Randy Weekes

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| honorific-suffix =ECS

| office = 28th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

| term_start = November 30, 2020

| term_end = November 25, 2024

| predecessor = Mark Docherty

| successor = Todd Goudy

| office1 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for Biggar-Sask Valley
Biggar (2003–2016)
Redberry Lake (1999–2003)

| term_start1 = September 16, 1999

| term_end1 = October 1, 2024

| predecessor1 = Walter Jess

| successor1 = Constituency abolished

| party = Independent

| otherparty = Saskatchewan Party (until 2024)

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1956}}

| birth_place =

| nationality = Canadian

}}

Randall Percival Weekes (born 1956) is a Canadian politician. He was a Saskatchewan Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1999 until 2024, representing the constituencies of Redberry Lake, Biggar, and Biggar-Sask Valley. He served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2020 until 2024.

Early life

Weekes was born in Biggar, Saskatchewan, where he lived on a ranch. He attended the University of Saskatchewan.

Political career

Weekes was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in the 1999 provincial election as a member of the fledgling Saskatchewan Party, a new conservative party established in 1997 by a coalition of former Progressive Conservative and Liberal MLAs and under the leadership of former Reform Party Member of Parliament Elwin Hermanson.{{cite news |date=2010-03-27 |title=Weekes earns nomination |url=http://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=a35b66db-d2c4-462f-8689-9fea4fce9cb2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614051615/http://www2.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=a35b66db-d2c4-462f-8689-9fea4fce9cb2 |archive-date=2012-06-14 |access-date=2010-08-05 |newspaper=The StarPhoenix}}{{cite web |title=Saskatchewan – Members of the Legislative Assembly |url=http://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/members_of_the_legislative_assembly.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219114059/http://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/members_of_the_legislative_assembly.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-19 |access-date=2013-07-23 |website=Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan}} Weekes was re-elected five times during his political career, before losing a contested nomination ahead of the 2024 provincial election. When the Saskatchewan Party won the 2007 election under the leadership of Brad Wall, Weekes was appointed government whip. Weekes later served a stint in cabinet from 2012 to 2014 in the newly established ministry of Rural and Remote Health.{{Cite news |last=Dalman |first=Keri |date=2012-07-28 |title=Rural, Remote Health Minister visits Humboldt |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-news/rural-remote-health-minister-visits-humboldt-4046509 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112232458/https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-news/rural-remote-health-minister-visits-humboldt-4046509 |archive-date=2024-11-12 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=Sask Today}}{{Cite news |date=2014-06-05 |title=Saskatchewan premier shuffles cabinet; several major portfolios unchanged |url=https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatchewan-premier-shuffles-cabinet-several-major-portfolios-unchanged-1.1855105 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111050356/https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/saskatchewan-premier-shuffles-cabinet-several-major-portfolios-unchanged-1.1855105 |archive-date=2016-01-11 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=CTV News}} Following the 2020 election, which the party won under the leadership of Scott Moe, Weekes was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly over former Speaker Mark Docherty.{{Cite news |date=2020-11-30 |title=Randy Weekes elected Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-news/randy-weekes-elected-speaker-of-the-saskatchewan-legislature-4159623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112233310/https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-news/randy-weekes-elected-speaker-of-the-saskatchewan-legislature-4159623 |archive-date=2024-11-12 |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=Sask Today}}

