Premier apologizes, debate heated over NDP rape allegation

The premier is apologizing for raising a sexual assault allegation during debate in the legislature.

On Tuesday, when Wall was being asked about the controversial GTH land sale, he instead pointed to the NDP and an allegation that has recently been publicly made by Rylee Schumacher.

“I do think it’s interesting that the party that’s lecturing on the issue of accountability and transparency has a former leader who is alleged to have a complaint on sexual harassment brought to him, and it’s also been alleged that he did nothing about it. We know this because the individual that is alleged to have done the harassing is still in the employ of the NDP office,” Wall said during the debate.

On Wednesday during question period, NDP leader Nicole Sarauer fired back.

“Mr. Speaker, that survivor has specifically asked for her story not to be used for political gain, and this premier is completely ignoring what the survivor has requested. I’m going to give the premier one more chance to retract his offensive statements,” Sarauer said.

In a scrum with reporters, Wall insisted he was simply pointing out that while his government is being questioned about transparency and accountability, the NDP have not always been as open and accountable as they should have been.

Schumacher is a member of the NDP provincial council and has publicly accused another staffer of rape.

She took to Twitter on Wednesday to which Wall replied with a statement.

My apology to you. pic.twitter.com/tsK4cvTu0m

— Brad Wall (@BradWall306) November 1, 2017

Question period continued on Thursday with questions about the GTH, and the allegation of the rape was not raised during the debate.

The NDP has launched an independent investigation to look into the allegation.

Sarauer has publicly stated she believes Schumacher.