MLA Lyle Stewart was stripped of his legislative duties by Premier Scott Moe Monday afternoon..Stewart invited convicted wife murderer Colin Thatcher to be his guest for the speech from the throne on November 26..Thatcher was a sitting MLA and cabinet minister when he was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife on Jan. 21, 1983..His wife, JoAnn Geiger, was shot and had 27 wounds. Thatcher's father was a former premier. Thatcher was granted full parole on November 30, 2006..Stewart was one of the first members of the Saskatchewan Party and sat as a Sask Party MLA for Thunder Creek since 1999..Stewart issued a statement on Friday about inviting Thatcher, his friend..“Each MLA is given the opportunity to invite a number of guests to the throne speech. It was my decision alone to invite Colin Thatcher, who is a constituent and long-time friend. In retrospect, this was an error in judgement as his presence was a distraction from a very positive and forward-looking throne speech, which included a number of new initiatives to keep Saskatchewan families safe in their communities,” read the statement..Moe said he had time to reflect on Stewart’s decision to invite Thatcher over the weekend.. Colin Thatcher Throne SpeechColin Thatcher Throne Speech .“Some personal reflection to think and to listen to my family, to listen to friends, listen to colleagues, and to people across Saskatchewan,” said Moe in the legislature..“In Saskatchewan, we are all connected in some way, your parents, your children, brothers and sisters, your friends.”.READ MORE Sask Party MLA calls inviting murderer Thatcher to throne speech an 'error in judgement'.Moe said that it is everyone’s responsibility to stop interpersonal violence..“As individuals, each of us may be asked to make an effort to ensure we are doing all we can to stop interpersonal and domestic violence in our families, in our friends' circle, in our communities, across the province,” said Moe..“Not acceptable to Saskatchewan people or the government on such an important issue [inter-personal violence]..Moe said he “does not approve” the MLAs guest lists for the throne speech..However, Moe said “I am responsible … I offer my unequivocal apology.”.Stewart was the legislative secretary.
