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Bronwyn Eyre

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Bronwyn Eyre
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Saskatoon Stonebridge
In office
April 4, 2016 – October 1, 2024
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded byDarcy Warrington
Personal details
Born (1971-03-13) March 13, 1971 (age 53)
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Political partySaskatchewan Party
ResidenceSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
ProfessionMedia

Bronwyn Olivia Eyre is a Canadian politician. Eyre is a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (MLA), a role in which she represented the electoral district of Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota from 2016 to 2024 as a member of the Saskatchewan Party. She was the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Saskatchewan, the first woman to hold that position.[1]

Early life and career

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Eyre attended McGill University and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a law degree in 1996. She established a career in radio broadcasting with News Talk 650 and CJME in Saskatchewan and as a columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and the Calgary Herald.[2] Before entering provincial politics, Eyre was a Saskatoon public school board trustee.[3]

Political career

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Eyre was first elected in the 2016 provincial election in the newly established riding of Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota.[4] Eyre was re-elected in the 2020 provincial election.[5] She was defeated in the 2024 provincial election by Darcy Warrington of the New Democratic Party.[6]

Minister of Education (2016–2018)

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Eyre was named to Premier Brad Wall's cabinet as Minister of Advanced Education in August 2016. When Eyre was given the post, she was challenged about a 2011 column in which she compared climate science to "witchcraft reasoning" and downplayed the threat of climate change. In response, Eyre claimed that she had meant the column to be humorous.[2] In August 2017, Eyre became Minister of Education. In that position, Eyre came under scrutiny—and faced calls to resign—for a speech she gave in the Legislature suggesting that Indigenous history had become 'too infused' throughout the province's education curriculum.[7] In the speech, Eyre shared an anecdote about her child's homework that was proven misleading. Eyre apologized for using her child's homework in the speech and affirmed support for treaty education.[8][9] Backlash prompted the government to maintain Indigenous components of the curriculum in a planned review.[9]

Minister of Energy and Resources (2018–2022)

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Scott Moe succeeded Wall as premier in January 2018, and on February 2, Eyre was named Minister of Energy and Resources in Moe's cabinet.[10] Eyre expressed skepticism about transitioning away from fossil fuels, and worked to expand the province's oil and gas industries, as well as its application of carbon capture storage and utilization.[11][12]

Attorney-General (2022–2024)

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On May 31, 2022, Moe shuffled his cabinet and named Eyre the first female Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Saskatchewan.[1] Eyre stated that addressing "federal jurisdictional overreach", particularly as it pertained to resources and the environment, would be a top priority.[13] In November 2022, Eyre introduced the Saskatchewan First Act, which was meant to assert provincial jurisdiction over natural resources and affirm their importance to the provincial economy.[14][15] The economic analysis the government used to justify the act was criticized by experts.[16] The Saskatchewan First Act itself drew widespread criticism, particularly from First Nations who pointed out that Treaties covering Saskatchewan lands predated the foundation of the province.[17] In response to the introduction of the Act, Onion Lake Cree Nation launched a lawsuit against the province.[18] Eyre has defended the legislation, stating that it is not a violation of Treaty rights and that provincial jurisdiction over resources is already a part of the Canadian constitution.[19]

In October 2023, the Saskatchewan government passed new legislation called the Parents' Bill of Rights, a controversial bill enshrining in law policies that restrict sexual education and require parental consent for students under the age of 16 who wish to have their chosen pronouns and names affirmed at school.[20] A Court of King's Bench justice granted an injunction against the initial policy, warning that it risked causing "irreparable harm" to vulnerable youth.[21] After the injunction, the government opted to use the notwithstanding clause to enact the policy. The use of the clause, which came before the court process had completed, was widely criticized by legal experts.[22] Eyre defended the government's use of the clause, and stated that the government was "willing to be judged" on the policy.[23]

On November 28, 2023, Eyre nominated the first tribunal under the Saskatchewan First Act, meant to assess the economic costs of new federal Clean Electricity Regulations.[24][25]

Electoral record

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2024 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon Stonebridge
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic Darcy Warrington 4,177 54.30
Saskatchewan Bronwyn Eyre 3,336 43.36
Green Cheryl Mazil 96 1.25
Progress Jahangir J. Valiani 84 1.09
Total 7,693 100.00
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[26]
2020 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Bronwyn Eyre 7,584 67.17
New Democratic Judicaël Moukoumi 3,083 27.31
Buffalo Brett Gregg 334 2.96
Green Lydia Martens 289 2.56
Total 11,290 100.00
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[27]
2016 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Bronwyn Eyre 6,584 69.96
New Democratic Steve Jimbo 2,300 24.44
Liberal Kevin Ber 377 4.00
Green Michelle Wendzina 149 1.58
Total 9,410 100.00
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division; Elections Saskatchewan[28]

