Sask Party MLA is backtracking after calling federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh “a terrorist” on the floor of the provincial legislature.
Racquel Hilbert, who represents Humboldt-Watrous, sent an email on Wednesday apologizing for her remarks.
“I recently made an inaccurate and inappropriate statement about the federal NDP leader. I apologize for and withdraw that statement,” wrote Hilbert.
Hilbert, a former teacher who founded a drilling company before winning her seat in 2024, made the controversial comments March 25 during debate on the 2025-26 provincial budget.
In her speech, Hilbert praised government efforts to boost trade by opening offices worldwide and sought to link the Sask NDP to challenges in global markets.
“We did not hear the Opposition denounce their federal leader as being a terrorist in India and denounce the collateral trade damage to Western Canada,” said Hilbert.
Speaker Toddy Goudy cautioned her, though he only intervened after she accused the Opposition of “virtue-signalling.”
In an emailed statement, Sask NDP MLA Tajinder Grewal said such language does not belong in the legislature.
“The comments made by this Sask Party MLA are deeply hurtful and hateful to the Sikh community,” wrote Grewal, citing the province’s motto, “From Many Peoples, Strength.”
Grewal added that “racism has no place in Saskatchewan.”