REGINA — Unified Grassroots has fired back at the opposition New Democrats over their criticism of the organization.
The group has issued a news release denouncing the NDP following their latest news conference held on Friday. The release took issue with several recent NDP claims about Unified Grassroots, such as claims the group wants Canada to be the “51st State” and also that they are a “a separatist group, organizing a separatist town hall campaign.”
The Unified Grassroots release noted their organization has never endorsed US statehood and the words “separatist” or “separation” appear nowhere in their town hall advertising, flyers or events. They also denied they are collecting signatures at town halls to force a plebiscite or referendum, and also rejected the NDP claim of “secret influence over the Sask. Party,” saying they are a non-partisan organization.
The release also pushed back against the NDP claim that the Unified Grassroots campaign would harm the economy. “Hosting public meetings on Saskatchewan’s future doesn’t kill jobs. Censoring citizens and spreading misinformation does,” their release states.
The news release finally stated Unified Grassroots calls on the NDP to "immediately retract" false claims about Unified Grassroots and their President Nadine Ness, to stop attacking citizens for attending lawful peaceful town halls, and to respect the rights of Saskatchewan people to be heard, even if they disagree.
Ness was also quoted in the news release saying: “We are not campaigning for separation. We are not campaigning for US statehood. We are gathering citizens who want more sovereignty so we can listen, not dictate. Which, I will add is the opposite of what the NDP is doing. With their recent antics, they want to silence people and dictate. They are the real threat to democracy. “
The Unified Grassroots news release was shared on Ness’s feed on the X platform on Friday, alongside a post from Ness which stated the following:
“The NDP had yet another press conference today lying about us. To set the record straight we release a press release pointing out all of their lies demanding a retraction. If they lie to you about us, what else are they lying about?”
The New Democrats have now held several press conferences in the last few weeks on the topics of Saskatchewan separatism and Unified Grassroots. The NDP attacks have particularly stepped up ever since Unified Grassroots announced they had scheduled town hall events for 15 communities across the province.
At an availability in front of the legislature Friday, NDP MLA Aleana Young called out Premier Scott Moe, saying they asked him “numerous times to show some leadership and clearly and publicly denounce Unified Grassroots.”
On Monday the NDP held another media availability in Saskatoon featuring local MLA Kim Breckner, in which the topic was once again Unified Grassroots. This time, the NDP took aim at Unified Grassroots' first town hall event held in Saskatoon on Sunday.
In a news release, the NDP blasted Unified Grassroots for having Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, as one of the speakers. They also again accused Premier Moe of staying silent on the issue.
In a statement Friday, the Saskatchewan Party government accused the NDP of having “done more to promote western separatism than anyone else.”
“The NDP spoke about separation more than 130 times during the spring session and are now holding their seventh press conference.”
The statement added that while the NDP were “focused on condemning and silencing Saskatchewan residents,” the government was “committed to ensuring that this province and the people that live here are part of a strong, united, growing and prosperous Canada.”
