Premier calls Sask. Party MLA allegedly soliciting sexual services 'disgusting and vile'

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe calledthe alleged actions of a former Sask. PartyMLA "disgusting and vile" Monday, while speaking to media at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.

Ryan Domotor, 56, was arrested at a hotel in east Regina on Thursday afternoon just hours after he had been at the legislature. He is charged with communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services.

Moe said he booted Domotorfrom caucus and stripped him of all his government appointments once his office confirmedthe criminal charge. Domotor stillrepresents his constituency,Cut Knife-Turtleford, as an independent.

"What happened is disgusting and vile to be quite frank. a government needs to be supporting women that are in a vulnerable state, not exploiting them," Moe said. "This is not acceptable in any way by myself, by this government, [it's] terrible."

Domotorwas one of 16 people arrested last week in a ReginaPolice Service vice unit stingaimed at combating sexual exploitation and human trafficking. His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 4, police said.

Moe said he hasn't spoken withDomotor since the arrest and is not aware of any other members of the caucus being arrested.

Domotor's alleged actions are the "exact opposite"of what members of the Saskatchewan government should be doing, Moe said.

"We have a government that is moving very much in this space, funding second stage shelters.[We're] going to be amending the Human Trafficking Act in this very session," Moe said. "This is a government that needs to be doing all that it can to stop this behaviour."

WATCH |Premier Moe says alleged actions of Sask. Party MLA charged with soliciting sexual services are 'disgusting and vile':

Premier Moe says alleged actions of Sask. Party MLA charged with soliciting sexual services are 'disgusting and vile'

11 months ago

Duration 9:14

A Saskatchewan Party MLA has been booted from caucus after being criminally charged. Ryan Domotor, the MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford, is charged with communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services. Premier Scott Moe said Monday that Domotor's actions are the opposite of what his government stands for.

Opposition NDPLeader Carla Beck later raisedwhat she described as"a troubling pattern from Sask. Party MLAs,"during Monday's question period at the Saskatchewan legislature.

"This is completely inappropriate conduct for anyone, let alone a sitting member of this assembly," Beck said, adding that Domotor's arrest came about a year after Colin Thatcher, who was convicted of killing his wife, was invited to the 2022 Throne Speech.

Thatcher, who served as anenergy minister under former Conservative premier Grant Devine, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, after his ex-wife JoAnn Wilson was found beaten andshot to death in her Regina home in 1983. Her death followed theirtense breakup and a bitter custody dispute over their three children.

Thatcher served 22 years in prison before being granted full parole in 2006.He always maintained his innocence.

Former MLA Lyle Stewart, who resigned from his post this year for health reasons, invited Thatcher to last year's Throne Speech. The provincial government expressed remorse afterward for having done so.

Moe, in response to Beck during Monday's question period, again described Domotor's alleged actions as disgusting and stood by his government's swift response.

"[The consequences]were harsh," Moe said. "I think we can agree that all members in this assembly need to be working together to support those women, in particular, that are in vulnerable situations, Mr. Speaker, and should not be looking to exploit their situation."

Domotor, first elected as an MLA in 2020, was acclaimed in July as the Sask. Party candidate in next year's election. However, as of Friday afternoon, the Sask. Party's announcement of Domotor's 2024 candidacy was no longer available on its website.

"He won't be running for us, we'll be finding a new candidate to run in the riding," Moe said Monday.

Prior to his time as an MLA, Domotor previously served as a member of the standing committee on human services and was serving on the economy committee, according to his official government biography.

He was the chief administrative officer for the RM of Mervin from 1994 until 2020.