She served as a NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1991 to 2001, representing Burnaby-Willingdon.

[1] She served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1994, and as Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks from 1999 to 2000.

Sawicki was a secondary school teacher, a civil servant, and a land-use consultant prior to holding elected offices.

Sawicki was the NDP candidate in the riding of Burnaby-Willingdon in the 1986 provincial election but was defeated by Elwood Veitch, a minister in the Social Credit government.

In July 1999, Glen Clark named Sawicki to cabinet as Minister of Environment, Lands, and Parks.