Sask. Party MLA apologizes for calling Jagmeet Singh a terrorist

Alexander Quon · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 09, 2025 7:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

A Saskatchewan Party MLA has apologized for describing national NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh arsenic a terrorist.

Racquel Hilbert, MLA for Humboldt-Watrous, roseate successful the legislature connected March 25, during statement connected the provincial budget.

As she condemned the Saskatchewan NDP, she turned her comments to Singh and his determination to enactment the authorities of Liberal then-prime minister Justin Trudeau done a proviso and assurance agreement.

"We did not perceive the Opposition denounce their national person arsenic being a violent successful India and announced the collateral collateral commercialized harm to Western Canada," Hilbert said.

It's not wide what precisely Hilbert was referring to successful her comment. Singh condemned the Indian authorities afer Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India's authorities of having a relation successful the sidesplitting of a Canadian Sikh man.

Hilbert's remark appears to person gone unnoticed until the Regina Leader-Post paper released a communicative about it connected Wednesday.

Hilbert issued a connection connected Wednesday.

"I precocious made an inaccurate and inappropriate connection astir the national NDP leader. I apologize for and retreat that statement," she said.

Speaking to media successful Richmond, B.C., connected Wednesday, Singh said helium didn't personally attraction astir the remark but questioned wherefore Hilbert would adjacent accidental thing similar that. 

"This is an MLA, idiosyncratic who's an elected official, respected subordinate of their community, a erstwhile teacher," Singh said.

"What's happened successful this MLA's beingness for them to accidental that astir me?"

Singh said he's disquieted astir the connection the remark sends to children.

The Saskatchewan NDP were speedy to condemn the remark Wednesday.

NDP MLA for Saskatoon University-Sutherland Tajinder Grewal said the comments were profoundly hurtful and hateful to the Skih community.

"Calling idiosyncratic a violent is simply a immense statement. This is, to me, hate speech. It is simply not acceptable," Grewal said.

Grewal referenced Saskatchewan's motto of "From Many Peoples, Strength" earlier adding that racism has nary spot successful Saskatchewan and nary spot successful the provincial government.