Jim Watson (Canadian politician)

2025-08-20T14:18:24Z

96.8.177.121:

{{Short description|59th mayor of Ottawa}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Jim Watson
| image = Jim Watson at the 2013 AMO Conference (9538825979) (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Watson in 2013
| order1 = 56th
| office1 = Mayor of Ottawa
| term_start1 = December 1, 2010
| term_end1 = November 15, 2022
| predecessor1 = [[Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician)|Larry O'Brien]]
| successor1 = [[Mark Sutcliffe]]
| term_start2 = December 1, 1997
| term_end2 = August 13, 2000<ref>{{cite news|title=Council split over choice of interim mayor|date=August 22, 2000|page=17|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/163196271/|access-date=January 16, 2025}}</ref>
| predecessor2 = [[Jacquelin Holzman]]
| successor2 = [[Allan Higdon]] (interim)
| office3 = Member of [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Provincial Parliament]] for [[Ottawa West—Nepean (provincial electoral district)|Ottawa West—Nepean]]
| term_start3 = October 2, 2003
| term_end3 = February 1, 2010
| predecessor3 = [[Garry Guzzo]]
| successor3 = [[Bob Chiarelli]]
| office5 = [[Ottawa City Council]]lor
| term_start5 = 1991
| term_end5 = 1997
| predecessor5 = [[Lynn Smyth]]
| successor5 = [[Inez Berg]]
| constituency5 = [[Capital Ward]]
| office4 = [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]]
| premier4 = [[Dalton McGuinty]]
| term_start4 = October 30, 2007
| term_end4 = January 12, 2010
| predecessor4 = [[John Gerretsen]]
| successor4 = John Gerretsen
| office6 = [[#Summary of Cabinet Portfolios|More...]]
| birth_name = James Alexander Watson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|7|30}}
| birth_place = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| otherparty = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Ontario Liberal]] (2003–2010)
| residence = [[Woodpark, Ottawa|Woodpark]], [[Ontario]], Canada<ref>{{cite web|title=Search For Contributions|url=https://www.elections.ca/WPAPPS/WPF/EN/CCS/ContributionReport?returnStatus=1&reportOption=5&queryId=6812784d15e04df7b2c947af43df3523&sortDirection=asc&sortOrder=0%2C1%2C2&totalRecordFound=8&current200Page=1&total200Pages=1&reportExists=True&displaySorting=True|publisher=Elections Canada|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref>
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|reporter}}
| signature = Jim Watson signature.svg
| honorific_suffix = [[Executive Council of Ontario|ECO]]
}}

'''James Alexander Watson''' (born July 30, 1961) is a Canadian politician who served as the 56th [[mayor of Ottawa]] from 2010 to 2022. Previously, he served as an Ottawa city councillor from 1991 to 1997, and as mayor from 1997 to 2000.

Watson subsequently represented the [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Ottawa West—Nepean (provincial electoral district)|Ottawa West—Nepean]] in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 2003 to 2010. He served in the [[Executive Council of Ontario|Cabinet]] of Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]] in the portfolios of Consumer and Business Services (2003–2005), Health Promotion (2005–2007), and Municipal Affairs and Housing (2007–2010). He resigned in January 2010 to run for mayor in the [[2010 Ottawa municipal election]]. He was re-elected mayor in 2014 and in 2018. On March 20, 2021, Watson became the longest serving mayor in the city's history, surpassing Stanley Lewis who held office from 1936 to 1948.<ref name="longest worship">{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Kelly |title=Egan: The longest Worship — Watson to set mayoral record this week |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/egan-the-longest-worship-watson-to-set-mayoral-record-this-week |date=March 17, 2021 |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

