David Chatters

David Chatters
Member of Parliament for Athabasca
In office
1993–2004
Preceded by Jack Shields
Succeeded by Brian Jean
Member of Parliament for Westlock—St. Paul
In office
2004–2006
Preceded by first member
Succeeded by Brian Storseth
Personal details
Born April 15, 1946
Westlock, Alberta
Political party Reform (1993-2000)
Canadian Alliance (2000-2003)
Conservative (2003-2006)

David Cameron Chatters (born April 15, 1946 in Westlock, Alberta) is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 2006, representing the riding of Athabasca until the 2004 election, after which he represented Westlock—St. Paul.

Chatters, formerly a farmer and rancher, was first elected as a member of the Reform Party of Canada (1993–2000), which became the Canadian Alliance in 2000, which became the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. For over 10 years, he was the Senior Opposition Critic for Natural Resources and was a Deputy Whip of the Official Opposition. He was the Chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics, but health reasons made Chatters retire at the 2006 election.

In May 1996, he was suspended from the Reform Party caucus for asserting, in the wake of the Delwin Vriend case on LGBT human rights, that schools should have the right to fire openly gay teachers.[1] Another caucus colleague who had made a similar comment, Bob Ringma, was suspended at the same time;[1] a third caucus colleague, Jan Brown, was also suspended at the same time for publicly criticizing Chatters and Ringma. All three were readmitted to the Reform caucus by September of that year.[2]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
AllianceDavid Chatters 18,775 54.45 -0.16 $34,623
LiberalHarold Cardinal 9,793 28.40 -1.62 $66,236
Progressive ConservativeDoug Faulkner 4,224 12.25 +3.10 $26,660
New DemocraticAlysia Erickson 872 2.52 -2.17
MarijuanaReginald Normore 469 1.36
GreenHarvey Alex Scott 345 1.00 -0.50 $194
Total valid votes 34,478100.00
Total rejected ballots 1040.30+0.03
Turnout 34,58256.28+6.86
Canadian federal election, 1997
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ReformDavid Chatters 14,673 54.61 +7.47 $48,747
LiberalAdam Germain 8,066 30.02 +5.42 $59,100
Progressive ConservativeDon McGladdery 2,459 9.15 -9.96 $17,026
New DemocraticBryan Nelson 1,262 4.69 -2.87
GreenDave Gregory 405 1.50 +0.53 $1,206
Total valid votes 26,865100.00
Total rejected ballots 720.27
Turnout 26,93749.42
Canadian federal election, 1993
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
ReformDavid Chatters 15,348 47.14 +41.68
LiberalLawrence Courtoreille 8,011 24.60 +12.26
Progressive ConservativeJack Shields 6,223 19.11 -33.70
New DemocraticIan Thorn 2,461 7.56 -19.73
GreenHarvey A. Scott 315 0.97
Natural LawRoger Shapka 202 0.62
Total valid votes 32,560 100.00

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Gay Rights Bill Passes". Maclean's, May 13, 1996.
  2. "Back in caucus". Perceptions, P107 (v14n6)(Sept. 11, 1996): Page 19.

External links