Christine Tell

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Christine Tell

| caption =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

| residence = Regina, Saskatchewan

| honorific-suffix =

| assembly = Saskatchewan Legislative

| constituency_AM = Regina Wascana Plains

| term_start = November 7, 2007

| term_end = October 1, 2024

| predecessor = Doreen Hamilton

| successor = Brent Blakley

| party = Saskatchewan Party

| religion =

| occupation = Police Officer

}}

Christine Tell is a Canadian politician. She represented the electoral district of Regina Wascana Plains in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 2007 to 2024 as a member of the Saskatchewan Party.

Early life and career

Tell was born and raised in Regina, graduating from Miller Comprehensive High School and then receiving a psychiatric nursing diploma. After a short time working as a psychiatric nurse, she joined the Saskatoon Police Service and graduated from the Saskatchewan Police College. She worked for three years in Saskatoon before returning to her hometown and joining the Regina Police Service in 1983.{{Cite web |title=Honourable Christine Tell |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/cabinet/honourable-christine-tell |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022045508/https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/cabinet/honourable-christine-tell |archive-date=2023-10-22 |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Government of Saskatchewan}} She rose to the rank of sergeant and took an unpaid leave of absence to seek election in May 2007.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

She served as president of the Regina Police Association for six years and was the first female in Canada to head the police association of a major service.

Political career

Tell was first elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the 2007 provincial election, after which the Saskatchewan Party formed a majority government. Tell was re-elected in 2011, 2016, and 2020.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-01 |title=Christine Tell Acclaimed as 2024 Saskatchewan Party Candidate for Regina Wascana Plains |work=Saskatchewan Party |url=https://www.saskparty.com/christine_tell_2024_regina_wascana_plains |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802041631/https://www.saskparty.com/christine_tell_2024_regina_wascana_plains |archive-date=2023-08-02}}

Tell has been a cabinet member since she was first elected, serving in the cabinets of both Brad Wall and Scott Moe, except for a two year period from 2010 to 2012. Tell's time in cabinet includes nearly seven years in charge of corrections and policing over two stints with the portfolio.{{Cite news |date=2012-05-25 |title=Norris, 6 others out in major Sask. cabinet shuffle |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/norris-6-others-out-in-major-sask-cabinet-shuffle-1.1226930 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430005049/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/norris-6-others-out-in-major-sask-cabinet-shuffle-1.1226930 |archive-date=2014-04-30}}{{Cite news |date=2018-02-02 |title=Premier Scott Moe names first cabinet, awarding positions to leadership rivals |work=Regina Leader-Post |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/moe-to-be-sworn-in-with-new-cabinet |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216151411/https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/moe-to-be-sworn-in-with-new-cabinet |archive-date=2018-02-16}}

During Tell's first stint in charge of corrections, the government was questioned over a 2013 decision to deny an order-in-council to allow the auditor general access to youth custody records as part of an effort to assess the effectiveness of young offender rehabilitation programs.{{Cite news |last=Graney |first=Emma |date=2015-06-18 |title=Questions asked of gov’t cabinet decision |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/questions-asked-of-govt-cabinet-decision |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022052152/https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/questions-asked-of-govt-cabinet-decision |archive-date=2023-10-22 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=Regina Leader-Post}} Tell argued that it would have been more appropriate for the auditor to obtain a court order; the auditor decided against pursuing such an order due to the cost of the court process.

In January 2020, a CBC investigation revealed that a company owned by Tell's son was renting a building at the Global Transportation Hub from the Saskatchewan government below market value and at a financial loss for the province. Tell requested a conflict of interest review from the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, and the Opposition New Democratic Party called for an investigation into the arrangement and highlighted the need to strengthen the province's conflict of interest rules.{{Cite news |last=Leo |first=Geoff |date=2020-01-11 |title=GTH renting office space to company owned by Sask. cabinet minister's son at a loss |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/gth-renting-office-space-to-company-owned-by-sask-cabinet-minister-s-son-at-a-loss-1.5423173 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112235941/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/gth-renting-office-space-to-company-owned-by-sask-cabinet-minister-s-son-at-a-loss-1.5423173 |archive-date=2020-01-12 |access-date=2020-01-12 |work=CBC News}} Tell was cleared of wrongdoing by the commissioner later that month.{{Cite news |date=2020-01-24 |title=Conflict of interest commissioner clears Saskatchewan cabinet minister |work=Global News |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6460530/conflict-of-interest-commissioner-clears-saskatchewan-cabinet-minister/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125134708/https://globalnews.ca/news/6460530/conflict-of-interest-commissioner-clears-saskatchewan-cabinet-minister/ |archive-date=2020-01-25}}

