Hilda Watson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of theYukon Progressive Conservative Party | |
| In office 1978–1979 | |
| Preceded by | first leader |
| Succeeded by | Chris Pearson |
| Member of theYukon Territorial Council | |
| In office 1970–1974 | |
| Preceded by | John Livesey |
| Succeeded by | district dissolved |
| Constituency | Carmacks-Kluane |
| Member of theYukon Territorial Council | |
| In office 1974–1978 | |
| Preceded by | first member |
| Succeeded by | Alice McGuire |
| Constituency | Kluane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 13, 1922 Kuest,Saskatchewan[1] |
| Died | July 14, 1997(1997-07-14) (aged 75) Yukon[2] |
| Political party | Yukon PC Party |
| Residence(s) | Haines Junction,Yukon |
Hilda Pauline Watson (January 13, 1922 – July 14, 1997) was aCanadian schoolteacher andpolitician from theYukon Territory. She was the first woman in Canadian history to lead apolitical party which was successful in having its members elected.[3]
First elected to theYukon Territorial Council in the1970 election to represent the district ofCarmacks-Kluane,[4] she was one of the first two councillors to be appointed to the new executive committee.[5] This gave herministerial responsibilities overeducation in the territory.[6] Watson and her fellow executive councillorNorman Chamberlist built a voting bloc with two other non-executive councillors, which gave them effective control over virtually all council business.[7] In 1974, Watson survived amotion of no confidence brought against her for her handling of a student strike inPelly Crossing.[6]
Watson was reelected in the1974 election, but the validity of her election was challenged in court by former executive councillorJohn Livesey on the basis of allegations that 26 ineligible voters had cast ballots in the district — although it was impossible to determine which way the invalid votes had been cast, the result was in doubt because the number exceeded the 17-vote margin between Watson and Livesey.[8] Watson resigned the seat and recontested it in aby-election, in which Livesey ran as her main challenger; Watson won the by-election.[9]
After the legislation authorizing the creation of theLegislative Assembly of Yukon, and the resulting establishment ofpolitical parties in the territory, was passed in 1977, Watson narrowly won the leadership of the newProgressive Conservative Party over federal Member of ParliamentErik Nielsen.[10]
She led the party to victory in the1978 territorial election,[10] in which she was the party's candidate in the electoral district ofKluane. However, she lost her own seat toLiberal opponentAlice McGuire, and therefore did not become government leader.[10] She was succeeded as leader of the party and of the government byChris Pearson.[11]