Weekes was noted for promoting anti-abortion views. Weekes attended anti-abortion March for Life rallies in both Regina and Ottawa.{{Cite web |last=Conlon |first=Mickey |date=2017-05-12 |title=Saskatchewan pro-lifers bring their message to legislature |url=https://www.catholicregister.org/item/25155-saskatchewan-pro-lifers-bring-their-message-to-legislature |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512203539/https://www.catholicregister.org/item/25155-saskatchewan-pro-lifers-bring-their-message-to-legislature |archive-date=2017-05-12 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=Catholic Register |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Regina Pro-Life Rally |url=https://archregina.sk.ca/newsstory/regina-pro-life-rally/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112225846/https://archregina.sk.ca/newsstory/regina-pro-life-rally/ |archive-date=2024-11-12 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=Archdiocese of Regina |language=en-US}} In the 2018 Saskatchewan Party leadership election to replace Wall—which was ultimately won by Moe—Weekes supported Ken Cheveldayoff, who was endorsed as the top-rated candidate by an anti-abortion lobby group.{{Cite news |last=Quesnel |first=Jennifer |date=2017-08-28 |title=Ken Cheveldayoff officially joins race to lead Saskatchewan Party |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/ken-cheveldayoff-saskatchewan-party-leadership-bid-1.4265281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829091222/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/ken-cheveldayoff-saskatchewan-party-leadership-bid-1.4265281 |archive-date=2017-08-29 |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=CBC News |quote=To date, Cheveldayoff's lone endorsement from within the Saskatchewan Party comes from caucus chair Randy Weekes.}}{{cite web |date=2017-11-22 |title='Life begins at conception': Anti-abortion group names Ken Cheveldayoff top Sask. Party candidate |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/life-begins-at-conception-anti-abortion-group-names-ken-cheveldayoff-top-sask-party-candidate-1.4414980 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203081119/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/life-begins-at-conception-anti-abortion-group-names-ken-cheveldayoff-top-sask-party-candidate-1.4414980 |archive-date=2017-12-03 |access-date=2017-12-18 |work=CBC News |location=Saskatchewan}}

In December 2023, Weekes, one of the longest serving members of the Legislature, lost a contested nomination for the 2024 election in the new riding of Kindersley-Biggar to newcomer Kim Gartner.{{Cite web |last=Salloum |first=Alec |date=2023-12-15 |title=House Speaker Randy Weekes loses contested constituency nomination |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/house-speaker-randy-weekes-loses-contested-constituency-nomination |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215202725/https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/house-speaker-randy-weekes-loses-contested-constituency-nomination |archive-date=2023-12-15 |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Regina Leader-Post}}

= Saskatchewan Party resignation =

At the end of the 2024 Spring sitting of the Legislature, Weekes made a series of allegations in the House about harassment and bullying within the Saskatchewan Party caucus, including allegations of intimidation aimed at him in his role as Speaker from Government House Leaders and MLAs.{{Cite web |last=Salloum |first=Alec |date=2024-05-16 |title=Weekes lambastes MLA on way out as Speaker, makes 'disturbing' allegations |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/weekes-lambastes-mla-on-way-out-as-speaker-makes-disturbing-allegations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516220553/https://leaderpost.com/news/weekes-lambastes-mla-on-way-out-as-speaker-makes-disturbing-allegations |archive-date=2024-05-16 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Regina Leader-Post}}{{Cite news |last=Simes |first=Jeremy |date=2024-05-16 |title=Saskatchewan Speaker says he was harassed, threatened by government MLAs |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/canadian-press-weekes-1.7207134 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517140650/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/canadian-press-weekes-1.7207134 |archive-date=2024-05-17 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press}} Recalling the oath of impartiality he took upon assuming the Speaker role, Weekes alleged that Saskatchewan Party members, including House Leader Jeremy Harrison, deputy House Leader Lori Carr, and finance minister Donna Harpauer, tried to "influence" his rulings; Weekes read into the record several text messages from the MLAs and told reporters that party leadership "wanted me to do whatever they wanted." In addition, Weekes alleged that Harrison had at one time brought a gun into the Legislative Building, a charge that Harrison initially denied but later admitted.{{Cite news |last=Salloum |first=Alec |date=2024-05-24 |title=Harrison resigns as house leader, apologizes for bringing gun to Sask. legislature |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/harrison-resigns-as-house-leader-apologizes-for-bringing-gun-to-sask-legislature |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524235256/https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/harrison-resigns-as-house-leader-apologizes-for-bringing-gun-to-sask-legislature |archive-date=2024-05-24 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=Regina Leader-Post}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=Harrison brought gun to Legislative Building a decade ago, steps down as house leader |url=https://www.ckom.com/2024/05/24/harrison-says-he-brought-gun-to-legislative-building-a-decade-ago-steps-down-as-house-leader/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525090953/https://www.ckom.com/2024/05/24/harrison-says-he-brought-gun-to-legislative-building-a-decade-ago-steps-down-as-house-leader/ |archive-date=2024-05-25 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=CKOM |language=en}} Weekes also read a letter from the House's former sergeant-at-arms, Terry Quinn, that alleged harassment and defamation by government members, including corrections minister Christine 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 the aftermath of the allegations, Weekes criticized the direction of the Saskatchewan Party under Moe, stating that the party had "lurched to the right", citing its 2023 Parents' Bill of Rights, which placed restrictions on sexual health education and regulated the use of pronouns in schools, as an example.{{Cite news |last=Hunter |first=Adam |date=2024-05-18 |title=Sask. Speaker makes waves in pair of speeches on his way out |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-party-weekes-speaker-1.7206073 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518163814/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-party-weekes-speaker-1.7206073 |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=CBC News}} In response, Moe called all of the allegations "sour grapes" after Weekes lost his nomination bid; Weekes replied that the loss merely meant that he had nothing to lose politically by revealing the allegations.

