Jeff Watson (politician)
Jeffrey D. Watson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Essex | |
| In office 2004–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Susan Whelan |
| Succeeded by | Tracey Ramsey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 25, 1971 Windsor, Ontario |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Sarah Anne Watson (Thomson) |
| Residence | Essex, Ontario |
| Profession | political analyst, marketing manager, autoworker |
Jeffrey D. Watson (born March 25, 1971 in Windsor, Ontario) is a former Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament for the Essex electoral district in Ontario.
Watson was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Essex in June 2004 and re-elected in January 2006 and October 2008. Watson was defeated in 2015 by the New Democratic Party, despite a Liberal Party majority elsewhere in the country, with the New Democrats picking up few new seats.[1][2]
In February 2007, Watson came under criticism for comments made at a hearing of the Special Legislative Committee on Canada's Clean Air Act that linked greenhouse gas reductions to a demise in the Canadian economy which could result in domestic violence and suicide.[3] While in April 2007, the government tabled a report detailing how C-288 will plunge Canada into a recession costing 275,000 jobs, echoing the MPs concerns.[4]
In January 2007, the Windsor Star reported that Watson and his wife Sarah were involved in the filing of criminal charges against a campaign worker from Watson's 2004 campaign who became campaign manager for Windsor-Tecumseh Conservative Party candidate Rick Fuschi after a falling out with Watson.[5] Testimony revealed that the Watson's invited crown witnesses to their home to review "time lines" and testimonies three days before the trial took place.[6] The campaign worker charged was ultimately acquitted.[7]
Alberta Controversy
Upon losing his former Ontario riding of Essex in the 2015 General Election, Jeff Watson moved with his wife and adult children to Calgary, Alberta. As nominations opened for the riding of Calgary-Peigan Jeff Watson submitted nomination papers.[8] George Clark, founder of Albertans First Patriots[9] criticized Watson harshly saying he was deliberately and falsely representing himself on his website. Clark said "most reading it would assume that [Watson] was an Albertan Conservative MP fighting for Alberta for decades. But the reality is that [Watson] was a former Windsor-Essex Conservative Ontario MP."[10]
Watson's website quotes himself saying "As a Conservative MP, I worked with Jason Kenney and Stephen Harper to deliver the Alberta Advantage to the rest of Canada"[11]
References
- ^ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "CBC News: Election 2015 roundup". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "Kyoto a killer, MP says," Mike De Souza, Windsor Star, February 17, 2007 Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ - Report on Bill C-288
- ^ "Death threat to MP left workers scared," Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star, January 10, 2007 Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "MP's wife called witnesses," Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star, January 23, 2007 Archived February 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Tory campaign manager acquitted of threatening MP Jeff Watson," Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star, January 25, 2007 Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Former Essex MP Watson hopes to return to politics — but in Alberta". Windsor Star. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "George Clark, Leader Of Albertans First Movement, Hosts 'Kudatah' In Walmart Parking Lot". HuffPost Canada. 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "George Clark". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "Jeff Watson | Jeff Watson". jeffwatson.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-09.