Sask. Opposition calls on premier to denounce pro sovereignty group

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP repeated its call on Friday for Premier Scott Moe to denounce the efforts of advocacy group Unified Grassroots, which the NDP says is driving a separation movement in the province. 

Earlier this month, Unified Grassroots launched a petition to hold a sovereignty referendum that has garnered more than 4,000 signatures.

"I think it's incumbent on him to say clearly that he does not support this work that they're doing," NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Young said on Friday, standing at a podium emblazoned with the slogan "Canada 1st. Never 51st."

"Any talk of separation is incredibly dangerous for our economy and it's divisive for this province. The premier has had multiple opportunities to be clear on this, to tell people where he stands, especially with a group that has well documented ties to his party and his political organization."

If successful, Unified Grassroots's petition would begin a process to launch a plebiscite vote after being submitted to the government. In order to be submitted, it must accumulate about 125,000 signatures. The result of the vote, even if it were to favour separation, would not be legally binding.

Nadine Ness, the president of Unified Grassroots, disputed the accusation that the petition is strictly for separation. She said she personally would be in favour of separation, but that view isn't held by everyone inside Unified Grassroots. She explicitly rejected joining the United States.

"It can mean a million different things," she said of the petition, which says the referendum would be to "empower the provincial government to negotiate new terms for Saskatchewan's relationship whether as part of Canada or as an independent nation."

"It can mean 100 different steps before it goes to separation."

Among those steps were measures like eliminating equalization payments, changing gun laws and pledging electoral reform to have senators be elected by their respective provinces instead of being recommended by the prime minister. 

On Sunday, Unified Grassroots is holding a town hall event at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon. It is the first of several events the group plans to hold over the course of the summer.

Ness said the town halls are meant to be listening sessions to learn about people's grievances with the federal government, and not directly related to the petition.

"Unified Grassroots is an organization that we see with close ties to the Sask. Party," said Young, who has accused Moe of being deferential to the group for political reasons. "They're out there doing organizing work."

Ness denied any direct connection between her group and the Sask. Party. 

In a statement, the Saskatchewan government accused the NDP of keeping separation at the top of the agenda. 

"The NDP have done more to promote western separatism than anyone else," it said.

"While the NDP are focused on condemning and silencing Saskatchewan residents, the Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ensuring that this province and the people that live here are part of a strong, united, growing and prosperous Canada."