Claim: Dick Collver became leader of the Saskatchewan PC Party in 1973 with the party winning 28% of the votes in the 1975 election and 38% in the 1978 election.
Evidence: He was defeated in a run for the Saskatoon mayoralty, but attracted the attention of the then-moribund Saskatchewan PC Party, and gained its leadership in 1973. The party under Collver began its road to revitalization, and won seven seats with over 28% of the vote in the 1975 election, including Collver's seat in Nipawin. Though Collver's PCs won 38% of the vote and 17 MLAs in the 1978 election, Collver was disappointed with the result, feeling convinced he was going to win the election.