Tom Lukiwski
Member of Parliament for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre
Incumbent
Assumed office  2004
Preceded by	Larry Spencer
Born	October 15, 1951 (1951-10-15) (age 58) Esterhazy, Saskatchewan
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Diane Lukiwiski
Residence	Regina, Saskatchewan
Profession	small business owner, political administrator

Tom Lukiwski (born October 5, 1951) is a Canadian politician. He is the current Conservative Member of Parliament for the Saskatchewan riding of Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre. Born in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, he was a businessman and political administrator.

[edit] Political career

Lukiwski was first elected in 2004 winning by 122 votes. His predecessor, Larry Spencer, was denied the opportunity to run as a Conservative, despite having served as a member of the Canadian Alliance, due to inflammatory comments he made regarding homosexuality. Lukiwski is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons the Hon. Peter Van Loan.

On April 3, 2008, the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan released a videotape showing Lukiwski making homophobic remarks in 1991. In the video, he says:

"There's A's and there's B's. The A's are guys like me, the B's are homosexual faggots with dirt under their fingernails that transmit diseases."^[1][2]

The Saskatchewan NDP called for his resignation. Lukiwski apologized for the comments, saying "If I could take those comments back I would... They do not reflect the type of person that I am."^[3]

Lukiwski subsequently promised to spend his life promoting tolerance the video surfaced of him making anti-gay remarks in 1991. However he was a no-show to a May 31, 2008 Regina gay pride parade to which he was invited. Gay groups said they were disappointed that Regina-Lumsden MP Tom Lukiwski didn't even respond to an invitation to attend the parade. "Mr. Lukiwski stated in his public apology ... that he would spend the rest of his life making amends," said gay pride spokesman Nathan Markwart. "Well, when exactly does that kick in? "It is clear that his apology is less than sincere and is, in fact, hollow as it has not been followed up with any concerted effort to join our celebrations as an elected official who represents gays and lesbians in Regina and surrounding area." Markwart noted that the disappointment was heightened by their understanding that Lukiwski was in the Regina area on the date of the parade.^[4]

Just months after the controversy, Lukiwski was re-elected in the riding of Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre in the 2008 Canadian federal election.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Larry Spencer	Member of Parliament for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre 2004–	Incumbent

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