Harrison resigns as House leader for not telling premier he brought rifle into Sask. Legislative Building

Jeremy Harrison has resigned as Saskatchewan government House leader for not telling Premier Scott Moe about bringing a hunting rifle into the Legislative Building in the past.

However, in an interview Friday, Harrison denied the allegation thathe wanted to bring in a handgun.

Last week, Speaker Randy Weekes accused Harrison of bringing a hunting rifle into the building and wanting to bring a handgun in as well.

Harrison did not immediately respond to the allegations butlast Friday, Premier Scott Moe told media thatHarrison told him the Speaker's allegations were "unequivocally false."

Moe said he had confidence in Harrison to continue in his role and called him one of the best House leaders in the country.

One week later, on Friday, Harrison resigned from thatposition in a statement shared by the government.Harrison will remain in cabinet as the minister of trade and export development.

LISTEN | Jeremy Harrison gives interview about bringing gun to legislative building, resignation as House leader:

Jeremy Harrison gives interview about bringing gun to legislative building, resignation as House leader

4 months ago

Duration 3:38

Jeremy Harrison has resigned as Saskatchewan government House leader for not telling Premier Scott Moe about bringing a hunting rifle into the legislative building in the past, but in an interview Friday denied that he wanted to bring in a handgun.

Harrison addresses allegations

On Friday morning at his constituency office in Meadow Lake, Sask., Harrison confirmed he had in fact brought a weapon to the legislature.

"Adecade ago, I did bring a long gun into the legislature for a very short period of time, about 10 minutes, where I went in, grabbed some work and left on the way to a hunting trip," he said.

Harrison said security officials knew he was bringing a weapon into the legislature and that he did it in order to not leave an unsecured firearm in his vehicle unattended.

The Meadow Lake MLA said that, in retrospect, the decision was inappropriate.

"I shouldn't have done that. It was a mistake. It was a lapse in judgment," Harrison said.

Last week, Weekes said in his speech, "[Harrison's] desire to get permission to carry a handgun in the Legislative Assembly is particularly disturbing. Another incident reported by a former special constable was when the government House leader [flouted] the rules concerning weapons when he brought a hunting rifle into the Legislative Building."

Harrison said that he did not initially catch the allegation Weekes made about bringing a rifle into the legislature.

Harrison said he remembered the incident after conversations with others, and by that time the premier had made public comments.

"I offered my resignation to him as House leader based on that recollection," Harrison said.

According to the Legislative Assembly Act, Harrison would be in violation of Section 76.3 by bringing a firearm into the assembly because he is not a designatedindividual such as a security official, police officer or someone designated by the Speaker.

Harrison said he did not seek permission to bring in a handgun, as Weekes alleged.

LISTEN | CBC Sask.'spolitical panel discusses fallout from the Speaker's comments:

The Morning Edition - Sask11:46Political Panel - May 24

Just over a week ago, the Speaker of Saskatchewan's legislature made some shocking allegations about his colleagues -- including that a cabinet minister brought a rifle into the building and wanted to bring in a handgun. We get an update from our political panel.

Weekes also accused Harrison and other government members and staff of bullying and harassment.

Harrison said Friday that he was "surprised and disappointed" by those allegations.

"What happened was unfortunate and I was a bit mystified by some of it, particularly the allegations that were made from the chair."

NDP calls for Harrison to be booted from caucus

At a news conference on Friday, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck says Harrison's resignation as House leader is not good enough.

"Either the premier lied or his minister lied. And if that minister lied, he needs to be kicked out of that Sask. Party caucus," Beck told media.

She emphasized that while it appeared no crime was committed by Harrison, it was still an affront to the legislature.

"We shouldn't need a rule to tell us that we shouldn't bring guns into the legislature," she said.

On Thursday, Opposition NDP ethics and democracy critic Meara Conway sent letters to the chief firearms officer and security officials at the legislature asking questions about Harrison and firearms.

Conway said an investigation was warranted.

She said the allegations were serious and that Moe should not take Harrison's "word for it."

"People have resigned for far less," Conway said.