==Early life==
Watson was born on July 30, 1961,<ref name="WhoWho">{{cite book|title=Canadian Who's Who 2008: Volume 43|author=Elizabeth Lumley}}</ref> in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]<ref name="WhoWho"/> as the second child<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jim-watson |title=Jim Watson |first1=Susan |last1=Sherring |first2=Niko |last2=Block |publisher=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |orig-date=January 6, 2017 |date=September 8, 2023 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> to Frances (née Murdoch)<ref>{{Cite news |first=Matthew |last=Pearson |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/city-hall-blog-frances-watson-1930-2014| title=City Hall Blog: Frances Watson, 1930 – 2014 |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=December 29, 2014 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> and Beverley "Bev" Watson.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/fast-food-long-hours-and-a-thousand-handshakes-a-day-in-the-life-of-jim-watson |first=Bruce |last=Deachman |title=Fast food, long hours and a thousand handshakes: A day in the life of Jim Watson |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=October 21, 2018 |orig-date=October 19, 2018 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/mayor-jim-watsons-father-dies-at-91 |title=Mayor Jim Watson's father dies at 91 |first=Evelyn |last=Harford |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> He grew up in [[Lachute]], but his family moved a few times during his childhood for his father's work, taking him to [[Beaconsfield, Quebec|Beaconsfield]], [[Thornhill, Ontario|Thornhill]], and [[Sarnia]]. He graduated from high school from [[Northern Collegiate]] in Sarnia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mayor-ottawa-candidates-election-1.4850095 |title= Meet your candidates for Ottawa mayor |first=Joanne |last=Chianello |orig-date=October 9, 2018 |date=October 11, 2018 |publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> Watson later moved to Ottawa to attend [[Carleton University]] and graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the Faculty of Public Affairs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Grads|url=https://alumni.carleton.ca/grads/watson-jim/|website=Carleton Alumni|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064957/https://alumni.carleton.ca/grads/watson-jim/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He first got involved in the political sphere during his second year of studies in 1982, when he served as the President of the [[Rideau River Residence Association]] (RRRA).<ref>{{cite web|title=Jim Watson|url=https://carleton.ca/fpa/story/jim-watson/|website=Carleton University|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> Watson began his career working in journalism for a few local newspapers, and later entered the federal public service, where he rose to the position of Director of Communications for the [[Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada|Speaker of the House of Commons]].

==Municipal politics in Ottawa==
===City Council===
Watson first entered public office in 1991 when he was elected to pre-amalgamation Ottawa's City Council as councillor for [[Capital Ward]]. He was subsequently re-elected to Council in 1994. In 1992 Watson championed a roll-back of salaries and operating costs at the city level. His first direct action against excessive city spending was his unilateral decision to donate his yearly 2% salary increase, totalling $700, to charity.<ref>''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', July 13, 1992.</ref> In addition, as part of the re-election process Watson donated his severance pay of $5200 to four local charities after moving from Regional to City Council in 1994. During his second term as councillor, Watson reduced his own salary by 13% from $51,000 to $45,000 while voting to reduce the mayor's office budget and salary.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} In 1996, he supported [[Dalton McGuinty]]'s bid to lead the Ontario Liberal party,<ref>''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', December 2, 1996.</ref> though at the time he still considered himself a "[[Red Tory]]", dating back from his university days when he was a member of the Progressive Conservatives.<ref name="Red Tory">{{cite news |title=The Jim Watson File |author= |date=April 27, 1996| page=C3| publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66679023/the-ottawa-citizen/|access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

===First mayoral term (pre-amalgamation)===
In 1997, Watson sought election as [[Mayor of Ottawa]], winning 83 per cent of the popular vote to become Ottawa's youngest-ever mayor at age 36. During his term as mayor, Watson's emphasis centred on ensuring that the City adopt sustainable fiscal management policies which would enable overall operating costs to go down while reducing budget deficits and the city's debt burden.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} In conjunction, Watson managed to freeze property tax rates for two consecutive years.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} He also championed a plan with two other councillors, [[Peter Hume (politician)|Peter Hume]] and [[John O'Neil (politician)|John O'Neil]], to save the historic [[Aberdeen Pavilion]] from being torn down.

==After municipal politics==
Watson resigned as mayor on August 14, 2000 to become president and CEO of the [[Canadian Tourism Commission]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mayor-watson-moving-on-1.252217 |title=Mayor Watson moving on |author= |date=July 7, 2000 |orig-date=July 6, 2000 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> During his time with the federal crown corporation, Watson secured additional funding for the industry following the 2001 crisis of the 9/11 attacks and the softening of the global tourism industry.

In 2003, Watson left public service to pursue a career in media as host of [[CHRO-TV]]'s ''The New RO @ Noon''. He was also a regular contributor to the Ottawa [[radio station]] [[CFRA]] and the ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]''.

Watson has served on the board or as honorary chair of several community organizations including the [[The Ottawa Hospital|Riverside Hospital]], the [[National Arts Centre]], the [[Ottawa SuperEX|Central Canada Exhibition Association]], the Christmas Exchange of Ottawa and the Forum for Young Canadians. He served as chair of the [[United Way of Canada|United Way]]'s 2002 campaign, which raised a record $21 million.

==Provincial politics==
[[File:Jim Watson, MPP (cropped).jpg|thumb|MPP Jim Watson speaking at the 2009 [[Ottawa Folk Festival]]]]
In the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 provincial election]], Watson defeated [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]] incumbent [[Garry Guzzo]] to become the [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) for the Ottawa West-Nepean riding and was appointed by [[Premier of Ontario]] [[Dalton McGuinty]] as Minister of Consumer and Business Services on October 23, 2003. He became Ontario's first [[Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (Ontario)|Minister of Health Promotion]] on June 29, 2005.

