Bob Dechert
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Dechert is a Canadian
politician and lawyer. He represents the electoral district
of Mississauga—Erindale
in the House of Commons of Canada. He is a member of the Conservative Party
.
, who desired a more conservative Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
, and wanted to work together with the Reform Party of Canada
. The Blue Committee was instrumental in the creation of the United Alternative movement, the Canadian Alliance
and ultimately, the Conservative Party of Canada.
Dechert ran in the 2004 Canadian federal election
in the electoral district of Mississauga—Erindale, losing to Carolyn Parrish. He ran in the same riding in the 2006 Canadian federal election
, losing to Omar Alghabra
.
He defeated Alghabra in the 2008 Canadian federal election
to become the Member of Parliament for that riding.
On March 5, 2010, Dechert became the Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of Justice.
He won re-election, again defeating Alghabra in the 2011 Canadian federal election.
Controversy revolved around the fact that Dechert was, at the time of the relationship, a parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird
. Critics, including Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomats to Beijing
, raised concerns as to whether Shi Rong was a Chinese spy trying to gain access sensitive government information. Both Burton and the opposition asserted that Dechert must have known about Xinhua's espionage activities.
, Ontario
and graduated from McMaster University
in Hamilton
with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He attended law school at the University of Toronto
and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1985.
He joined the law firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
. He practiced corporate law and was a senior partner at the firm prior to his first election victory.
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...
politician and lawyer. He represents the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Mississauga—Erindale
Mississauga—Erindale
Mississauga—Erindale is a federalelectoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.It was created in 2003 from parts of Mississauga Centre and Mississauga West ridings....
in the House of Commons of Canada. He is a member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Political history
Dechert formed the "Blue Committee" in 1994. The Blue Committee was a group of provincial conservatives, primarily from OntarioOntario
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....
, who desired a more conservative Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
, and wanted to work together with the Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
. The Blue Committee was instrumental in the creation of the United Alternative movement, the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
and ultimately, the Conservative Party of Canada.
Dechert ran in the 2004 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
in the electoral district of Mississauga—Erindale, losing to Carolyn Parrish. He ran in the same riding in the 2006 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, losing to Omar Alghabra
Omar Alghabra
Omar Alghabra is a Canadian politician, who represented the riding of Mississauga—Erindale in the Canadian House of Commons from 2006 to 2008.Alghabra graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in engineering and in 2000 received his Master of Business Administration from York University.He...
.
He defeated Alghabra in the 2008 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
to become the Member of Parliament for that riding.
On March 5, 2010, Dechert became the Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of Justice.
He won re-election, again defeating Alghabra in the 2011 Canadian federal election.
Relationship with Shi Rong
On September 9, 2011, it was revealed that Dechert had been engaging in "flirtatious e-mails" with a correspondent, Shi Rong, working for the Peoples' Republic of China news agency, Xinhua. The e-mails came to light when the correspondent's husband hacked into her e-mail account and made them public. Dechert acknowledged the "flirtatious" nature of his relationship and issued an apology, but denied any wrong doing.Controversy revolved around the fact that Dechert was, at the time of the relationship, a parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird
John Baird
John Baird may refer to:*John Baird , Canadian politician*John Baird *John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven , eighth Governor-General of Australia...
. Critics, including Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomats to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, raised concerns as to whether Shi Rong was a Chinese spy trying to gain access sensitive government information. Both Burton and the opposition asserted that Dechert must have known about Xinhua's espionage activities.
Education and prior work history
Dechert was born in BramptonBrampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
, Ontario
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....
and graduated from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He attended law school at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1985.
He joined the law firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Gowlings
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Gowlings, is Canada's second largest full-service law firm, with over 750 professionals practising in 10 cities in Canada, Russia, China and the United Kingdom....
. He practiced corporate law and was a senior partner at the firm prior to his first election victory.