Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe faces questions after it was revealed that his predecessor had given advice to Freedom Convoy organizers in February, CTV reported.
CBC News has contacted Wall to comment.
According to CTV, Ottawa police obtained the texts, which were sent in February between Wall and convoy organizer Chris Barber, who is from Swift Current, Sask., As was Wall.
The convoy and eventual protest in the streets of Ottawa lasted more than three weeks. Barber and other organizers were later arrested and charged. In February, Barber was released on bail and ordered to leave Ottawa.
According to CTV, Wall’s messages to Barber included:
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Telling him “it’s very important that anyone who tries to stick his wagon to this convoy with hidden intentions and negative messages, especially racist things, be openly and bluntly condemned by the organizers.”
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To say the convoy was “creating an elbow margin for the provinces to move away from mandates.”
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Saying organizers could declare “a kind of victory” after the provinces begin eliminating COVID-19 measures.
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Advising organizers to donate money to charities and suggesting a headline for a possible press release.
On January 25, Wall posted a video and a message on his Facebook account of people cheering the convoy as it traveled east near Maple Creek, Sask.
Wall wrote that those heading east had “a serious message not about vaccines but about mandates and what they firmly believe is the wrong policy for Canada.”
He wrote “we live in a province that is on high alert when it comes to the prospect of erosion of freedoms. I am very grateful for that.”
No contact with Barber, no talk of the convoy with Wall: Moe
On Tuesday, Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe said he had no contact with Barber and has not talked about the convoy with his predecessor.
“I’ve had numerous contacts with former Prime Minister Brad Wall. We haven’t talked about it. To my recollection, I don’t think I’ve talked to him about the convoy in any way.”
When asked about Wall’s texts, Moe said Wall is a private citizen talking to a former voter.
Referring to the CTV story, Moe said Wall’s advice was okay.
“Stay away from the extreme factions that may be in this. Look for opportunities to manifest your point and leave the area, so that it does not become an illegal protest. So I think the advice as you read the article was pretty sound.
“When you look at the communication that has come to light, it’s a pretty solid communication.”
Moe called Wall’s leadership “exemplary.”
Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe said the texts reported by CTV News that Wall sent to a convoy organizer are “a pretty solid communication.” (Travis Reddaway / CBC)
Moe said Tuesday that the province will testify at upcoming hearings about the federal government’s use of the Emergency Act: “We do not believe the criteria for enacting the Emergency Act are met and we do not believe that the forces of the order asked for it “.
On January 29, while the convoy was converging on Ottawa, Moe issued a letter of support to the truckers.
Truck demonstrations are taking place today in many parts of the country, including Parliament Hill in Ottawa and various communities in Saskatchewan.
Here is my message to truckers in Saskatchewan and Canada: pic.twitter.com/LifQ2FK23b
– @ PremierScottMoe
In his post, Moe said federal border policies affecting unvaccinated truck drivers “don’t make sense.”
He promised support for the message to end border warrants for truck drivers and said it would eliminate Saskatchewan’s policy of vaccination testing or negative testing.
Less than two weeks later, Moe announced that the policies would end.
The organizers charge
Barber was initially charged with counseling for wrongdoing, counseling for disobeying a court order, counseling for obstructing police, and malice interfering with the use and enjoyment of property.
In March, the Crown presented an Ottawa police briefing with six charges against Barber. He is accused of:
- Naughty.
- Picardy of advice.
- Obstruct the police.
- Advice to obstruct the police.
- Bullying advice.
- Bullying by blocking and obstructing one or more roads.
Chris Barber, one of the organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy, is arrested by Ottawa police in downtown Ottawa on February 17, 2022. (Kirk Hill / Facebook)
Barber’s bail terms stipulate that he cannot support the Freedom Convoy in any way, which he verbally includes. He is not allowed to fund the convoy, except to help other protesters get out of the city, albeit only with their funds.
Barber is also not allowed to contact fellow organizers Tamara Lich, Daniel Bulford or Patrick King, except in front of lawyers as part of legal proceedings.
Wall’s communication not “out of bounds”
Jim Farney said Wall’s messages reported by CTV News “didn’t seem so out of bounds to me or really out of bounds.”
Farney, director and associate professor at Regina University’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, says he finds it strange that Wall didn’t come out and says he disagrees with protesters facing charges penalties.
“[Wall] He seems to have stopped interacting with people a week before the Emergency Act came into force and said they should marginalize party racists, ”he said.
Farney said Saskatchewan lawmakers, including former Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, posed for photos with protesters in Ottawa from the start.
“[Wall] he is clearly trying to be the moderate voice or the establishment of western alienation, “he said. of how these groups and communities have mobilized right now. “
Farney said he believes the story is one that “explodes on Twitter and will happen pretty quickly.”