‘Unfortunate circumstance’ as Throne Speech ceremony is cancelled

When more than 100 anti-vaccine protesters took to the entryway in front of the Legislative Building on Wednesday, they got so aggressive the government decided to shut down a Throne Speech ceremony that had been planned for outside.

The protesters waved signs reading things like “Coercion is not choice” and chanting “My body, my choice,” as well as trying to taunt Premier Scott Moe to come outside.

Jeremy Harrison, the government house leader, said he couldn’t remember another time when the outdoor portion of the ceremony had to be cancelled in a similar situation.

Harrison called it an unfortunate circumstance, saying he was very much looking forward to it.

“Obviously there were some protesters that were very assertive (and) aggressive in their protests that made it such that our advice we received was that, for the safety of all of those who would be involved in that ceremony and for the lieutenant-governor, that we would have to cancel that outdoor portion of the ceremony, move it indoors,” explained Harrison.

He said the call was made when the safety of those who would be participating couldn’t be assured.

“The No. 1 consideration is the safety of those who would be participating in that ceremony,” said Harrison.

In a statement, the premier’s office said the ceremony was cancelled because of recent threats and on the advice of security staff.

MLA Nadine Wilson spoke to the anti-vaccine crowd briefly and they cheered her as she walked into the Legislative Building. Wilson is now an independent MLA as she resigned from the Saskatchewan Party caucus over a “misrepresentation” of her vaccination status.

Harrison said legislative members can do as they wish but said he thinks you would find the entirety of the assembly would express their disappointment at her speaking to the protesters.

“It is very unfortunate, though, that we would have had a member who would be out expressing support for the anti-vax people who were protesting in the way they were, such that we actually had to cancel part of the Throne Speech ceremony,” said Harrison.

The government house leader said there’s a broad consensus about vaccinations being the right decision for a person and their family, and said anti-vaccine protesters are a minority.

“This is a very small proportion of that public who, for whatever reason, have bought into different conspiracy theories about vaccines and a whole host of other conspiracies which are just off the wall,” said Harrison.