In January 2021, Tell admitted to traveling to California in the fall of 2020 despite the closure of the border between Canada and the United States to nonessential travel and public health advisories to avoid unnecessary travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Marc |date=January 4, 2021 |title=Another Sask. cabinet minister travelled to California, government says |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/another-sask-cabinet-minister-travelled-to-california-government-says-1.5253104 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104213912/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/another-sask-cabinet-minister-travelled-to-california-government-says-1.5253104 |archive-date=2021-01-04 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |work=CTV News}} Saskatchewan was seeing record case numbers at the time and the government had asked the public to avoid nonessential travel.{{Cite news |last=Rattray |first=Taylor |date=2020-12-31 |title=Sask. cabinet minister who travelled to California over holidays apologizes for 'error in judgement' |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/sask-cabinet-minister-who-travelled-to-california-over-holidays-apologizes-for-error-in-judgement-1.5250004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104234726/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/sask-cabinet-minister-who-travelled-to-california-over-holidays-apologizes-for-error-in-judgement-1.5250004 |archive-date=2021-01-04 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CTV News Regina}}

In November 2020, the provincial prison system began seeing significant outbreaks of COVID-19, which led to criticism for a lack of preparation and calls from prisoners' advocates and the Opposition for the early or temporary release of remanded and non-violent inmates to mitigate the situation.{{Cite news |last=Sciarpelletti |first=Laura |date=2020-11-28 |title=NDP, advocate call for province to release remanded inmates following COVID-19 jail outbreak |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/ndp-advocate-call-for-province-to-release-remanded-following-covid-19-jail-outbreak-1.5820056 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218135108/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/ndp-advocate-call-for-province-to-release-remanded-following-covid-19-jail-outbreak-1.5820056 |archive-date=2020-12-18 |access-date=2023-10-23 |work=CBC News}} In response, Tell said the province would not release any inmates and that although it was not clear how the virus got into correctional facilities, the government would not be investigating the situation.{{Cite news |last=Zakreski |first=Dan |date=2020-12-02 |title=Sask. corrections minister says province unable to release inmates from Saskatoon jail |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/corrections-minister-says-government-unable-to-release-inmates-1.5824791 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103035112/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/corrections-minister-says-government-unable-to-release-inmates-1.5824791 |archive-date=2021-01-03 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CBC News}} In January 2021, inmates at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre and Prince Albert's Pine Grove Correctional Centre began a hunger strike in an effort to get Tell to resign her cabinet position. Prisoner advocate Cory Cardinal demanded an apology, stating that, "her refusal, her negligence, her dismissive attitude... exacerbated the outbreak by not taking proactive measures."{{Cite news |last=McMillan |first=Anna |date=2021-01-04 |title=Inmates stage hunger strike, call for Saskatchewan corrections minister’s resignation |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7554035/saskatchewan-jail-hunger-strike-minister-christine-tell-resign/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104220342/https://globalnews.ca/news/7554035/saskatchewan-jail-hunger-strike-minister-christine-tell-resign/ |archive-date=2021-01-04 |access-date=2021-01-04 |work=Global News}} A prisoners' rights advocate stated that Tell "obviously has failed to do her job." On January 15, a petition calling for Tell's resignation with more than 1,700 signatures was presented to the Legislature.{{Cite news |last=Eneas |first=Bryan |date=2021-01-15 |title=Petition presented at Sask. legislature calls for corrections minister's removal |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/petition-calls-minister-removal-recommends-improvements-inmate-conditions-1.5875711 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116224049/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/petition-calls-minister-removal-recommends-improvements-inmate-conditions-1.5875711 |archive-date=2021-01-16 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CBC News}} Tell responded that the outbreak was not a "get out of jail free card", and that the government had increased sanitation and quarantine measures to try and mitigate correctional centre outbreaks.{{Cite news |last=Pasiuk |first=Emily |date=2021-01-18 |title=Sask. government rejects calls for early release for some inmates to protect them from COVID-19 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-covid-19-government-remand-early-release-jail-1.5877807 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119203105/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-covid-19-government-remand-early-release-jail-1.5877807 |archive-date=2021-01-19 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CBC News}}

