Sask. senator says invoking dead husband in online criticism crosses line

For the second time this summer, a Conservative senator from Saskatchewan has been told on social media that she is only in the upper chamber because her husband died by suicide.

Denise Batters says she is accustomed to a certain level of personal criticism online, but bringing in the memory of her
husband, former MP Dave Batters, crosses a line.

The first incident was on Facebook in late June, two days before the anniversary of Dave's death, and the senator saw the second one earlier this week on Twitter on what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary.

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A Twitter user with the handle @swancooletweeted that former prime minister Stephen Harper appointed Batters to the Senate in 2013 only because her husband killed himself and taxpayers are now supplying her life insurance.

Batters replied on Facebook that the tweets perpetuate stigma surrounding suicide and that she would give anything to have her husband back.

Dave Batters was a two-term Conservative MP from Saskatchewan who quit politics in 2008 after revealing he had severe anxiety and depression.

He died by suicide in 2009.