Saskatchewan MPs respond to criticism over Ottawa truck protest photo | The Canadian News

Some Saskatchewan lawmakers face criticism from Ottawa mayor over a photo posted on Twitter.

MP Kevin Waugh of Saskatoon-Grasswood posted a photo of himself with Saskatchewan MPs Warren Steinley, Andrew Scheer, Fraser Tolmie, Rosemarie Falk and Senator Denise Batters in Ottawa and expressed their appreciation for truck drivers.

But the mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson answered says the tweet “is an absolute disgrace that you would come out and praise this illegal action” and apologized.

“I have nothing to apologize for. I will always meet people from Saskatchewan and my constituency, ”said Warren Steinley, MP for Regina-Lewvan.

As former mayor of Moose Jaw, MP Fraser Tolmie has insight into the position Mayor Watson is in.

“I understand as a former mayor that he does have challenges. But the reason my fellow colleagues and I were out there is because we talked to our constituents, and I spend six months of my time here in Ottawa and when someone makes the effort to get to Ottawa, then I my duty and my obligation to those voters to hear them and have a conversation with them and I am not going to apologize for that. ”

MP Rosemarie Falk, who represents Battlefords-Lloydminster, echoed the sentiment of her colleagues.

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“I reject the claim that I, as a Member of Parliament, should not take the time to meet and listen to Saskatchewanians who are protesting peacefully and have come all this way to be heard,” Falk said in a statement to Global News said.

“The mayor of Ottawa should rather call on the prime minister to act and help bring about a solution to the ongoing protests. Prime Minister Scott Moe’s recent announcements have done more to establish the protest than the prime minister which is just the serious concerns and frustrations of those who have downplayed and rejected protesters. “

Tolmie said he was concerned about the number of people absolutely talking about the convoy protest.

“These truck drivers came here with a message that they want to be heard and that we must open a dialogue. “What’s happening right now is a lot of social media messages coming out and speaking in absolute words, writing off truck drivers, supporting truck drivers, and actually it’s a lot of white noise,” Tolmie said.

“We need to get on the ground and hear what they have to say and what they need to share.”

Tolmie suggested that Mayor Watson be given the opportunity to contact the Saskatchewan caucus and communicate directly with the caucus instead of using social media. He says the protest in Ottawa is part of democracy.

“Democracy is messy sometimes and it’s messy because we have to overcome our own thoughts and listen to what someone else has to say and we may not agree, but that’s what we have to do,” Tolmie said.