Former Sask. Party MLA Greg Lawrence pleads guilty to assaulting his wife

Former Saskatchewan Party MLA Greg Lawrence pleaded guilty Wednesday to assaulting his wife.

In January, Moose MLA Jaw Wakamow resigned from the Saskatchewan Party caucus amid a police investigation into “historical complaints.” He resigned the day before the charges were filed and subsequently remained as independent chairman until the 2024 elections, when he did not run again.

He was charged in January with assault and suffocation.

On Wednesday in Moose Jaw provincial court, Lawrence pleaded guilty to assault and the Crown withdrew the asphyxiation charge.

The former MLA was given a conditional discharge and is now on probation for 12 months.

The discharge will become absolute, and Lawrence will have no criminal record, if he adheres to the court terms. The conditions include that Lawrence not make any contact with the victim, keep the peace and be of good behavior.

According to court documents, Lawrence assaulted the victim in February 2019.

A September 2023 Saskatchewan Party press release quotes Lawrence as saying he would not run in the 2024 election due to “serious injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident last month.”

Lawrence served as the MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow from 2011.

Support is available for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence. In Saskatchewan, www.pathssk.org has lists of available services across the province. You can access support services and local resources in Canada via visit this website. If your situation is urgent, you can contact the emergency services in your area.