those leadership communities on how this will be delivered.”
Various opposition members also pressed the government on issues surrounding poverty on reserves and a lack of funding for Indigenous education in the legislature today.
(PHOTO: Screenshot of Opposition Leader Ryan Meili from this past fall sitting of the legislature. File photo)