R.I.P. Dave Batters

Various media are reporting that former Conservative MP Dave Batters has committed suicide. Batters was the Conservative MP for Palliser and was perhaps best known to prairie dog readers for his controversial, "family values" attacks on public funding for the Canadian film industry. Batters stepped down from office after a never-explained incident last Canada Day, announcing he was seeking treatment for anxiety and depression. Almost exactly one year later and he's dead. Awful. You can read the Leader-Post story here and the CBC story here.

Prairie dog and Dog Blog extend our sincerest condolences to his friends and family. Anxiety and depression are cruel.

UPDATE: Here's the story in the Globe and Mail.