David Cameron Chatters (April 15, 1946 – January 25, 2016) was a Canadian politician. He was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1993 to 2006, representing the riding of Athabasca until the 2004 election, after which he represented Westlock—St. Paul.

David Chatters
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Westlock—St. Paul
In office
2004–2006
Preceded byfirst member
Succeeded byBrian Storseth
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Athabasca
In office
1993–2004
Preceded byJack Shields
Succeeded byBrian Jean
Personal details
BornApril 15, 1946
Westlock, Alberta, Canada
DiedJanuary 25, 2016(2016-01-25) (aged 69)
Westlock, Alberta, Canada
Political partyConservative (2003-2006)
Canadian Alliance (2000-2003)
Reform (1993-2000)

Born in Westlock, Alberta, 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] He died at the age of 69 on January 25, 2016. He had pancreatic cancer.[3][4]

Electoral record

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2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative David Chatters 26,435 66.7 $25,254
Liberal Joe Dion 7,694 19.4 $79,419
New Democratic Peggy Kirkeby 3,482 8.8 $2,112
Green John A. McDonald 2,037 5.1 $486
Total valid votes 39,568 100.0
Total rejected ballots 151 0.38
Turnout 39,719 56.56
2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Alliance David Chatters 18,775 54.45 -0.16 $34,623
Liberal Harold Cardinal 9,793 28.40 -1.62 $66,236
Progressive Conservative Doug Faulkner 4,224 12.25 +3.10 $26,660
New Democratic Alysia Erickson 872 2.52 -2.17
Marijuana Reginald Normore 469 1.36
Green Harvey Alex Scott 345 1.00 -0.50 $194
Total valid votes 34,478 100.00
Total rejected ballots 104 0.30 +0.03
Turnout 34,582 56.28 +6.86
1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Reform David Chatters 14,673 54.61 +7.47 $48,747
Liberal Adam Germain 8,066 30.02 +5.42 $59,100
Progressive Conservative Don McGladdery 2,459 9.15 -9.96 $17,026
New Democratic Bryan Nelson 1,262 4.69 -2.87
Green Dave Gregory 405 1.50 +0.53 $1,206
Total valid votes 26,865 100.00
Total rejected ballots 72 0.27
Turnout 26,937 49.42
1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform David Chatters 15,348 47.14 +41.68
Liberal Lawrence Courtoreille 8,011 24.60 +12.26
Progressive Conservative Jack Shields 6,223 19.11 -33.70
New Democratic Ian Thorn 2,461 7.56 -19.73
Green Harvey A. Scott 315 0.97
Natural Law Roger Shapka 202 0.62
Total valid votes 32,560 100.00

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gay Rights Bill Passes". Maclean's, May 13, 1996.
  2. ^ "Back in caucus". Perceptions, P107 (v14n6)(Sept. 11, 1996): Page 19.
  3. ^ "Community mourns former MP".
  4. ^ "David CHATTERS Obituary (2016) - Westlock, AB - Edmonton Journal". Legacy.com.
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