Saskatchewan Party MLA Apologizes for Calling Jagmeet Singh a Terrorist

A Saskatchewan Party MLA has issued an apology for making derogatory comments about federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, referring to him as a terrorist. Racquel Hilbert, MLA for Humboldt-Watrous, made the controversial remarks during a debate on the provincial budget in the legislature on March 25.

While criticizing the Saskatchewan NDP, Hilbert turned her attention to Singh and his decision to support former Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s government through a supply and confidence agreement. She questioned why the Opposition did not denounce Singh as a terrorist in India and warned of collateral damage to Western Canada.

It is unclear what prompted Hilbert’s statement, but it may have been related to Singh’s criticism of the Indian government following accusations made by then-Prime Minister Trudeau about their involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh man.

The Regina Leader-Post newspaper brought attention to Hilbert’s comments in a recent article. In response, Hilbert issued a statement of apology, acknowledging that her remarks were inaccurate and inappropriate.

Speaking to media in Richmond, B.C., Singh expressed his indifference towards the comment but questioned the motive behind Hilbert’s words. He raised concerns about the impact such statements could have on children and emphasized the responsibility that comes with being an elected official.

The Saskatchewan NDP swiftly condemned Hilbert’s remarks, with NDP MLA for Saskatoon University-Sutherland Tajinder Grewal labeling the comments as hurtful and hateful to the Sikh community. Grewal emphasized that calling someone a terrorist constitutes hate speech and is unacceptable.

Grewal highlighted Saskatchewan’s motto of “From Many Peoples, Strength,” stressing that racism has no place in the province or its government. The incident has sparked discussions about the importance of respectful discourse and the need to foster inclusivity and diversity in political dialogue.