February 27 Regina Provincial […]
When
1979-02-27
Description
February 27 Regina Provincial Conservative party leader Richard Collver caused a commotion in the Legislature after picking up on a flippant comment made by Brian Currie, president of GCCS, during a radio interview on station CKOM. Currie had mused about the statistical probability of there being a gay cabinet minister in Saskatchewan. Collver demanded in the Legislature that Premier Allan Blakeney respond to the charge, noting that homosexuals were easily blackmailed. Blakeney called Collver's comments contemptible, denying the presence of any homosexuals in the cabinet. He also threatened to sue Collver for slander if he repeated the accusation outside of the Legislature. The controversy abated, and Collver stepped down as leader of the Progressive Conservatives on May 28, 1979. (See also April 20, 1979.)
All Places
Saskatchewan LegislatureReginaAll People
Allan BlakeneyB. CurrieCollverAll Organizations
Gay Alliance toward Equality GATE, Gay Students Alliance GSA, Saskatoon Gay Action, Zodiac Friendship Society, Gay Community Centre of SaskatoonLiberal-Conservative Party, Conservative Party of Canada, Progressive Conservative party of Canada, Conservative Party of CanadaAll Citations
"Uproar in the Legislature," Gay Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), 2, no. 4 (April 1979): (3, 9).Untitled article, Gay Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), 2, no. 3 (March 1979): (3)"Premier Attacks Collver Rumour of Gay Minister," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 1 March 1979, p. 9Rudy Lukko, "Gays Spokesperson Just Assumes One Minister Is Homosexual," Regina Leader-Post, 28 February 1979, p. 14"Homosexual Charges Causes Second Thoughts in PC Circles: Tactics Raise Eyebrows," Moose Jaw Times-Herald, 3 March 1979"Homosexual Charge in Saskatchewan Has Tories Worried," Montreal Gazette, 5 March 1979, p. 56"Gays Call for Rights," Sheaf (Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon), 15 March 1979"Gay Cabinet Ministers?" Gay Calgary, no. 10 (1979), p. 3"Fags in the Cabinet?" Body Politic, no. 52 (1979), p. 10Dale Eisler, "Collver Escapes Bearpit, Explains Homosexual Stand," Regina Leader-Post, 1 March 1979, p. 5"Dick Steps Down," Body Politic, no. 54 (1979), p. 14"Dick Collver's Charge Causes Second Thought," Prince Albert Daily Herald, 3 March 1979, p. 2B. Currie, "Open Letter to Blakeney," Sheaf (Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon), 15 March 1979, p. 4"Collver to Go!" Gay Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), 2, no. 6 (June 1979): (6)