Cabinet positions

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Saskatchewan provincial government of Scott Moe
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Gordon Wyant Minister of Justice
May 31, 2022 – November 7, 2024 		Tim McLeod
Nancy Heppner Minister of Energy and Resources
February 2, 2018 – May 31, 2022 		Jim Reiter
Saskatchewan provincial government of Brad Wall
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Don Morgan Minister of Education
August 30, 2017 – February 2, 2018 		Gordon Wyant
Scott Moe Minister of Advanced Education
August 23, 2016 – August 30, 2017 		Kevin Doherty

References

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  1. ^ a b "Moe shuffles cabinet; Eyre first woman to hold Justice portfolio in Sask". CBC News. 2022-05-31. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  2. ^ a b "Sask. minister Bronwyn Eyre addresses climate change column from 2011". CBC News. 2016-08-24. Archived from the original on 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  3. ^ "Honourable Bronwyn Eyre - Saskatchewan Party". Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  4. ^ Hamilton, Charles (2016-04-05). "Sask Party upset NDP in Saskatoon". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  5. ^ Marr, Tyler (2020-09-29). "Saskatchewan election: Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota". Global News. Archived from the original on 2020-11-22. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  6. ^ Prisciak, David; Postey, Drew (2024-10-28). "Here are the upsets of Saskatchewan's 2024 election". CTV News Regina. Archived from the original on 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  7. ^ "Teachers' Federation raises concerns about Sask. education minister's comments on Indigenous education". CBC News. 2017-11-08. Archived from the original on 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  8. ^ Warick, Jason (2017-11-13). "Minister apologizes for drawing her son into controversy over treaty education". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  9. ^ a b Fraser, D.C. (2017-11-15). "Premier stands by education minister in wake of controversial comments". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  10. ^ Zinchuk, Brian (2018-02-07). "Bronwyn Eyre new Minister of Energy and Resources". Sask Today. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  11. ^ D'Souza Butts, Sierra (2021-11-16). "Eyre worries about too swift a green transition". The World-Spectator. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  12. ^ Piller, Thomas (2021-09-08). "Saskatchewan government lays out carbon capture utilization, storage priorities". Global News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  13. ^ Olijnyk, Zena (2022-07-08). "Saskatchewan's new justice minister ready to take on Ottawa over federal overreach". Canadian Lawyer. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  14. ^ Bamford, Allison; Prisciak, David (2022-11-01). "'Saskatchewan First Act' aims to assert constitutional jurisdiction: province". CTV News Regina. Archived from the original on 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  15. ^ Hunter, Adam (2022-11-01). "Saskatchewan First Act introduced, meant to 'confirm' provincial jurisdiction over natural resources". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  16. ^ Hunter, Adam (2022-10-13). "Sask. policy paper's financial analysis not credible, economist says". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  17. ^ Langager, Brody (2022-12-16). "'When all else fails, we will blockade': FSIN denounces Saskatchewan First Act". Global News. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  18. ^ Benson, Andrew (2023-03-18). "Treaty rights at forefront of fight against Saskatchewan First Act". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  19. ^ Langager, Brody (2023-01-12). "Minister of Justice defends Sask. First Act, says it doesn't challenge treaties". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  20. ^ Salloum, Alec (2023-10-20). "Saskatchewan passes school pronoun bill using notwithstanding clause". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  21. ^ Salloum, Alec; Harder, Brandon; Kurz, Larissa (2023-09-28). "Moe vows to use notwithstanding clause after court injunction halts pronoun policy". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  22. ^ Warick, Jason (2023-10-19). "Law professors, human rights commissioner tell Sask. government to shelve Parents' Bill of Rights". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  23. ^ Hunter, Adam (2023-10-20). "Sask. government passes Parents' Bill of Rights". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  24. ^ Simes, Jeremy (2023-11-28). "Provincial government uses Sask. First Act for 1st time to review federal electricity regulations". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  25. ^ "Provincial government uses Sask. First Act for 1st time to review federal electricity regulations". CBCSaskatchewan. YouTube. 29 November 2023.
  26. ^ "2024 General Election Official Results". Elections Saskatchewan. 2024-11-09. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  27. ^ "A Report on the Twenty-Ninth General Election, Volume I: Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  28. ^ "2016 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
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