Jeremy Cockrill

Current and former federal ministers lash out against Premier Moe

Current and former federal ministers lash out against Premier Moe

After weeks of back and forth between the federal government and the Sask. Party on accusations of federal workers going onto private farmland without permission to take water samples, Canada’s current and former environment ministers are firing back at Premier Scott Moe. Former Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, Catherine McKenna, took to Twitter to say Moe chooses to make up false narratives to then “slam and discredit” the federal government while eroding democracy in the process by spreading conspiracies.

Saskatchewan alleges federal employees illegally taking water samples from farmers

Saskatchewan alleges federal employees illegally taking water samples from farmers

The Saskatchewan Party government says it wants an explanation from Ottawa after federal employees allegedly took water samples from farmers’ lands without permission. Jeremy Cockrill, the minister responsible for the province’s Water Security Agency, said three landowners in southern Saskatchewan had recent unannounced visits from federal employees. He said during each separate instance, the employees, who arrived in black Government of Canada vehicles, took samples from dugouts without the landowners’ permission.

Water fight: Sask. government accuses federal employees of trespassing for water tests

Water fight: Sask. government accuses federal employees of trespassing for water tests

The Saskatchewan government is accusing federal government employees of trespassing when taking water samples in Saskatchewan. The allegation prompted a public letter from Saskatchewan's minister responsible for water security to his counterpart in Ottawa. On Saturday, Saskatchewan's cabinet approved an order in council tweaking the province's trespassing laws, the Trespass to Property Act 2022, "to add a new section regarding the Act and state that 'person' includes the Crown in right of Canada."