On May 15, Weekes posted a photo on social media of his Saskatchewan Party membership card cut into pieces, along with the caption "Enough is Enough". Weekes officially resigned from the Saskatchewan Party caucus on June 24, which left him to sit as an Independent member.{{cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=Sask. Speaker resigns from Sask. Party after making harassment allegations against caucus members |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-speaker-resigns-from-sask-party-after-making-harassment-allegations-against-caucus-members-1.7245628 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625230441/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-speaker-resigns-from-sask-party-after-making-harassment-allegations-against-caucus-members-1.7245628 |archive-date=2024-06-25 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=CBC News}} He decided not to stand for re-election, but in the lead-up to the fall election, Weekes publicly endorsed Carla Beck and the New Democratic Party.{{Cite news |last=Massie |first=Gillian |date=2024-10-17 |title=Three former Sask. Party members back the NDP ahead of provincial election |url=https://www.ckom.com/2024/10/17/three-former-sask-party-members-back-the-ndp-ahead-of-provincial-election/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113011358/https://www.ckom.com/2024/10/17/three-former-sask-party-members-back-the-ndp-ahead-of-provincial-election/ |archive-date=2024-11-13 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=CKOM}}{{Cite news |last=Cairns |first=John |date=2024-10-09 |title=Randy Weekes endorses NDP, levels racism charge at Sask Party |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/elections/saskvotes2024/randy-weekes-endorses-ndp-levels-racism-charge-at-sask-party-9635876 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113011525/https://www.sasktoday.ca/elections/saskvotes2024/randy-weekes-endorses-ndp-levels-racism-charge-at-sask-party-9635876 |archive-date=2024-11-13 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=Sask Today}} At the time of that endorsement, Weekes also alleged that Saskatchewan Party MLA David Buckingham had used a racial slur in a caucus meeting, to which Buckingham then publicly admitted and apologized for.

Electoral results

{{Canadian election result/top|SK|2020|Biggar-Sask Valley|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,855|100.00}}

{{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|Biggar-Sask Valley|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,781|100.00}}

{{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|Biggar (electoral district)|Biggar|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|6,593|100.00}}

{{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|Biggar (electoral district)|Biggar|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,507|100.00}}

{{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|2003|Biggar (electoral district)|Biggar|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,307|100.00}}

{{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|1999|Redberry (electoral district)|Redberry Lake|percent=yes|prelim=no}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,548|100.00}}

{{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]}}

Cabinet positions

{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Brad_Wall}}

{{ministry box cabinet posts

| post1preceded = Ministry Established

| post1 = Minister of Rural and Remote Health

| post1years = May 25, 2012 – June 5, 2014

| post1note =

| post1followed = Tim McMillan

}}

References

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan

Category:Saskatchewan Party MLAs

Category:1956 births

Category:Independent MLAs in Saskatchewan

Category:Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan