Robert Batherson

President of the Conservative Party of Canada

Robert Batherson
President of the Conservative Party
In office
March 19, 2021 – September 8, 2023
LeaderErin O'Toole
Candice Bergen
Pierre Poilievre
Preceded byScott Lamb
Personal details
Born (1975-11-03) November 3, 1975 (age 48)
Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyConservative
Other political
affiliations
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
Children1
ResidenceHalifax, Nova Scotia
Alma materMount Saint Vincent University
ProfessionPublic Affairs Executive

Robert Batherson is a Canadian politician and public affairs executive[1] past president of the Conservative Party of Canada.[2] Before becoming national president, Batherson was a two-term National Councillor from Nova Scotia.

Personal life

Batherson was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He moved to Riverview, New Brunswick and then later to Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. He was educated at Sackville High School. Batherson earned his bachelor's degree in Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University in 1997. He has worked as a marketing executive in various sectors as well as a staffer on Parliament Hill prior to his current role.[3][4] Batherson is married and has one son. He is proficient in French and he is the first Conservative Party of Canada President from Atlantic Canada.

Politics

Batherson began working in communications and research for the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia Caucus Office and later worked as a political staffer for Peter MacKay.[5] In the 1998 Nova Scotia general election, Batherson ran as a Progressive Conservative party candidate in the riding of Sackville-Cobequid.[6][7] Following the 1999 Nova Scotia general election he worked as Premier John Hamm's Press Secretary and later as his Communications Director.[8]

Batherson served in the role of President of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia between 2009 and 2012.[9]

Batherson then ran again in 2017 Nova Scotia general election in the riding of Halifax Citadel-Sable Island.[10]

In 2016, Batherson was first elected to the Conservative Party of Canada's National Council as a councillor from Nova Scotia. In March 2021, he was elected as the president of the Conservative Party of Canada, taking over from Scott Lamb.[11]

Professional career

Batherson works as a communications and public affairs advisor.[12][13] He has served as the chair of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce[14] and the Neptune Theatre Foundation.[15] Batherson has also served as a member of the Halifax Stanfield International Airport's board of directors.[16]

Electoral record

  • v
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2017 Nova Scotia general election: Halifax Citadel-Sable Island
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Labi Kousoulis 2,419 41.28 -6.38
New Democratic Glenn Walton 1,618 27.61 -3.47
Progressive Conservative Rob Batherson 1,480 25.26 +7.68
Green Martin Willison 343 5.85 +2.67
Total valid votes 5,860 100
Total rejected ballots 29 0.49
Turnout 5,889 39.3
Eligible voters 14,910
Liberal hold Swing -1.46
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[17][18]
1998 Nova Scotia general election: Sackville-Cobequid
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic John Holm 5,909 62.71% 14.74%
Liberal Jack Brill 2,131 22.61% -7.43%
Progressive Conservative Rob Batherson 1,383 14.68% -7.32%
Total valid votes 9,423 99.71
Total rejected ballots 27 0.29 -0.19
Turnout 9,450 67.26 -6.62
Eligible voters 14,050
New Democratic hold Swing +11.08
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Sackville-Cobequid" (PDF). nslegislature.ca.

References

  1. ^ Scotia, Communications Nova (May 11, 2018). "Spurway To Return As Communications Director". News Releases. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Robert Batherson". Conservative Party of Canada. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Batherson, Robert. "Robert Batherson LinkedIn". Linked In. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Conservatives elect former Hill staffer, two-term Nova Scotia national councillor Batherson as party president, 'and now the work begins'". The Hill Times. March 21, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Don, MacDonald (August 13, 1999). "Yet another Pictonian premier poised for power". Archived from the original on April 1, 2003. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Batherson acclaimed by Sackville Tories". The Chronicle Herald. February 27, 1998. Archived from the original on January 23, 2005. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Nova Scotia, Elections (March 24, 1998). "1998 Nova Scotia General Election Results" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia.
  8. ^ Scotia, Communications Nova (May 11, 2018). "Premier Appoints New Communications Director". News Releases. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "PC Party Executive". PC Party of Nova Scotia. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Gorman, Michael (April 19, 2017). "Well-known Tory to contest Halifax district in next provincial election". CBC.
  11. ^ "New president of the federal Conservatives on his party's path ahead". CBC News. March 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "New Year brings new service for Trampoline clients". Trampoline Branding. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Semansky, Matt (March 23, 2010). "Colour names Keevill top shareholder and CEO". marketingmag.ca. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  14. ^ Fabian, Sabrina (November 13, 2015). "Syrian refugees will help stimulate economy, says Halifax Chamber of Commerce". CBC.
  15. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Arts-. "Un demi-siècle de théâtre à Halifax". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "Board of Directors - Halifax Stanfield International Airport". Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  17. ^ "Statement of Votes & Statistics, Volume I" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "May 30th, 2017 - 40th Nova Scotia Provincial General Election". Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved July 17, 2021.