===Minister of Consumer and Business Services===
Watson worked alongside the [[Ontario Provincial Police]] (OPP) to create a "Fraud Free Calendar" in order to help protect consumers, particularly seniors, from high pressure sales tactics, which often lead to impulse purchases.<ref>{{cite web|title=2005 Annual Report|url=https://www.tico.ca/media/downloads/2005AnnualReport.pdf|website=TICO|publisher=Travel Industry Council of Ontario|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In the spring of 2004, the Federal and Provincial governments signed a joint service delivery accord, creating a "one stop shop" in many communities for provincial and federal services. This accord later included municipalities, in order to provide many government services in one location, for example [[Ottawa City Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|title=CANADA AND ONTARIO LAUNCH JOINT SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGY, Working Together to Help Save Money and Provide Better Service to Citizens|date=13 May 2004 |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2004/05/canada-ontario-launch-joint-service-delivery-strategy-working-together-help-save-money-provide-better-service-citizens.html |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> Upon inheriting a massive backlog in birth certificate applications, Watson took action to streamline the delivery process for online applicants. After a cabinet shuffle, [[Dalton McGuinty]] and [[Gerry Phillips]] implemented a money-back guarantee to individuals who do not receive a birth certificate within 15 days of the online application, which Watson had initiated.

===Minister of Health Promotion===
Watson initiated a study designed to help Ontarians quit smoking. STOP – Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients – offered free nicotine replacement therapy to 14,000 smokers across the province.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ontarians to Receive Free Medication to Quit Smoking |url=https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/2915652-ontarians-to-receive-free-medication-to-quit-smoking/ |publisher=[[Burlington Post]] | via=Inside Halton |date=14 January 2006 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> On May 31, 2006, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect, banning all smoking in public areas in the province, including in restaurants, bars, casinos, etc. Watson was recognized for its implementation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Smoke-Free Ontario Act is a joint effort|url=https://news.ontario.ca/archive/en/2006/05/18/Historic-SmokeFree-Ontario-Act-is-a-joint-effort.html|publisher=[[Government of Ontario]]|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In June of that year, Watson unveiled a $10-million Healthy Eating and Active Living Plan. The plan took aim at childhood obesity, which included a pilot project in Northern schools, offering fruits and vegetables to the students and a program that looked to develop and improve safe biking and walking to and from schools.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ontario Launches Pilot Program To Deliver Fruits and Vegetables To Children In The North|url=https://news.ontario.ca/archive/en/2006/09/15/Ontario-Launches-Pilot-Program-To-Deliver-Fruits-And-Vegetables-To-Children-In-T.html|publisher=[[Government of Ontario]]|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In 2006, the Ontario government launched a project which provided financial assistance to Ontario athletes looking to perform at the national and international levels. Quest For Gold is now part of the Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP), funded by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport. The Program provided direct financial assistance to Ontario athletes through an "Ontario Card" designation. The intent of the OAAP is to provide funding to individual athletes based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport, allowing them to pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quest For Gold |url=http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/sport/sport/quest-for-gold/quest_for_gold.shtml |publisher=[[Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport]] |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

===Minister of Municipal Affairs===
After the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 election]], Watson became [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]]. During his tenure as Queen's Park's official liaison with Ontario's municipalities, Watson was able to implement substantive policies to alleviate fiscal pressure on cities. In February 2008, Watson brought forward the Rental Opportunity for Ontario Families (ROOF) program that helps low-income families with funds to pay rent over a five-year period.<ref>{{cite web |title=Helping Households Pay Their Rent |url=https://news.ontario.ca/archive/en/2008/02/22/Helping-Households-Pay-Their-Rent.html |publisher=[[Government of Ontario]] |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In October of that year, a policy designed to support the uploading of property tax supported programs from the budgets of Ontario's municipalities to that of the Provincial budget was implemented. Under this policy, the province took back $1.5 billion worth of programs funded by Ontario's municipalities, reversing previous downloading of provincial responsibilities which occurred during Mike Harris’ tenure as premier. The provincial government assumed responsibility for Ontario Works social assistance services, paramedic services, public health, transit, drug benefit programs, the Ontario Disability Support Program, court services, and property tax assessment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund 2008 – Minister's Memo |url=https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ompf/2008/mletter_mar08.html |publisher=[[Ontario Ministry of Finance]] |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In addition, Watson signed the Federal-Provincial Housing Agreement in 2008, the largest housing agreement of its kind to date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2009/2009-04-24-1400.cfm |title=Over $3.8 Million Boost for Affordable Housing in Fergus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724082137/http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2009/2009-04-24-1400.cfm |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |publisher=[[Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation]]}}</ref>

