Former Sask. Party MLA, cabinet minister Lyle Stewart dies
CBC
Long-time Saskatchewan Party MLA Lyle Stewart has died.
Stewart was first elected in 1999 and served as an MLA for Thunder Creek and Lumsden-Morse for more than 23 years. He also served as an interim leader of the Sask. Party and was agriculture minister from 2012 to 2018.
Premier Scott Moe posted about Stewart's death on social media Tuesday afternoon, offering condolences to family and friends.
According to Moe's post on X, Stewart died at the age of 73, after a bout with cancer.
"Lyle was a man of few words, which is unusual for a politician, but you always knew where he stood," said Moe.
"His quiet strength and dedication to the people he served were an example to all of us who served with him."
Moe said the flags at the Legislative Building will be lowered to half-mast.
Stewart was in the news on a number of occasions over the years, sometimes in unexpected ways. That includes the time in 2009 he fended off an attack by a carjacker.
He was criticized in 2022 after inviting convicted murderer and long-time friend Colin Thatcher to the legislature for the throne speech.
In 2014, Stewart was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but stayed on as minister of agriculture.
He eventually stepped down from his cabinet position in 2018 due to a colon cancer diagnosis. He stayed on as an MLA, but in 2023 he announced he had been living with prostate cancer for years, which had worsened at the time, and would resign.
"It has been the honour of my life to represent the people of Lumsden-Morse and Thunder Creek as their MLA for the past 23-and-a-half years," said Stewart when he resigned in 2023.
"Many of the members who sit in these seats are among my best and most trusted friends. I hope to keep up these relationships. So goodbye for now and God bless."