Condolence Motion (14 May 2025)

From Hansard (14 May 2025)

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Passing of Former MLA Lyle Stewart

Blaine McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, today we remember the Hon. Lyle Stewart, a man many of us knew well. Now, Mr. Speaker, I know that you knew Lyle as a colleague and a friend, and I expect that he would recognize and remember you as a spiritual mentor.

I knew him initially as a friend of my father’s as my dad, along with countless other people, helped Lyle win the Sask Party nomination in 1999 and then successfully win a seat in the general election when 25 Sask Party members were elected.

Shortly after this election, my wife and I became involved in the Thunder Creek Sask Party constituency association. And how I miss that name, Thunder Creek constituency. And that’s when a lifelong friendship began. My wife, Marlie, served as treasurer and business manager for several elections. And I would take time off from my busy life as a dairy farmer to show Lyle around our part of the constituency approximately every four years, oftentimes in between as well.

Lyle was always graciously received by all he met, and the time spent with him was thoroughly enjoyed. Lyle continued to serve Thunder Creek and later Lumsden-Morse for twenty-three and a half years, winning six elections during that time period.

Now during Lyle’s time as Saskatchewan’s Agriculture minister, where he served with prominence and distinction, he appointed me to serve on a livestock development committee as we sought to provide guidance on how to remove barriers to the development and growth of the cattle industry in Saskatchewan. And I, for one, will be forever grateful for that opportunity as I met many fellow farmers and ranchers and people that were leaders across the province, and it whet my appetite to want to do more.

Lyle brought passion to everything he did for our province and we continue to benefit from his efforts — promoting and planning for the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation expansion, a tireless trade mission ambassador, expansion of crop insurance, and serving as president of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region in 2012 and ’13, where he worked to strengthen economic ties.

And I noticed as I campaigned in his backyard, the legend of Lyle Stewart still loomed large. Many times I had the opportunity to hear people say, he was my hockey coach; I played hockey with him; or I served on the school board or the rink board or the council or as a trustee with him.

Yes, he is gone, but certainly not forgotten. Now Lyle passed away on July 30th, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. And when he spoke with me about stepping back as a member from the legislature, he said, “I hope that I’ll be around to be able to vote for you.” And he was. He was.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Juanita, his son Lee, who continues to farm just north of Pense on the family farm, and two daughters, Stephanie and Alison, who live in Ontario. And Lyle, as already was mentioned, was so proud of the list of grandchildren who were special and dear to their grandparents, Lyle and Linda Stewart.

Lyle was a husband, a father, grandfather, and a dedicated MLA for our beautiful province. For me, he was a good friend, a mentor, a giant of a man who will always be fondly remembered. The friendship that my wife and I built with Lyle and his former wife, Linda, continues to endure.

It wouldn’t be good if I didn’t finish with a quote from Lyle Stewart, from a man who was most comfortable in jeans and cowboy boots. And Lyle would say, any day without a tie is a good day.

Mr. Speaker, Lyle Stewart made a very profound profession of his faith right here in this very room. It was Easter, the third session of the twenty-eighth legislature.

I am proud to be able to stand here today and say that I do have faith. And on the day [that] you finally lay this old seed in the ground, I’ll be okay, because Jesus went first and he lives.

So fitting that he referred to himself as “this old seed.” Spoken like a true farmer, Mr. Speaker. I’m reminded of a beautiful song written by one of my favourite country artists, Vince Gill. And I know this is not a funeral, but it’s a song that I think Lyle would really appreciate.

Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son

Thank you, Lyle, for all you’ve done for this province. You are missed, and we will continue to preserve and protect the legacy you have left. May God bless us all.