Lyle Stewart, MLA
-BY JENNIFER ARGUE, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
November 1st, 2022
Monday, Premier Scott Moe removed Lyle Stewart from his legislative secretary duties and apologized. By Tuesday, Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell also apologized for her comments.
The MLA for Lumsden-Morse, Lyle Stewart, kicked up a firestorm last Wednesday when he invited convicted murderer Colin Thatcher to the speech from the throne. Following the speech, Stewart called Thatcher a “fine individual” and said he was his friend and constituent and had a tough life due to his time in prison. Premier Moe questioned why he should apologize for Stewart’s invite. Minister of Corrections and Public Safety Christine Tell said Thatcher had paid his debt to society and had a right to be there.
Colin Thatcher served 22 years for the vicious first-degree murder of his ex-wife JoAnn Wilson. He has never accepted responsibility and has maintained his innocence. He will be on parole for the rest of his life.
The reaction was swift across social media and nationally as other media organizations picked up the story. Saskatchewan Radio talk show host John Gormely called the invite ‘atrocious.’ When the Minister of Advanced Education Gordon Wyant was asked on Twitter if he knew about the invite, he responded with one word, “No.”
During Thursday’s Question Period, the Leader of the Opposition, Carla Beck, called for the Premier to apologize.
Stewart issued a statement saying he regretted his decision as Thatcher’s presence was a distraction, and at the beginning of Monday’s session, the Premier apologized.
“Last week there was an individual that attended the speech from the throne who should not have been invited to do so. The invitation being extended was a terrible error in judgement and I have taken some time this weekend for some personal reflection to think and to listen. To listen first of all to my family, to friends, to listen to colleagues, and to people across this province indirectly and directly. I have come to the following conclusions. In saskatchewan we are all connected in some way. We are parents, we are children, we are brothers and sisters, we are friends and neighbours. As individuals each of us has to make an effort to ensure that we are doing all that we can to stop interpersonal and domestic violence in our families, in our friend circles, in our communities and across the province. We all have to be leaders each and every day when it comes to stopping these violent acts. This is even more important when it comes to our provincial government. The message that was conveyed with last week’s attendance by Mr. Thatcher during the speech from the throne is not a message that is acceptable to Saskatchewan people, nor is it indicative of the direction of a government that has a duty to provide leadership on such an important issue. This individual was invited by a government MLA, and while I do not review nor do I approve MLA invitation lists, as Premier and as leader of the government caucus ultimately I am responsible. To all of those who attended the speech from the throne, to all members of this assembly, and to all of the people of Saskatchewan I offer my unequivocal apology.”
Today, during Question Period, Nicole Sauer, NDP MLA, asked if the Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell would apologize “for her ridiculous comments last week justifying the invitation of colin Thatcher?” and she did.
“As the Premier stated yesterday and on behalf of the government he offered his unequivocal apology and I share in this apology. This subject being invited and being present at this legislature sent the wrong message… Last week I was asked about this subject’s presence and I responded. I responded without considering the implications that this invitation would have. The member that invited this subject should have used better judgement. The subject never should have been invited to this legislature.”
Tell responded to Sauer, asking what she was thinking. “It’s important to clarify, that my comments were in no way defending this subject or his reprehensible actions. What he did was horrific and wrong on so many levels. As a former police officer I was an investigator in an interpersonal violence and child abuse unit and I know from first hand experience up close and personal Mr. Speaker the horrors and tragedies that survivors of domestic and interperonal violence face each and every day. As such I will continue, as I have to fight to ensure their safety and well being...”
