Legislature colleagues remember MLA

Kevin Phillips, the MLA for Melfort described as a family man who was passionate about his community, died suddenly on Monday.

The 63-year-old was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2011.

On Tuesday, during a sombre sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature, Premier Brad Wall described Phillips as someone who lived a life of family, security and community.

The Saskatchewan Party MLA had four children and several grandchildren, of whom he was immensely proud.

Phillips was known for his good humour and friendly demeanour; Wall said he knew that when Phillips was serious, the matter was of upmost importance.

That was the case for Phillips during his push for the construction of a domestic violence shelter in Melfort, Wall said. Phillips lobbied for the centre and walked many miles in red high heels to raise support and awareness about the issue. The centre is the first of its kind to be built in the province since 1989.

Several MLAs spoke about the sage advice offered to them by Phillips, who was an active member of the Melfort business community and mayor of the city before being elected as an MLA. He was a partner in the Melfort Journal for more than 25 years and sat on the board of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association.

Opposition NDP MLAs spoke of how Phillips welcomed them after they were first elected and how, despite the tension of political debate, they sometimes would not feel that tension around him.

That sentiment was echoed by Warren Kaeding, an MLA elected in 2016, who said Phillips turned an intimidating place into a friendly place.

Poignant remarks about Phillips were delivered by Mark Docherty, MLA for Regina-Coronation Park. He said they were colleagues for one day, and friends after that. As rookie MLAs, the two good-humoured men sat in the back row of the legislature. Docherty joked how the two used to call it the “hinterland” and teasingly introduce themselves to their caucus colleagues asking, “Do you even know who we are?”

Phillips was serving as the deputy whip for the government side.

Flags outside the Saskatchewan legislature were lowered to halfstaff on Tuesday to honour him.