Dave Batters
Encyclopedia
David Batters was a Canadian
politician.
Born in Estevan, Saskatchewan
, Batters was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
in the Canadian House of Commons
, representing the riding of Palliser
from 2004 to 2008. Before being elected, he worked in the health care field as a pharmaceutical representative with Pfizer
Inc., and as a political assistant to Grant Devine
. He earned a Bachelor of Arts
in political studies from the University of Saskatchewan
.
Batters was a supporter of the Tackling Violent Crime Act
(Bill C-2), which sought tougher penalties for gun crimes and impaired driving and provided new ways to detect drug impaired driving. Batters successfully pressured the federal Liberal government during his term to reclassify crystal meth
as a Schedule 1 drug (the most serious category) under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
. Batters' efforts also helped to secure $15 million in federal funding for the Moose Jaw Multiplex project and to secure the safe return of Saskatchewan residents from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina
. In March 2006, he questioned Health Canada on its strategy concerning Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
, which he believed was more prominent in First Nations
communities and would be beneficial to distribute pamphlets on FASD to people on reserves
in their childbearing years. At the beginning of 2008, he urged the president of Telefilm Canada
not to fund films that were objectionable and supported Bill C-10.
Batters stated that he ran for office because he was upset with the Criminal Justice
system. One of his motivations for entering politics was the murder of his friend Michelle Lenius on November 4, 2003 by her estranged husband. In April 2008 he proposed an amendment to the Criminal Code called "Michelle's Law" that would make it more difficult for anyone accused of committing a personal injury to get bail.
Batters was admitted to hospital on July 1, 2008. He announced on September 1, 2008 that he would not be running in the 2008 election
because of a battle with depression
that included an addiction to benzodiazepine
s.
On June 29, 2009, Batters committed suicide in his Regina
home, according to a release from his family. The Regina Police had arrived at his home hours earlier, after receiving a report that he was threatening to harm himself.
Several of his former colleagues, including Conservative MPs Tom Lukiwski
, Jay Hill
and Andrew Scheer
and Liberal MP Ralph Goodale
, paid tribute to Batters following his death. At his funeral, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
spoke of the need for greater public understanding of, and compassion for, the struggles faced by sufferers of anxiety and depression.
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.
Born in Estevan, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Batters was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
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...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, representing the riding of Palliser
Palliser (Saskatchewan electoral district)
Palliser is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.It is named in honour of John Palliser, a geographer and explorer of the Canadian west.-Geography:...
from 2004 to 2008. Before being elected, he worked in the health care field as a pharmaceutical representative with Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
Inc., and as a political assistant to Grant Devine
Grant Devine
Donald Grant Devine was the 11th Premier of Saskatchewan from May 8, 1982 to November 1, 1991.- Early life :Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, he received a B.Sc. in Agriculture degree specializing in Agricultural Economics in 1967 from the University of Saskatchewan, an M.Sc. specializing in...
. He earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political studies from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
.
Batters was a supporter of the Tackling Violent Crime Act
Tackling Violent Crime Act
The Tackling Violent Crime Act is an omnibus statute that was given royal assent on February 28, 2008. The statute primarily deals with strengthening gun control in Canada as well as fighting drunk driving, drug-impaired driving and to increase the age of consent to sexual intercourse from 14 to 16....
(Bill C-2), which sought tougher penalties for gun crimes and impaired driving and provided new ways to detect drug impaired driving. Batters successfully pressured the federal Liberal government during his term to reclassify crystal meth
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
as a Schedule 1 drug (the most serious category) under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is Canada's federal drug control statute. Passed in 1996 by the Chrétien government, it repeals the Narcotic Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drug Act and establishes eight Schedules of controlled substances and two Classes of precursors...
. Batters' efforts also helped to secure $15 million in federal funding for the Moose Jaw Multiplex project and to secure the safe return of Saskatchewan residents from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. In March 2006, he questioned Health Canada on its strategy concerning Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders describes a continuum of permanent birth defects caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, which includes, but is not limited to fetal alcohol syndrome...
, which he believed was more prominent in First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
communities and would be beneficial to distribute pamphlets on FASD to people on reserves
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
in their childbearing years. At the beginning of 2008, he urged the president of Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada or Téléfilm Canada is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada.It is the primary federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry....
not to fund films that were objectionable and supported Bill C-10.
Batters stated that he ran for office because he was upset with the Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
system. One of his motivations for entering politics was the murder of his friend Michelle Lenius on November 4, 2003 by her estranged husband. In April 2008 he proposed an amendment to the Criminal Code called "Michelle's Law" that would make it more difficult for anyone accused of committing a personal injury to get bail.
Batters was admitted to hospital on July 1, 2008. He announced on September 1, 2008 that he would not be running in the 2008 election
40th Canadian federal election
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...
because of a battle with depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
that included an addiction to benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepine
A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...
s.
On June 29, 2009, Batters committed suicide in his Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
home, according to a release from his family. The Regina Police had arrived at his home hours earlier, after receiving a report that he was threatening to harm himself.
Several of his former colleagues, including Conservative MPs Tom Lukiwski
Tom Lukiwski
Tom Lukiwski is a Canadian politician. He is the current Conservative Member of Parliament for the Saskatchewan riding of Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre. Born in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, he was a businessman and political administrator....
, Jay Hill
Jay Hill
Jay D. Hill PC is a former Canadian politician and member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He was the Member of Parliament for the riding of Prince George—Peace River from 1993 until his retirement in 2010. He also served as Government House Leader in the Canadian House of Commons during his...
and Andrew Scheer
Andrew Scheer
Andrew Scheer is a Canadian Member of Parliament and the Speaker of the House of Commons. At the age of 32, he is the youngest person to serve in this capacity in Canadian parliamentarian history.-Early life and career:...
and Liberal MP Ralph Goodale
Ralph Goodale
Ralph Edward Goodale, PC, MP was Canada's Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2006 and continues to be a Liberal Member of Parliament...
, paid tribute to Batters following his death. At his funeral, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
spoke of the need for greater public understanding of, and compassion for, the struggles faced by sufferers of anxiety and depression.