=== Summary of Cabinet Portfolios ===
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Dalton_McGuinty}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post3preceded = [[John Gerretsen]]
| post3 = [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]]
| post3years = October 30, 2007 – January 12, 2010
| post3note =
| post3followed = [[John Gerretsen]]

| post2preceded = New position
| post2 = [[Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (Ontario)|Minister of Health Promotion]]
| post2years = June 29, 2005 – October 30, 2007
| post2note =
| post2followed = [[Margarett Best]]

| post1preceded = [[Tim Hudak]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Consumer Services (Ontario)|Minister of Consumer and Business Services]]
| post1years = October 23, 2003 – June 29, 2005
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[Gerry Phillips]]
}}
{{s-end}}

==Second mayoral term (New City of Ottawa)==
On January 12, 2010, Watson resigned from cabinet in order to run for mayor of Ottawa in the [[2010 Ottawa municipal election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Benzie |first=Robert |date=January 12, 2010 |title=McGuinty's team shrinks again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-mcguintys-team-shrinks/137471165/ |work=[[Toronto Star]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |page=A6 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Watson won the election with almost 50% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/watson-wins-ottawa-mayor-s-race-1.905765 |author= |publisher=[[CBC News]] |title=Watson wins Ottawa mayor's race |orig-date=October 25, 2010 |date=October 26, 2010 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

Upon taking office, Watson froze his own salary and cut his office budget by 10%.<ref>"{{cite web |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget-and-taxes/budget/budget-2011-highlights |title=Budget 2011 highlights | City of Ottawa |access-date=2013-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219192420/http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget-and-taxes/budget/budget-2011-highlights |archive-date=2013-02-19 }}"</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chianello |first=Joanne |date=December 29, 2012 |title=Integrity package good, as far as it goes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-integrity-package-goo/138283229/}} and {{cite news |title=Chianello: Protocol expenses should be public |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-chianello-protocol-e/138283385/ |work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |location=Ottawa, Ontario |pages=E1–E2 |access-date=January 7, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> As mayor, he committed to limit tax increases to no more than 2.5%, and did so, bringing in the lowest rates in a number of years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/10/24/draft-budget-proposes-209-tax-hike |publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]] | title=Draft budget proposes 2.09% tax hike |first=Jon |last=Willing |orig-date=October 24, 2012 |date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/11/02/furey-ottawa-mayor-jim-watson-true-to-his-promises |publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]] | title=Ottawa mayor Jim Watson true to his promises |first=Anthony |last=Furey |orig-date=November 2, 2012 |date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/ottawamorning/2012/10/25/mayor-watson |publisher=[[CBC News]] | title=Mayor Watson |date=October 25, 2012}}</ref> He also enacted a set of integrity and transparency measures, including hiring an integrity commissioner, launching a lobbyist registry and requiring that elected officials’ office expenses be posted online.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/11/26/watson-reacts-to-ford-decision |first=Jon |last=Willing |publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]] |title=Watson reacts to Ford decision |orig-date=November 26, 2012 |date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> He also froze community recreation fees for four years,<ref>"{{cite web |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/budget-2013 |title=Budget 2013 - Overview | City of Ottawa |access-date=2013-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121170439/http://ottawa.ca/en/budget-2013 |archive-date=2013-01-21 }}"</ref> and reduced the size of the city's workforce twice, the first time it had been done since amalgamation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/draft-budget-sets-ottawa-tax-increase-at-2-39-1.979005 |author= |publisher=[[CBC News]] |title=Draft budget sets Ottawa tax increase at 2.39% | date=October 26, 2011 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/10/24/sherring-2013-draft-budget-has-tidbits-for-everyone |first=Susan |last=Sherring |publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]] |title=2013 draft budget has tidbits for everyone |orig-date=October 24, 2012 |date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

