Ex-candidate denounced for suicide remarks

The head of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Saskatchewan branch says it is unfortunate that Dave Batters’ suicide was fodder for a political argument.

Though he has since apologized, former NDP employee and candidate Brian Sklar called out Senator Denise Batters in at least three social media comments on Wednesday, referencing her husband’s mental illness in each comment. All were to the effect that Batters is “only sitting in the Red Chamber because her husband, the MP, committed suicide.”

“It’s very unfortunate when someone would use that in a political arena because that is just totally inappropriate,” said Phyllis O’Connor, executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association, Saskatchewan division.

Since writing the comments, Sklar has also been subject to insensitive Facebook posts.

O’Connor said cyberbullying and harassment is “a very toxic, dangerous thing.”

Dave Batters was the Conservative MP for Palliser from 2004 to 2008. He was 39 years old when he committed suicide in 2009.

Since her husband’s death, Denise Batters has become an advocate for mental health. She was appointed to the Senate in 2013.

Sklar said Thursday morning he had emailed an “absolutely unequivocal apology” to Batters and also posted a short apology on her Facebook page, to which she replied: “Apology accepted. Please don’t post on my social media again.”

Provincial NDP Leader Nicole Sarauer denounced Sklar’s comments.

“There’s no place for that type of language or discourse in political discussion,” she said.