‘Snowflake!’: Saskatchewan politicians spar over executive pay, Lutnick meeting

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s legislature began with a raucous start Monday as politicians returned for the spring sitting, levelling accusations of pearl clutching and being unserious.

The Opposition NDP took aim at the Saskatchewan Party government for high child poverty rates, executive pay at the Saskatchewan Health Authority and few details on a meeting Premier Scott Moe had last year with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

It got testy when New Democrats asked Trade Minister Warren Kaeding why he won’t release records of the meeting.

“Even the U.S. Department of Justice is more transparent about Howard Lutnick’s meeting with (sex offender Jeffrey) Epstein than this government is,” NDP trade critic Kim Breckner told the assembly.

Kaeding told the assembly that the Opposition knows the province can’t publicly release details of the meeting, and he called New Democrats disingenuous.

“I would say a dangerous Opposition that we’re talking about here,” he said.

The remark caused New Democrats to holler. NDP community safety critic Hugh Gordon also shouted, “Snowflake!”

On executive pay, the Opposition slammed the province for an increase of about $300,000 in salaries for top brass at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. 

NDP health critic Meara Conway told the assembly that those receiving a pay bump include Moe’s former press secretary, who now works for the health authority. 

“I’ve heard from health-care workers, one who had to spend a stint sleeping in her car (and) another who’s selling blood plasma just to make rent,” Conway said.

“What does the minister have to say to these front-line health-care workers while his buddies are making bank?”

Rural Health Minister Lori Carr accused Conway of disparaging the health authority executive.

Carr said the man’s pay is higher, because he worked half of 2024 and a full year in 2025, she said. 

“(Conway) should apologize to him,” Carr said.

Conway said she won’t say sorry.

“In fact, I will double down … is this pay-to-play politics the government is engaged in?”

Carr said the health authority cut 26 senior leadership roles last year, saving $10.4 million. The dollars were redirected to the front line, she added. 

The Opposition also quizzed the government on Saskatchewan having the highest rate of child poverty in Canada.

To address the issue, NDP Leader Carla Beck said the province should bring in rent control, cut provincial sales taxes on children’s clothes and not move ahead with power and auto insurance rate hikes. 

“Will this government stand and tell the people of this province why they have chosen not to lift a finger, to (not) offer relief to those 78,000 children in this province living in poverty?” she told the assembly. 

Deputy premier Jim Reiter said the last provincial election was fought on affordability issues, and the Saskatchewan Party won.

“We’ve been implementing those promises (on affordability) that we made,” he told the house.

Reiter teased some of the budget that he’s set to release later this month, saying the province is forecasting a deficit but won’t raise taxes.

“We’re not going to run massive deficits,” he said. “We are not going to break promises.”

The legislative session wraps up in May, with Moe’s government planning to pass various legislation before then. One bill would force drug treatment on those battling addictions. 

The NDP has said it will push the government to improve deteriorating conditions in hospitals and schools and urge for more action to reduce crime. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 2, 2026.