Watson and the Ottawa City Council also invested $340 million in infrastructure renewal projects such as roads, sidewalks, pathways and sewers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-and-development/transforming-ottawa/list-projects |title=List of projects |access-date=2013-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301094011/http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-and-development/transforming-ottawa/list-projects |archive-date=2013-03-01 }}</ref> and record amount in cycling initiatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget-and-taxes/budget/budget-2012 |title=Budget 2012 - Overview |access-date=2013-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120181321/http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget-and-taxes/budget/budget-2012 |archive-date=2016-01-20 }}</ref> Watson helped advance two major city-building projects that had stalled for a number of years: the revitalization of Lansdowne Park and the introduction of light rail transit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/Everyone+board/7758279/story.html |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |title=Most people are on board, so far |first=Mark |last=Sutcliffe |author-link=Mark Sutcliffe |date=December 30, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811032659/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Everyone+board/7758279/story.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> In October 2012, the city council approved the final Lansdowne Park plan, an agreement with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group that saw the existing stadium significantly renovated, increased green space, and housing and retail added to the site.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/final-lansdowne-deal-passed-by-council-1.1245290 |author= |publisher=[[CBC News]] |title=Final Lansdowne deal passed by council |orig-date=October 10, 2012 |date=October 11, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/Council+gives+final+ahead+Lansdowne+project/7369051/story.html | publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |title=Council gives final go ahead to Lansdowne project |first=David |last=Reevely |date=October 11, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705053632/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Council+gives+final+ahead+Lansdowne+project/7369051/story.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2012, City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the [[Line 1 (O-Train)|Confederation Line]], a 12.5 km light rail transit line from Tunney's Pasture in the west to Blair in the east, to be fully operational by 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/confederation-line-lrt-project-approved-by-council-1.1187784 |author= |publisher=[[CBC News]] |title=Confederation Line LRT project approved by council |orig-date=December 19, 2012 |date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

Watson also helped create Invest Ottawa, the city's economic development agency, whose programs and initiatives increase entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in Ottawa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Watson campaign announcement |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/live-at-230-jim-watson-makes-a-campaign-announcement |first=Michael |last=Woods |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=October 18, 2014 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

==Third mayoral term==
Watson won the mayoral race in 2014 with 76.20% of the votes, defeating eight other candidates.<ref name="2014 results">{{Cite web|url=https://ottawa.ca/election/index_en.html|title=2014 Election Results|website=City of Ottawa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920045452/https://ottawa.ca/election/index_en.html|archive-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>

===International economic trips===
On November 16, 2015, Watson lead an economic mission to China and Thailand with hopes of promoting Ottawa as a leading innovation hub in Canada, to draw investment for Ottawa businesses, and to encourage tourism to the nation's capital. Watson and fifteen local business leaders began the mission in Beijing,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor Jim Watson Headed to China and Thailand |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/mayor-jim-watson-headed-to-china-and-thailand |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |first=Joanne |last=Laucius |orig-date=October 21, 2015 |date=June 2, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> Ottawa's only sister city, where he signed an "Exchange and Co-operation Agreement" with [[Politics of Beijing#List of mayors|Beijing mayor]] [[Guo Jinlong]], establishing key common goals in business, trade, and municipal administration. The agreement states the mutual support of local enterprises to invest in each other's cities, as well as enhanced co-operation in the high-tech industry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ottawa Mayor to Lead Business Delegation to China, Thailand |url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2015/10/21/ottawa-mayor-jim-watson-heading-to-china-and-thailand.html |first=Lucy |last=Scholey |publisher=[[StarMetro (newspaper)|Metro News]] |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314011053/http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2015/10/21/ottawa-mayor-jim-watson-heading-to-china-and-thailand.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
A year later, on April 17, 2016, Watson led a delegation of 35 leaders in the business and tech industries to generate investment opportunities in technology, education, film production and tourism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ottawa trade trip to India aims to draw business, tourists |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/watson-ottawa-india-trade-tourism-1.3538301 |first=Kate |last=Porter |orig-date=April 15, 2016 |date=April 16, 2016 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> In addition to seizing the significant economic growth opportunities in India, the trade mission also afforded the [[City of Ottawa]] and Invest Ottawa the opportunity to leverage the experience of many successful, local Indo-Canadian business leaders. The mission's resulting list of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), strategic partnerships and mutually beneficial agreements between Ottawa companies and their Indian counterparts has an estimated total value of more than $80 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economice Development Initiatives|url=http://ottawa.ca/en/business/business-resources/economic-development-initiatives|publisher=[[City of Ottawa]]|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052654/https://ottawa.ca/en/business/business-resources/economic-development-initiatives|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Significant projects===
Since 2014, Watson has led many significant projects in the city. Set to become one of the largest infrastructure projects in the city's history, the city secured more than $1.15 billion from the federal government to help the expansion of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) network of the completed Confederation Line, which will move the public transportation further east, south, and west.<ref>{{cite news |title=Federal government commits to funding LRT Stage 2 |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/federal-government-commits-to-funding-lrt-stage-2/ |author= |publisher=[[CTV News]] |orig-date=15 June 2017 |date=June 16, 2017 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>
Watson pushed to have the Mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau to join the Board of the [[National Capital Commission]] (NCC) in 2016. That year, Watson and Gatineau mayor [[Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin]] were invited to join as ex-officio, non-voting members.<ref>{{cite news |title=NCC board invites mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau to participate in meetings |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ncc-board-invites-mayors-of-ottawa-and-gatineau-to-participate-in-meetings |first=Don |last=Butler |date=February 29, 2016 |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

