Stanley Waters
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Stanley Charles "Stan" Waters, CD
(June 14, 1920–September 25, 1991) was Canada
's first Senator
to be appointed to his Senate seat following a non-binding provincial Senate election
.
, Waters commissioned into the 14th Army Tank Battalion in 1941. He was then posted to the First Special Service Force. In 1943, using scaling ropes, Waters led his unit up the sheer cliffs of Monte la Difensa
to attack German defences. In February 1944 he landed at Anzio
and, due to allied losses, temporarily took command of a battalion.
After the war, he rose steadily through the ranks, and ended his career as a Lieutenant-General and Commander of the Canadian Forces Mobile Command
(1973–75). In 1975, he joined Mannix organization at Calgary
, becoming president of Loram Group, a subsidiary of the parent company. He was a co-founder of the Bowfort Group of Companies, which engage in farming, real estate and investment operations throughout Western Canada. He held a variety of executive positions until his retirement from business in 1989.
's Reform Party of Canada
. While Waters did not choose to participate as a Reform Party candidate in the federal election of 1988
, he was seen as one of the party's most popular early spokesmen and policy communicators, speaking at numerous party rallies and events from 1987 to 1991.
In 1989, under strain from the troubling and complex wrangling surrounding the Meech Lake Accord
and constitutional amendment talks, Alberta Premier Don Getty
called for a Senate election
. Stan Waters came forward as the Reform Party of Alberta
candidate for the open Alberta Senate seat. On October 16, 1989, he received 41.7% of the more than 620,000 non-binding votes cast by Albertans in his bid to go to Ottawa
. Although it was a non-binding result, he was selected as the first person to be elected by a provincial population to be the Prime Minister's recommendation to the Governor General
for appointment to the Senate. He represented the senate division
of Alberta. Pressured by Getty and Reform, with Deborah Grey
promising that if "we don't get this seat, we'll get 10 in the next election", Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
agreed to advise Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn
to appoint Waters to the Canadian Senate.
On June 11, 1990, Stan Waters was sworn in to the Senate. He was also the first representative of the Reform Party in the Upper House. During his year-long tenure as a Senator, Waters spoke for Western Canadian and conservative values. He pushed for an end to official bilingualism
, urged health care
reform, opposed federal funding grants to artists and fervently pushed the Mulroney Government to adopt a "Triple-E Senate
" (Elected, Effective and Equal) during the constitutional debates of 1990-91. On the abortion issue, Waters was pro-choice, which put him somewhat at odds with the Reform Party's conservative Christian supporters.
was returned to power in the 1993 election
under party leader Jean Chrétien
, Senate reform was all but abandoned. Chrétien and his successor, Paul Martin
, did not advise the appointment to the Senate of candidates elected by Albertans in 1998
and 2004
, citing the fact that the elections are not part of the senate selection process, as defined by the Constitution of Canada
.
His son Mark Waters
served as leader of the Alberta Political Alliance
a minor provincial political party.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Stanley Charles "Stan" Waters, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(June 14, 1920–September 25, 1991) was Canada
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...
's first Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
to be appointed to his Senate seat following a non-binding provincial Senate election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
.
Early life
Born in Winnipeg and educated at Strathcona High School and the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, Waters commissioned into the 14th Army Tank Battalion in 1941. He was then posted to the First Special Service Force. In 1943, using scaling ropes, Waters led his unit up the sheer cliffs of Monte la Difensa
Monte la Difensa
The battle for Monte La Defensa, which took place between 3 December and 9 December 1943, occurred during Operation Raincoat, part of the Battle for the Bernhardt Line during the Italian Campaign in World War II....
to attack German defences. In February 1944 he landed at Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
and, due to allied losses, temporarily took command of a battalion.
After the war, he rose steadily through the ranks, and ended his career as a Lieutenant-General and Commander of the Canadian Forces Mobile Command
Commander, Mobile Command
The Commander, Mobile Command was the head of the Canadian Forces Mobile Command, the former name for Canadian Forces Land Force Command. The appointment was entitled Chief of the General Staff until 1964 when the appointment became Commander, Mobile Command with the unification of Canada's...
(1973–75). In 1975, he joined Mannix organization at Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, becoming president of Loram Group, a subsidiary of the parent company. He was a co-founder of the Bowfort Group of Companies, which engage in farming, real estate and investment operations throughout Western Canada. He held a variety of executive positions until his retirement from business in 1989.
