Jaime Watt

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Jaime Watt is a Canadian political strategist who was most notable for playing an important role in the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario's two election victories under the leadership of Mike Harris. ^[1]

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Watt ran for city council in Oakville at age 19. He became a Tory campaign strategist in the 1995 Ontario provincial election, where he organized the campaign's TV commercials. People expected Watt to gain a prominent government position, but convictions of fraud relating to a clothing store he owned in Oakville prevented it. ^[2] Later, Watt served a role in the PCs' 1999 election victory.

Watt backed Jim Flaherty's bid to replace Harris as PC party leader, but Ernie Eves won the 2003 party leadership election. Eves, however, appointed him and Leslie Noble as co-chairs of the Tory election campaign. Watt's selection was widely seen as an embrace by Eves of Flaherty's more right-wing positions. Watt was widely considered the mastermind of the widely criticized idea of presenting the 2003 provincial government budget at a Magna International auto parts factory instead of in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The National Post blamed Watt for the "Evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet" debacle. ^[3]

Later that year, he became co-chair of Barbara Hall's campaign to become mayor of Toronto. (Hall was widely considered to be affiliated with the Liberal Party). In early 2004, he led Belinda Stronach's team for the federal Conservative Party.

Watt is openly gay and campaigned prominently for same-sex marriage. He served a term as leader of the Canadian Human Rights Campaign.

Watt is a research and strategy specialist having pioneered the practice of forensic research and communciations in Canada. Having conducted more then 5000 focus groups in his career, in Canada and abroad, he is one of the country's most experienced qualitative researchers.

He has been heavily involved in raising money for charity, in particular taking a leadership role with Casey House in Toronto.

When not campaigning, he works with Navigator Ltd., a public relations firm, which also employs figures such Robin Sears and Glen Murray. He has a daughter named Heather from a previous marriage.

[edit] References

1. ^  Toronto Life
2. ^  Harder, Jeff. "Minister protected by double standard", Ottawa Sun, Friday, October 15, 1999.
3. ^  "Eves takes high road as Tory bickering begins", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Sep 29 2003 12:08 p.m. EDT.