The city has invested a record $80M since 2014 for cycling and pedestrian structures. City council unanimously approved downtown Ottawa's second segregated bike lane in 2015 and built the 2.5-kilometre north-south cycling spine between Parliament Hill and Lansdowne Park on O’Connor Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=O'Connor's new bike lanes now open, ahead of schedule |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/oconnors-new-bike-lanes-open-on-thursday-ahead-of-schedule |first=Matthew |last=Pearson |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=October 20, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> In addition, the NCC worked alongside Watson, as well as [[Nathalie Des Rosiers]] and [[Elizabeth Moore Aubin]], to open another segregated cycling lane on Mackenzie Avenue, creating a safer environment for cyclists in the Ottawa region.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mackenzie Avenue newest spoke in Ottawa's cycling network |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/news/mackenzie-avenue-newest-spoke-ottawas-cycling-network |publisher=[[City of Ottawa]] |access-date=October 23, 2023 |date=May 19, 2017 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115160232/https://ottawa.ca/en/news/mackenzie-avenue-newest-spoke-ottawas-cycling-network |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Watson played a key role in the opening of the Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards, the new home for Invest Ottawa and an entrepreneurial hub for the Ottawa region. It is expected to engage over 1200 businesses within the city, assisting them to grow and develop their products, as well as create over 280 jobs within the capital region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bayview Yards Innovation Centre Announcement |url=https://www.investottawa.ca/blog/bayview-yards-innovation-centre-announcement/ |publisher=Invest Ottawa |date=17 June 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>
Watson and the City of Ottawa have been working in conjunction to reduce the impact of sewage overflows and storm water on the [[Ottawa River]]. The Ottawa River Action Plan (ORAP) is made up of 17 individual projects which aim to enhance the health of the Ottawa River and to protect Ottawa's water environment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa River Action Plan |date=October 14, 2022 |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-environment/air-land-and-water/beaches-rivers-and-streams/ottawa-river-action |publisher=[[City of Ottawa]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>
Watson supported the arts community towards redeveloping the Arts Court and expanding the [[Ottawa Art Gallery]]. The project is part of a vision for the revitalization of the downtown core in Ottawa. The project includes environmentally-controlled exhibition and curatorial spaces, event and education facilities, a café and a gift shop.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) Expansion and Arts Court Redevelopment |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-and-development/major-projects/ottawa-art-gallery-oag-expansion-and-arts-court-redevelopment |publisher=[[City of Ottawa]] |access-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403051048/https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-and-development/major-projects/ottawa-art-gallery-oag-expansion-and-arts-court-redevelopment |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Ottawa 2017===
As Canada celebrated its 150th year since [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]], the [[City of Ottawa]] created a group in charge of putting together a full year of activities and events. The Ottawa 2017 Bureau, under Guy Laflamme, was responsible for organizing signature events throughout the year, attracting millions of visitors to Ottawa to experience them. Over the course of year, the city played host to a number of successful events including the 2017 Red Bull [[Crashed Ice]] downhill skating competition, the [[Juno Awards of 2017]]; [[La Machine (production company)]], a four-day show that attracted over 750,000 people, Ottawa Welcomes the World, a series of celebrations at [[Lansdowne Park]] to promote tourism in other countries and strengthen ties with those nations, the [[105th Grey Cup]] at TD Place, and the 2017 [[NHL 100 Classic]], an outdoor game between the [[Ottawa Senators]] and the [[Montreal Canadiens]] that recreated the first ever NHL game almost 100 years later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa 2017 |url=https://ottawa.ca/en/visitors/ottawa-2017#canada-celebrating-150-years |publisher=[[City of Ottawa]] |access-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-date=24 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124072055/https://ottawa.ca/en/visitors/ottawa-2017#canada-celebrating-150-years |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Fourth mayoral term==
On October 22, Watson won the 2018 mayoral race with 71.03% of the votes, defeating eleven other candidates.<ref name="2018 results">{{Cite web|url=https://ottawa.ca/election/2018_en.html|title=2018 Election Results|website=City of Ottawa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080248/https://ottawa.ca/election/2018_en.html|archive-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref>

