Saskatchewan government passes poppy legislation

The Saskatchewan government is looking to protect the poppy.

On Wednesday, the government introduced and passed The Saskatchewan Remembrance Observance Act, which it said would make sure employees can wear a poppy in the workplace if they so choose to mark Remembrance Day.

The only exceptions are if wearing the poppy poses a danger to the health, safety or welfare of the worker or others.

“Our veterans, current and past, have fought for our freedom and peace in Canada,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don McMorris said in a media release. “Providing the right for workers to wear a poppy while in the workplace is a way to honour the sacrifice veterans and their families have made.”

The government said in the recent throne speech that it would be introducing the legislation during the sitting. It hasn’t explained why the legislation is necessary.

Before the throne speech was delivered, Premier Scott Moe said the government had received reports of people not being able to wear poppies at work, including in some government organizations. He declined to say which organizations were involved.

“The broader recognition is this: What our poppies symbolize in honouring our veterans and what they have done in giving us the opportunity to (a) have a democracy and (b) the opportunity to wear any other pin on our lapel at all. That should be recognized and honoured each and every day, not just on the days in November when we do wear a poppy,” Moe said at the time.

The legislation will allow all provincially regulated workers to wear a poppy recognized by the Royal Canadian Legion in their workplaces from Nov. 1 to Nov. 11 every year.

The government noted that federally regulated entities — including banks, telecommunications and interprovincial transportation companies — aren’t covered by the legislation.

Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty received the first poppy presented in Saskatchewan in 2023 during an event last week.