Marit apologizes after nominating domestic violence perpetrator for medal

The Saskatchewan government is likely a bit red-faced this week after it came out that one of the people who was given a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal last year pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife.

Jim Wickett, who had been the chairman of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers, was nominated for and received a medal late last year. Wickett was nominated for that medal by Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit.

However, as reported by Global News on Monday, months before that, Wickett had been charged with assaulting his wife. He later pleaded guilty.

In a statement sent out Tuesday, Marit apologized for the nomination, saying he had put forward names from the agriculture industry for the medal at the recommendation of his ministry. Marit said he didn’t know about Wickett’s legal situation at the time.

“To be clear, I would never have nominated someone for such an honour had I known,” Marit wrote in that statement. “It is not appropriate for someone who is guilty of domestic abuse to receive a medal or an honour from the province.”

The medals are awarded to those who “have made a contribution to Canada, Saskatchewan, or to a particular region or community,” and the provincial government said a total of 7,000 of the awards are to be given out to “deserving citizens” around the province.

According to Marit, Wickett was asked to give back the medal, and did.

“I apologize to not only victims and survivors, but to all those who work every day to provide a future free of domestic abuse. As a government, we remain committed to doing that same work,” wrote Marit.

The situation might bring back memories for some of last fall, when convicted murderer Colin Thatcher was invited by a Saskatchewan Party MLA to be a guest at the Speech from the Throne. Premier Scott Moe apologized on behalf of the government several days later.

“The message that was conveyed with last week’s attendance by Mr. Thatcher during the speech from the throne is not a message that is acceptable to Saskatchewan people, nor is it indicative of the direction of a government that has a duty to provide leadership on such an important issue,” Moe said in part of an apology in the Assembly around the Thatcher invitation.

Later that day Moe spoke to reporters saying the province requires a larger leadership role from his government.

“I’m here speaking on behalf of that government today when it comes to how we can drive those (domestic violence) statistics down and support those that have experienced domestic abuse,” said Moe in October.