Political career
Stan Waters was also keenly interested in Canadian politics. In 1987, Waters became a founding member of Preston ManningPreston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
's Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
. While Waters did not choose to participate as a Reform Party candidate in the federal election of 1988
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, he was seen as one of the party's most popular early spokesmen and policy communicators, speaking at numerous party rallies and events from 1987 to 1991.
In 1989, under strain from the troubling and complex wrangling surrounding the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
and constitutional amendment talks, Alberta Premier Don Getty
Don Getty
Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...
called for a Senate election
Alberta Senate nominee election, 1989
The 1st Alberta Senate nominee election was held on October 16, 1989 in Alberta, Canada. It was held in conjunction with Alberta municipal elections under the Local Authorities Election Act., and resulted in the first Canadian Senator appointed following a popular election.The vote was held along...
. Stan Waters came forward as the Reform Party of Alberta
Reform Party of Alberta
The Reform Party of Alberta is a defunct provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was registered with Elections Alberta. Its leader was David Salmon.-Early history:...
candidate for the open Alberta Senate seat. On October 16, 1989, he received 41.7% of the more than 620,000 non-binding votes cast by Albertans in his bid to go to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Although it was a non-binding result, he was selected as the first person to be elected by a provincial population to be the Prime Minister's recommendation to the Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
for appointment to the Senate. He represented the senate division
Canadian Senate divisions
Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada...
of Alberta. Pressured by Getty and Reform, with Deborah Grey
Deborah Grey
Deborah Cleland Grey, OC, sometimes called Deb Grey is a former Canadian Member of Parliament from Alberta for the Reform Party of Canada, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party of Canada....
promising that if "we don't get this seat, we'll get 10 in the next election", Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
agreed to advise Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn
Ray Hnatyshyn
Ramon John Hnatyshyn , commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn, was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 24th since Canadian Confederation....
to appoint Waters to the Canadian Senate.
On June 11, 1990, Stan Waters was sworn in to the Senate. He was also the first representative of the Reform Party in the Upper House. During his year-long tenure as a Senator, Waters spoke for Western Canadian and conservative values. He pushed for an end to official bilingualism
Bilingualism in Canada
The official languages of Canada are English and French, which "have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada" according to Canada's constitution...
, urged health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
reform, opposed federal funding grants to artists and fervently pushed the Mulroney Government to adopt a "Triple-E Senate
Triple-E Senate
The Triple-E Senate is a proposed variation of reform to the current Canadian Senate, calling for senators to be elected to exercise effective powers in numbers equally representative of each province; this is in contrast to the present arrangement wherein individuals are appointed to the Senate...
" (Elected, Effective and Equal) during the constitutional debates of 1990-91. On the abortion issue, Waters was pro-choice, which put him somewhat at odds with the Reform Party's conservative Christian supporters.
Death and legacy
In September 1991, Waters died of a heart attack. When the federal Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
was returned to power in the 1993 election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
under party leader Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, Senate reform was all but abandoned. Chrétien and his successor, Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, did not advise the appointment to the Senate of candidates elected by Albertans in 1998
Alberta Senate nominee election, 1998
The 2nd Alberta Senate nominee election was held in Alberta, Canada, on October 19, 1998 in conjunction with the Alberta Municipal Elections. It was held to elect Alberta's candidates for appointment to the Canadian Senate....
and 2004
Alberta Senate nominee election, 2004
The 3rd Alberta Senate nominee election was held on November 22, 2004 in conjunction with the Alberta general election, 2004. Alberta is the only Canadian province to elect nominees for the Senate of Canada.-Background:...
, citing the fact that the elections are not part of the senate selection process, as defined by the Constitution of Canada
Constitution of Canada
The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. It outlines Canada's system of government, as well as the civil rights of all Canadian citizens and those in Canada...
.
His son Mark Waters
Mark Waters (politician)
-Political career:Waters was head of the lobby group Albertans For Responsible Government. The group was formed to pressure the Alberta government into bringing in democratic reforms such as citizens based initiatives....
served as leader of the Alberta Political Alliance
Alberta Party
The Alberta Party Political Association, more commonly known as the Alberta Party, is a political party in the province of Alberta, Canada...
a minor provincial political party.