Dick Collver
Encyclopedia
Richard Lee "Dick" Collver (born in Toronto on February 13, 1936) led the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party
from 1973 to 1978.
Having earned an arts degree in economics from the University of Alberta
, he articled as an accountant for Price Waterhouse in Calgary before moving to Saskatchewan in 1965. He was defeated in a run for the Saskatoon
mayoralty, but nonetheless attracted the attention of the then-moribund Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative party, and gained its leadership in 1973. The party under Collver began its road to revitalization, and won seven seats with over 28% of the vote in the 1975 election
. They became the official opposition after winning two by-election
s and convincing two Liberal MLAs, including Colin Thatcher
, to defect to the PCs.
Though Collver's Tories won 38% of the vote and 17 MLA
s in the 1978 election
, Collver was disappointed with the result, feeling convinced he was going to win the election. He resigned the leadership, and went on to form the Unionest Party
in 1980, which advocated the joining of Saskatchewan and other western provinces to the United States. The party eventually folded, and Collver retired to a ranch he purchased in Wickenberg, Arizona.
Collver briefly returned to Saskatchewan in 1984, to testify against Colin Thatcher in the trial that convicted him of the murder of his ex-wife Joanne Wilson. Collver alleged that Thatcher, in a visit to Collver's ranch in Arizona, approached him for help in the search for a hit-man to kill Wilson.
Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is a right-of-centre political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Prior to 1942, it was known as the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan. Members are commonly known as Tories....
from 1973 to 1978.
Having earned an arts degree in economics from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, he articled as an accountant for Price Waterhouse in Calgary before moving to Saskatchewan in 1965. He was defeated in a run for the Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
mayoralty, but nonetheless attracted the attention of the then-moribund Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative party, and gained its leadership in 1973. The party under Collver began its road to revitalization, and won seven seats with over 28% of the vote in the 1975 election
Saskatchewan general election, 1975
The Saskatchewan general election of 1975 was the eighteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 11, 1975, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan...
. They became the official opposition after winning two by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s and convincing two Liberal MLAs, including Colin Thatcher
Colin Thatcher
Wilbert Colin Thatcher is a Canadian former politician convicted for the murder of his ex-wife, JoAnn Wilson.-Political life:Colin Thatcher is the son of Wilbert Ross Thatcher, premier of Saskatchewan from 1964 to 1971...
, to defect to the PCs.
Though Collver's Tories won 38% of the vote and 17 MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
s in the 1978 election
Saskatchewan general election, 1978
The Saskatchewan general election of 1978 was the nineteenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on October 18, 1978, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, Collver was disappointed with the result, feeling convinced he was going to win the election. He resigned the leadership, and went on to form the Unionest Party
Unionest Party
The Unionest Party was a provincial political party in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the early 1980s, that advocated union between the four western provinces of Canada and the United States....
in 1980, which advocated the joining of Saskatchewan and other western provinces to the United States. The party eventually folded, and Collver retired to a ranch he purchased in Wickenberg, Arizona.
Collver briefly returned to Saskatchewan in 1984, to testify against Colin Thatcher in the trial that convicted him of the murder of his ex-wife Joanne Wilson. Collver alleged that Thatcher, in a visit to Collver's ranch in Arizona, approached him for help in the search for a hit-man to kill Wilson.