The provincial Standing Committee on Privileges is investigating the protest which interrupted Question Period in the Legislature on Monday and will also look at whether or not the NDP was involved. Government House Leader Jeremy Harrison noted that some of the people who stood up in the Legislature and shouted about the need for a cease fire in Gaza had previously been introduced by the Official Opposition to start proceedings that day. The NDP MLA for Saskatoon-University, Jennifer Bowes, had invited concerned citizens through social media to come to the Legislature.

Harrison says protests of a similar nature in other areas of the world have turned violent – extremely violent. He believes the intent of the protest was clear before they arrived. He suggests the protestors planned to interfere with the ability of members of the Assembly to carry out their duties. About 40 minutes after MLAs were led out of Chambers and security escorted the protestors out, the MLAs were able to continue on with the work at hand.

Opposition House Leader Nicole Sauer agrees that there was a disruption but disagrees with the term occupation and she stressed that the NDP caucus knew nothing about the plans to disrupt proceedings. In her view, there were people in the gallery. The stood up. They shouted and refused to stop, so the House was adjourned and then the protesters were evacuated after the MLAs were evacuated.

The Committee on Privileges has been tasked with a report on what happened and a remedy, to be tabled in the Legislature.