"He was so full of life, which is why this tragedy makes no sense to me."
While speaking with the Times-Herald on Tuesday, Regina Lumsden Lake Centre Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski was still in shock over the suicide of his friend and former colleague Dave Batters.
Batters killed himself in his Regina home on Monday. The former Palliser riding Conservative MP entered federal politics at the same time as Lukiwski.
Lukiwski said Batters was excited the pair was heading to Ottawa together after the 2004 election.
"He was very optimistic," Lukiwski said. He added Batters was extremely hardworking, funny and passionate about politics, which made news of the suicide all the more surprising and devastating.
"I'm absolutely shocked."
The Batters family announced the suicide in a press release issued Tuesday morning, which stated the family "is grieving the sudden loss of their beloved husband, son and brother, who sadly chose to take his own life ."
The statement also said: "Last fall, Dave courageously made public his battle with depression and anxiety when he chose not to run for re-election as the member of Parliament for Palliser. He entered treatment and his family and friends hoped he would overcome his illness.
"Tragically, this was not to be."
While still an elected official, Batters took medical leave following an undisclosed incident that left him hospitalized on July 1, 2008. Two months later, he announced he would not pursue re-election in the October 2008 federal election.
In a media release at that time, Batters said he had battled mental illness for several months and he also developed an addiction to the prescription medication known as benzodiazepines.
Lukiwski hopes the legacy of his friend will be one of a public figure who spoke out openly and honestly about mental illness.
"That took an awful lot of courage," Lukiwski said. He had hoped Batters would recover from the depression.
Current Palliser MP Ray Boughen told the Times-Herald Batters would be remembered politically as a young man with lots of energy, before depression set in. Boughen said he talked with Batters prior to the last federal election on campaigning issues and he certainly appreciates all the work Batters did for the constituency.
"There's no question, it's a very tragic time," Boughen said.
Batters' widow, Denise, is currently Saskatchewan Justice Minister Don Morgan's chief of staff.
"I'm like everyone else, I'm just deeply saddened," Morgan told reporters when asked about Batters' death on Tuesday. "I met him a number of times. I'm just deeply saddened."
There will be a funeral service at the Regina Funeral Home at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Internment at Regina Memorial Gardens Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to make donations to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Batters was 39 years old.
- With files from the Regina Leader-Post
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