In 2022, Tell unveiled plans to introduce a new police force, the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS), expected to be operational with 70 officers by 2026.{{Cite news |last=Hunter |first=Adam |date=2022-11-04 |title=New marshals service in Sask. will have 70 officers by 2026 at cost of $20M annually |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-marshals-service-1.6640099 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128145332/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-marshals-service-1.6640099 |archive-date=2022-11-28 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CBC News}} The service, expected to cost the province $20 million annually, is expected to supplement the RCMP in the province by conducting "proactive investigations", primarily focused on rural and remote areas, and with "indirect oversight" provided by the Ministry of Corrections and Policing.{{Cite news |last=Simes |first=Jeremy |date=2023-08-16 |title=As Sask. forms new police service; critics question lack of oversight |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/as-sask-forms-new-police-service-critics-question-lack-of-oversight-1.6521985 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823160534/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/as-sask-forms-new-police-service-critics-question-lack-of-oversight-1.6521985 |archive-date=2023-08-23 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CTV News Regina |agency=The Canadian Press}} The Opposition criticized the lack of independence for the new service, while the union representing RCMP officers called the new force "completely unnecessary".{{Cite news |last=Hunter |first=Adam |date=2022-11-05 |title=New Sask. marshals service 'completely unnecessary,' police union argues |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-marshals-service-1.6640773 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128145336/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-marshals-service-1.6640773 |archive-date=2022-11-28 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Freeze |first=Colin |date=2022-11-17 |title=RCMP commander questions Saskatchewan’s plan for new Marshals Service |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-saskatchewan-rcmp-police-marshals-service/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117213323/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-saskatchewan-rcmp-police-marshals-service/ |archive-date=2022-11-17}} First Nations leaders also questioned the plan and in particular a lack of consultation with Indigenous communities in its formation.{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=Dayne |date=2022-11-06 |title=First Nations leaders question new Sask. marshals service amid calls for better policing |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/first-nations-sask-marshals-service-1.6642138 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226165418/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/first-nations-sask-marshals-service-1.6642138 |archive-date=2023-02-26 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CBC News}}

Also in 2022, Tell shepherded the passage of Bill 70, which overhauled security in and around the Legislative Building. While for decades the Speaker of the House appointed a serjeant-at-arms responsible for security, Bill 70 left that position in charge of the Legislative Assembly only, with the government appointing its own security director for the Legislative grounds.{{Cite news |last=Hunter |first=Adam |date=2022-05-11 |title=Bill to overhaul Sask. legislature security poised to pass |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-legislative-security-1.6448723 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512140216/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-legislative-security-1.6448723 |archive-date=2022-05-12 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=CBC News}} The bill raised concerns about politicizing security, while Terry Quinn resigned as serjeant-at-arms and alleged that alleged harassment and defamation by the government, including Tell.{{Cite web |last=Zieverink |first=Abby |date=2024-05-16 |title=Speaker Randy Weekes cuts up Sask. Party membership card |url=https://www.ckom.com/2024/05/16/speaker-randy-weekes-cuts-up-sask-party-membership-card/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523183432/https://www.ckom.com/2024/05/16/speaker-randy-weekes-cuts-up-sask-party-membership-card/ |archive-date=2024-05-23 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=CKOM |language=en}}

In a cabinet shuffle on August 29, 2023, Tell was named the Minister of Environment.{{Cite news |last=Prisciak |first=David |last2=Bamford |first2=Allison |date=2023-08-29 |title=Merriman, Duncan moved to new portfolios in major Sask. cabinet shuffle |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/merriman-duncan-moved-to-new-portfolios-in-major-sask-cabinet-shuffle-1.6539597 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902032449/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/merriman-duncan-moved-to-new-portfolios-in-major-sask-cabinet-shuffle-1.6539597 |archive-date=2023-09-02 |access-date=2023-10-22 |work=CTV News Regina}}

In the 2024 provincial election, Tell lost her seat to Brent Blakley of the New Democratic Party.{{Cite news |last=Prisciak |first=David |last2=Postey |first2=Drew |date=2024-10-28 |title=Here are the upsets of Saskatchewan's 2024 election |url=https://regina.ctvnews.ca/here-are-the-upsets-of-saskatchewan-s-2024-election-1.7090376 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113014350/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/here-are-the-upsets-of-saskatchewan-s-2024-election-1.7090376 |archive-date=2024-11-13 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=CTV News Regina}}

Personal life

Tell is currently married to Gary Massier and has two children with her first husband. Along with caucus colleague Laura Ross, Tell hosts an annual leadership event for women and girls.

Electoral results

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|2024|Regina Wascana Plains|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Saskatchewan{{cite web|url=https://results.elections.sk.ca/ |title=2024 General Election Official Results |publisher=Elections Saskatchewan|date=2024-11-09|access-date=2024-11-13}}}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|2020|Regina Wascana Plains|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Saskatchewan{{cite web|url=https://cdn.elections.sk.ca/upload/2020-Statement-of-Votes-Volume-1-web-viewing.pdf |title=A Report on the Twenty-Ninth General Election, Volume I: Statement of Votes |publisher=Elections Saskatchewan|date=2021-06-30|access-date=2024-10-28}}}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|2016|Regina Wascana Plains|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]; Elections Saskatchewan{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.sk.ca/|title=2016 General Election Results|publisher=Elections Saskatchewan|date=4 April 2016|access-date=5 April 2016}}}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|2011|Regina Wascana Plains|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|2007|Regina Wascana Plains|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: [https://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/2019_elections_results_by_electoral_division.pdf Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division]}}