Watson oversaw the launch of the [[Line 1 (O-Train)|Confederation Line]], a [[Medium-capacity rail system|rail system]] that opened to the public on September 14, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=LRT up and running in Ottawa |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lrt-launches-ottawa-confederation-line-1.5282985 |author= |publisher=[[CBC News]] |orig-date=September 14, 2019 |date=September 15, 2019 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> He has also played an instrumental role to open a new central library to the city's downtown core at [[LeBreton Flats]] - a state-of-the-art net carbon zero facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=City takes first step toward building new library at LeBreton Flats |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/city-takes-first-step-toward-building-new-library-at-lebreton-flats/ |first=Ted |last=Raymond |publisher=[[CTV News]] |date=June 15, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> During this term, in an article published in the ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'' on August 17, 2019, Watson came out as gay after 40 years of being [[closeted]].<ref name=out>{{cite news| url=https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/mayor-jim-watson-after-40-years-im-opening-the-closet-door |title=Mayor Jim Watson: After 40 years, I'm opening the closet door |first=Jim |last=Watson |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=August 17, 2019 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> From 2018 to 2022, Watson led Ottawa through natural disasters, including two floods,<ref>{{cite news |title=City of Ottawa declares state of emergency due to flooding concerns |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/city-of-ottawa-declares-state-of-emergency-due-to-flooding-concerns/ |publisher=[[Canadian Press]] |author= |via=[[CTV News]] |orig-date=25 April 2019 |date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> tornados,<ref>{{cite news |title=Environment Canada: 6 tornadoes hit Ottawa area last Friday |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/environment-canada-6-tornadoes-hit-ottawa-area-last-friday/ |author= |publisher=[[CTV News]] |date=25 September 2018 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> a global pandemic (COVID-19),<ref>{{cite web |title=Watson declares state of emergency in Ottawa over COVID-19 |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/watson-declares-state-of-emergency-in-ottawa-over-covid-19/ |first=Ted |last=Raymond |publisher=[[CTV News]] |date=March 25, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref> and the [[2022 Freedom Convoy]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/convoy-protest-ottawa-sunday-impasse-1.6341548 |title=Ottawa declares state of emergency as police boost enforcement, target protest's fuel supply |first=Christian |last=Paas-Lang |orig-date=February 6, 2022 |date=February 7, 2022 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

On March 20, 2021, Watson became Ottawa's longest serving mayor, passing [[J.E. Stanley Lewis]]' previous record.<ref name="longest worship"/> On December 10, 2021, Watson announced he would not be running for re-election in the upcoming [[2022 Ottawa municipal election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=In his own words: Mayor Jim Watson explains why he's not running in 2022 |date=December 10, 2021 |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |first=Jim |last=Watson |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/in-his-own-words-mayor-jim-watson-explains-why-hes-not-running-in-2022 |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://jimwatsonottawa.ca/en/a-message-from-mayor-jim-watson/| title=A message from Mayor Jim Watson| date=December 10, 2021| website=jimwatsonottawa.ca| url-status=live| archive-date=December 11, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211130414/https://jimwatsonottawa.ca/en/a-message-from-mayor-jim-watson/ |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

===2022 Freedom Convoy protest===

On Sunday, February 6, 2022, Watson proclaimed a state of emergency to handle a 10-day blockade as part of the [[Freedom Convoy 2022]] that shut down much of the city's core.<ref>{{cite news |last2=Ljunggren |first2=David |last1=Hagberg |first1=Lars |title=Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency to deal with trucking blockade |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/protest-against-vaccine-mandates-paralyzing-canada-capital-mayor-says-2022-02-06/ |date= February 6, 2022 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref>

=== "The Watson Club" ===
After his re-election, some councillors expressed concern over Watson's apparent stranglehold over several councillors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Willing |first1=Jon |title=ANALYSIS: Can a councillor make 'Watson club' stick during the fall session at city hall? |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/analysis-can-a-councillor-make-watson-club-stick-during-the-fall-session-at-city-hall/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=September 4, 2019}}</ref> The urban-suburban split between councillors<ref>{{cite web |last=Spears |first=Tom |title='The Watson club is back again': Urban-suburban split on who will lead city transportation committee |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-watson-club-is-back-again-urban-suburban-split-on-who-will-lead-city-transportation-committee |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2023 }}</ref> saw Watson siding with more-suburban councillors, whom he appointed to chair every committee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=City of Ottawa |title=Council and standing committees |url=https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/your-city-government/council-and-standing-committees |website=City of Ottawa |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Britneff |first1=Beatrice |title=Ottawa councillors speak out against mayor's committee picks, Watson defends appointments |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4754795/ottawa-city-council-committee-appointments/ |publisher=[[Global News]] |access-date=October 23, 2023 |date=12 December 2018}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
=== 2018 ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |2018 Ottawa municipal election - Mayor<ref name="2018 results" />
|-
! Candidate !! Votes !! %
|-
|'''Jim Watson''' (x), (*)||'''188,960'''||'''71.03'''
|-
|Clive Doucet||59,156||22.24
|-
|Bruce McConville||4360||1.64
|-
|Craig MacAulay||2272||0.85
|-
|Ahmed Bouragba||1912||0.72
|-
|Joey Drouin||1893||0.71
|-
| Hamid Alakozai ||1867||0.70
|-
|James T. Sheahan||1354||0.51
|-
|Michael Pastien||1177||0.44
|-
|Ryan Lythall||1115||0.42
|-
|Moises Schachtler||994||0.37
|-
|Bernard Couchman||964||0.36
|}

