Former NDP MLA says she was muzzled by party leader on Compassionate Intervention Act

Newly independent MLA Betty Nippi-Albright revealed a bit more about her frustrations with her former party on Wednesday.

In a statement shared to social media, the former NDP MLA said she commissioned an analysis of Bill 48, The Compassionate Intervention Act, which would allow people in Saskatchewan to be forced into addictions treatment under certain circumstances. However, Nippi-Albright said she was told by the NDP Leader Carla Beck that she couldn’t reference, read from or table the report during her second-reading response to the bill, or during committee discussions.

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Even though the NDP collectively voted against the bill, Nippi-Albright claimed Beck supports forced treatment, and used language that closely mirrors the government’s on the issue.

“The report was commissioned by Nippi-Albright’s office with explicit instructions that it be non-partisan and free of political spin,” read the statement.

Nippi-Albright said the analysis was done by two researchers with more than a decade of experience in mental health, addictions, public policy and community-based consultation.

The NDP brought forward 17 amendments to the bill on Monday evening, but none were accepted by the government’s members.

Bill 48 passed its third reading on Tuesday afternoon, and now awaits the signature of the province’s lieutenant governor before it becomes law.

Nippi-Albright, who represents the Saskatoon Centre riding, announced her departure from the NDP on social media just as proceedings ended in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

Beck seemed taken by surprise by the move. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, she said she’d just been made aware of the departure.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to Betty yet. I’ll have that conversation with her tonight and be more prepared to answer questions on that tomorrow,” Beck said.

Beck is expected to respond to Nippi-Albright’s departure during a media scrum scheduled for noon on Wednesday.