He represented the electoral district of Saskatoon Northwest in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1999 to 2003.
[2] With the governing New Democrats in a minority government situation, the party entered a coalition agreement and all three Liberal MLAs — Melenchuk, Ron Osika and Jack Hillson — were appointed to the provincial cabinet.
[1] The coalition was controversial among party members, however, and Hillson subsequently left to sit as an independent.
[2] Karwacki ordered Melenchuk and Osika to disband the coalition — however, both refused and officially left the Liberal caucus.
They sat as independent MLAs until 2003 when they both ran for re-election as NDP candidates in the 2003 election.