Untitled Document

The People of Saskatchewan

Calvert's NDP Government

Correspondence

April 30, 2006 Gardiner to Calvert

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                                                                                                            416 – 21 Dallas Rd.,
                                                                                                            Victoria, BC, V8V 4Z9

                                                                                                            April 30, 2006
Premier and Reverend Lorne Calvert,
Regina, Saskatchewan.

Dear Sir,

            I have this past week received 2 letters. The first was from you dated April 20 which you say is in response to my correspondence of April 5 and e-mail of April 21; the second, a letter dated April 18 from your Minister of Learning to my brother Mike Gardiner of Regina.

            In a nutshell, your policy is that this film or any film can be shown in schools. You expect teachers to point out any historical inaccuracies. However, if the producers and departments of education haven’t provided a list of inaccuracies, how would a teacher know what is accurate and what is not? Do teachers research every film they show? Of course not! And do teachers from provinces aside from Saskatchewan even suspect there is a problem with the film. No, they don’t.

            I have asked you to support publicly my family’s plea for mitigation of the defamation of character done to my grandfather through the airing of Prairie Giant: the Tommy Douglas Story. I requested that you not permit this film to be shown unaltered in Saskatchewan’s schools.

The Government of Saskatchewan, which sponsored this film to ‘leave legacies for the future generations’, has an ethical obligation. Your name is in the credits of this film. You, as Premier, are morally obligated to speak out when your government, in any way, has contributed to the defamation of a man’s character.

It is appropriate for a Premier to speak about how a province’s history is portrayed and to speak up for a former Premier when a wrong has been done. This film is inappropriate for use in schools due to the historical misinformation that would be given to students. It is the responsibility of your government to ensure that students are provided with truthful history.

Your letter dated March 27 twice refers to the ‘inaccurate’ portrayal of Jimmy Gardiner. Having recognised this inaccuracy, I am asking you to exhibit a degree of moral leadership. Your March 27 letter is already part of the public record.

            I don’t know whether to be amused or insulted by your involvement of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General in your latest correspondence. Was this an attempt to intimidate me, or do you fear that you are at risk because you may have done something for which you and/or your government may be liable? Please do not insult me, my family, and the people of Saskatchewan by denying moral obligation by hiding behind the ‘skirts’ of your Attorney General.

            The recent Gomery Commission explored the concept of ministerial accountability and its evolution, or perhaps its denigration. Irony of ironies, as the example of a Canadian who most honoured and respected ministerial accountability, who accepted responsibility for his decisions, they named Jimmy Gardiner. With the responses you have provided, there is no fear that your name would ever be mixed up with his when it comes to leadership.

            You had options. There were and still remain many ways that this matter could be dealt with that would minimise further defamation of character. Rather than explore creative solutions, you have chosen to shirk your responsibility to Saskatchewan’s history.

Yours truly,

Marg Gardiner

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Gardiner is to Saskatchewan what Douglas is to the NDP