Chris Axworthy

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Christopher S. Axworthy (born March 10, 1947, Plymouth, England) is a Canadian politician.

After teaching law at the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie Law School, Chris Axworthy came to Saskatoon in 1984 as the founding Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and as a Professor of Law at the University of Saskatchewan.

He was elected as a Saskatchewan Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party in 1988 and was re-elected in 1993 and 1997.

He resigned from the House of Commons on June 1, 1999 to join the cabinet of then Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow. He was elected in a by-election as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Saskatoon-Fairview and reelected later that year. He served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. After Romanow stepped down, Axworthy ran against Lorne Calvert for the provincial NDP leadership and finished second.

In 2003 he returned to the University of Saskatchewan as a Professor of Law, a position he currently occupies. He also practices law with Robertson Stromberg Pedersen.

Although he was an NDP member for his political career, he announced his bid for the Liberal nomination in the riding of Saskatoon—Wanuskewin on March 5, 2004. The same day, Ryan Androsoff, the only other candidate for the nomination, withdrew. He received 32.58% of the vote, but lost to incumbent Conservative MP, Maurice Vellacott.

[edit] 2006 election

Axworthy lost to Vellacott again in the 2006 federal election, in a contest that was marked by extreme bitterness and controversy. During a live televised debate late in the campaign, a caller falsely suggested that Vellacott had been forced to leave a church after being accused of sexual assault. The call was subsequently traced to Axworthy's campaign headquarters. Axworthy described the allegations as "deplorable", and apologized to Vellacott for the situation. He denied that anyone in his office was put up to making the call, and suggested that a "mischief-maker" may have entered the office.

Vellacott's campaign later produced an affidavit from Saskatchewan politician Tom Hengen, in which he "to the best of [his] knowledge and belief" named Axworthy campaign worker George Laliberte as the caller. Axworthy later spoke to Laliberte, and reported that he vehemently denied making the call. Vellacott's lawyer filed a defamation suit against Laliberte on March 22, 2006, in the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Preceded by: Ray Hnatyshyn, Prog. Cons. (Saskatoon West)

Member of Parliament from Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing (1988-1997)

Succeeded by: Riding was abolished in 1996

Preceded by: Riding was created in 1996

Member of Parliament from Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar (1997-1999)

Succeeded by: Dennis Gruending, N.D.P.

Preceded by: Bob Mitchell, Saskatchewan NDP

Member of the Legislative Assembly from Saskatoon-Fairview (1999-2003)

Succeeded by: Andy Iwanchuk, Saskatchewan NDP