===2014===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |2014 Ottawa municipal election - Mayor<ref name="2014 results" />
|-
! Candidate !! Votes !! %
|-
|'''Jim Watson''' (x), (*) ||'''189,253'''||'''76.20'''
|-
| Mike Maguire || 46,341 || 18.66
|-
| Anwar Syed || 3473 || 1.40
|-
| Rebecca Pyrah || 2840 || 1.14
|-
| Robert White || 1815 || 0.73
|-
| Darren W. Wood || 1764 || 0.71
|-
| Michael St. Arnaud || 1628 || 0.66
|-
| Bernard Couchman || 1255 || 0.51
|}

===2010===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" width=375
|-
! colspan=3 | [[2010 Ottawa municipal election]], [[Mayor]]
|-
! width="220px" | Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
| '''Jim Watson''' (x)
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" |'''131,323'''
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" |'''48.70'''
|-
| [[Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician)|Larry O'Brien]] (*)
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 64,862
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 24.06
|-
| [[Clive Doucet]]
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 40,148
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 14.89
|-
| [[Andrew S. Haydon]]
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 18,914
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 7.01
|-
| Mike Maguire
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 6,618
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 2.45
|-
| ''15 other candidates''
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 7,775
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 2.88
|-
| align=right | Total votes
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;border-bottom:none;" | 269,640
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;border-bottom:none;" | {{nowrap|100.0  }}
|-
| colspan=3 style="border-top:1px solid darkgray;" | {{resize|'''Source:''' {{cite web |url=http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/your-city-government/elections/2010-municipal-elections-results |title=2010 municipal election results |publisher=[[City of Ottawa]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219223132/http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/your-city-government/elections/2010-municipal-elections-results |archive-date=2014-02-19 }} }}
|}
(x): indicates elected.

(*): indicates incumbent.

===2007 Ontario provincial election, Ottawa West-Nepean===
{{Ontario provincial election, 2007/Ottawa West—Nepean}}

===2003 Ontario provincial election, Ottawa West-Nepean===
{{Ontario provincial election, 2003/Ottawa West—Nepean}}

===1997 Ottawa municipal election, Mayor===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" width=375
|-
! colspan=3 | [[1997 Ottawa municipal election]], [[Mayor]]
|-
! width="220px" | Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
| '''Jim Watson'''
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 54,148
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 81.56
|-
| Robert G. Gauthier
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 8,037
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 12.11
|-
| Alexander Saikaley
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 4,209
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 6.34
|-
| align=right | Total votes
| align=right style="padding-left:25px;padding-right:8px;" | 66,394
| align=right style="padding-left:15px;padding-right:8px;" | 100.0
|}

===1994 Ottawa municipal election, Capital Ward===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Candidate !! Votes !! %
|-
| Jim Watson (X)|| 8,851|| 89.18
|-
| Jim Carson|| 1074 || 10.82
|}

===1991 Ottawa municipal election, Capital Ward===
{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="2" |1991 Municipal Election (Capital Ward)
|-
|'''Candidate'''
! Votes
|-
| Jim Watson || 4,123
|-
| Lynn Smyth (X) || 1,817
|-
| Michael Lynch|| 638
|-
|[[Frank De Jong]]|| 482
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.jimwatson.ca}}
*{{Ontario MPP biography|id=jim-watson}}

{{Ottawamayor}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Jim}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Ontario]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Ontario]]
[[Category:Anglophone Quebec people]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ people in provincial and territorial legislatures]]
[[Category:Carleton University alumni]]
[[Category:Canadian gay politicians]]
[[Category:LGBTQ mayors of places in Canada]]
[[Category:Mayors of Ottawa]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:People from Lachute]]
[[Category:Politicians from Montreal]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:Ottawa-Carleton regional councillors]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Acacia members]]

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Jim Watson (Canadian politician)