While normally a throne speech opening a new legislative session, would garner a fair bit of attention, it was overtaken by the presence of Colin Thatcher. The former Grant Devine cabinet minister was an invited guest of MLA Lyle Stewart, and his attendance was accompanied by a throne speech which, speaking for “many Saskatchewan residents” sees the federal government as too lenient on violent offenders who commit gun crimes and too focused on punishing law-abiding gun owners. In 1983 Thatcher’s ex-wife JoAnn Wilson was found beaten and shot to death in the garage of her Regina home. Thatcher served 22 years in prison before getting full parole in 2006 after being convicted of first degree murder.
(Photo and files from the Canadian Press)
