Chris Axworthy

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Christopher S. Axworthy (born March 10, 1947, Plymouth, England[1]) 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.[1] In 2003 he returned to the University of Saskatchewan as a Professor of Law, a position he currently occupies.[2]

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[edit] Political career

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 as a in a by-election as the Saskatchewan NDP MLA for the constituency of Saskatoon-Fairview with 64% of the vote.[3] He was also reelected three months later in a general election that same year. He served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.[2] After Romanow stepped down, Axworthy ran against Lorne Calvert for the provincial NDP leadership convention and finished second.[4][5]

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. He received 32.58% of the vote, but lost to incumbent Conservative MP, Maurice Vellacott.

[edit] 2006 Federal election

Axworthy ran against Vellacott again (as a Liberal) in the 2006 federal election but lost in a contest that was marked by 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.[6]

Vellacott's campaign later produced an affidavit from Saskatchewan politician Tom Hengen, in which he named Axworthy campaign worker George Laliberte as the caller.[7] Axworthy later spoke to Laliberte, and reported that he vehemently denied making the call.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David. Why Chris Axworthy feels at home. The Globe and Mail. October 30, 1999. p. A22
  2. ^ a b College of Law: Faculty and Staff Directory. Chris Axworthy.
  3. ^ NDP retains two ridings. The Globe and Mail. June 29, 1999. p. A5.
  4. ^ Adams, Paul. Race tests Saskatchewan NDP. The Globe and Mail. January 26, 2001. p. A4
  5. ^ Girard, Daniel. Calvert's first job to renegotiate coalition. The Toronto Star. January 29, 2001. p. A06.
  6. ^ Coolican, Lori. Conservatives want Axworthy dumped. Saskatoon Star Phoenix. January 21, 2006. [1]
  7. ^ Hengen, Tom. Sworn Affadavit. January 20, 2006. [2]

[edit] External links

[edit] Political record

[edit] Federal

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Riding was created in 1987		 Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing
1988-1997		 Succeeded by
Riding was abolished in 1996
Preceded by
Riding was created in 1996		 Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar
1997-1999		 Succeeded by
Dennis Gruending, N.D.P.

[edit] Provincial

Preceded by:
Bob Mitchell, Saskatchewan NDP		 Member of the Legislative Assembly from Saskatoon-Fairview
(1999-2003)		 Succeeded by:
Andy Iwanchuk, Saskatchewan NDP