Andrew Naismith Watson
Encyclopedia
Andrew Naismith Watson (born April 1, 1937) is a former politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1978 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
Watson was born in Woodbridge
, York County
, Ontario. He graduated from Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph
in 1959, and became the OMAF assistant agricultural representative for Waterloo County
later in the same year. He was transferred to Northumberland County
in 1962, and became the agricultural representative for Kent County
in 1968.
Watson served as the Kent County OMAF representative for ten years before his election to the Ontario legislature in a by-election
on October 19, 1978, held to replace former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Darcy McKeough
. He defeated Liberal
Brian Gamble
by 708 votes, and served in the legislature as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis
's government. He was re-elected without difficulty in 1981
.
Although forty-two years in government, the Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority administration
in the 1985 provincial election
, and were subsequently defeated in the legislature. Watson lost the Chatham—Kent seat to Liberal Maurice Bossy
by 1,134 votes.
After his loss, Watson served from 1986 to 1994 as assistant commissioner for Ontario on the Canadian Grain Commission. He became farm director for CFCO radio in 1997, and was named to the Chatham-Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2004.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1978 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
.
Watson was born in Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Ontario
Woodbridge is a large suburban community in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto in Southern Ontario. It was once an independent town before being amalgamated with nearby communities to form the city in 1971. Its traditional downtown core is the Woodbridge Ave...
, York County
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
, Ontario. He graduated from Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
in 1959, and became the OMAF assistant agricultural representative for Waterloo County
Waterloo County, Ontario
Waterloo County, created in 1853 and dissolved in 1973, was the forerunner of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. It consisted of five townships: Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot, Waterloo, and North Dumfries...
later in the same year. He was transferred to Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
in 1962, and became the agricultural representative for Kent County
Kent County, Ontario
Kent County, area 2,458 sq km is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. Population in 2006 was 108,589.The county was created in 1792 and named by John Graves Simcoe in honour of the English County. The county is in an alluvial plain between Lake St...
in 1968.
Watson served as the Kent County OMAF representative for ten years before his election to the Ontario legislature in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on October 19, 1978, held to replace former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Darcy McKeough
Darcy McKeough
William Darcy McKeough, is a Canadian businessman and former politician. He is a member of the board of Hydro One and is chairman of McKeough Investments and McKeough Supply, and former CEO of Union Gas....
. He defeated Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Brian Gamble
Brian Gamble
Brian "The Blade" Gamble is an American martial artist and professional wrestler. He was born in the state of Ohio, raised in Franklin Square, New York and now resides in Orlando, Florida.-Television appearances:...
by 708 votes, and served in the legislature as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
's government. He was re-elected without difficulty in 1981
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
.
Although forty-two years in government, the Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority administration
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
, and were subsequently defeated in the legislature. Watson lost the Chatham—Kent seat to Liberal Maurice Bossy
Maurice Bossy
Maurice Louis Bossy was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1980 to 1984, and represented the Ontario Liberal Party in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990.Bossy was educated at Paincourt, Ontario, and worked for many...
by 1,134 votes.
After his loss, Watson served from 1986 to 1994 as assistant commissioner for Ontario on the Canadian Grain Commission. He became farm director for CFCO radio in 1997, and was named to the Chatham-Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2004.