After all, this is a government that simply ignored previous Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission recommendations it didn't like.
One gets Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre’s point: One shouldn’t rush to judgment and condemn the work of new or old appointees to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) simply because of some perceived past political connections or one-time donations.
That said, this is very much a problem of the Saskatchewan Party government’s own making.
And there sure is irony in Eyre and her government discounting concerns over replacing the SHRC in one fell swoop when it’s the job of those on the SHRC to deal with concerns of people who have already been discounted.
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But perhaps as we expect the SHRC to do, let’s first explore this appointment issue in a broader scope … including from the perspective of people who are looking at this controversy from polar opposite ends.
Late last week, the Sask. Party announced the appointment of seven SHRC members and the retirement of interim chief commissioner Barry Wilcox, who had been a commissioner since 2011. Wilcox was replaced by Saskatoon lawyer Treena Sikora, who once headed the Saskatchewan Police Commission.
The drastic changeover immediately raised eyebrows — especially in the wake of SHRC’s criticism and resignations over Bill 137 last fall.
“You usually try to have some continuity and corporate memory,” said former commissioner Heather Kuttai, who resigned in October over the pronoun policy in schools and use of the Canadian Charter’s notwithstanding clause to sidestep rights.
Kuttai — who has disability herself — also questioned the lack of diversity in Eyre’s choices. She asked why none of the new commissioners represent the transgender or disabled communities.
Others are more concerned about any political connections.
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Reann Legge — a disabled and transgender person who had appeared before the SHRC on matters affecting herself and others — launched complaints with the Provincial Ombudsman and the Law Society of Saskatchewan over three new appointees directly donating to the Sask. Party or donating through their company or spouse.
“As we saw what the Sask. Party did in (the fall) emergency sitting and taking away the rights of trans and gender-diverse people, I see this as a first step,” Legge said in an interview, adding that political parties are influenced by both religious lobbyists and political donors.
“Being trans and disabled, I have gone through the human rights process before. I am concerned … It makes me feel like my rights are going to be stripped away.”
This drew the ire of Eyre.
“If this is about going to the Premier’s Dinner?” Eyre said of corporate tables bought by businesses at the political fundraiser that started under the previous NDP administration.
The justice minister argued that not all Premiers’ Dinner attendees are party supporters. Her appointees — who she noted come from diverse ethnic backgrounds — should be judged on their credentials, she said.
Wilcox — who was also cited by Legge for his law firm donating to the Sask. Party through a Premier’s Dinner table — agreed it’s unfair and simplistic to make such prejudgments because “anybody in a judicial or quasi-judicial position makes decisions based on what’s before them.”
Moreover, Wilcox praised Kuttai as someone who “remained true to her principles” and her “high moral standards,” and was “willing to go to the wall for their position.”
It should also be noted Wilcox was part of the SHRC that told the government last fall to “reconsider the legislation and the effect that it may have on vulnerable youth in our province.”
But can one blame Legge for doubting appointments made by a government that’s quickly gained a reputation for only listening to those who share its world view?
After all, this was a government that simply ignored previous SHRC recommendations it didn’t like. It may be wrong to prejudge these commissioners, but there sure are valid reasons to prejudge this government.
Certainly, this new SHRC can re-establish that trust over time.
But herein lies their problem upon accepting their government appointments:
It will now be more difficult for the new SHRC to regain trust and respect.
Murray Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
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