What lies ahead for Sask. politics after fall sitting begins in controversy, ends with $500 cheques in mail

The fall sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature started with controversy and ended quietly on Wednesday with confirmation $500 affordability cheques have been mailed.

The past seven weeks have seen the typical disagreements on what the government's priorities ought to be, but it began with an incident that made international headlines and led to an apology by the premier.

On Oct. 26, Lt.-Gov. Russell Mirasty delivered the government's throne speech. Seated in the crowd was convicted killer and former Saskatchewan cabinet minister Colin Thatcher.

Thatcher, 84, was found guilty in 1984 of the first-degree murder of his ex-wife, JoAnn Wilson, who was found beaten and shot to death in the garage of her home the previous year.

He was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 25 years and granted full parole in November 2006.

Thatcher was invited by Thunder Creek MLA Lyle Stewart, who initially defended the decision, before calling it an "error in judgment."

The Saskatchewan Party government relieved Stewart of his legislative secretary duties. Five days after the throne speech, Premier Scott Moe apologized.

On Wednesday, deputy premier Donna Harpauer met with reporters, as Moe was in Washington, D.C.

"It was a mistake, one that the premier addressed on behalf of all of us, but we are very focused on the government agenda and got back to our agenda very quickly," she said.

NDP Leader Carla Beck said the invitation was a "slap in the face" to survivors of domestic violence, those that work in the field, and the assembly.

"We're looking at a government that is out of touch," the Opposition leader said. 

"The fact that they did not see a problem with inviting a convicted wife killer to the legislature on throne speech day and then took five days and international embarrassment to even table the weakest of apologies," said Beck.

"It sent a terrible message in a province that has twice the rate of domestic violence in the country.

A day after Moe's apology, Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre introduced the Saskatchewan First Act, which the government said will confirm the province's autonomy and jurisdiction over its natural resources.