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Biography

Bob Dechert was born in Brampton in 1958. He attended McMaster University in Hamilton, to which he received a BA (Economics) in 1980. He entered law school at the University of Toronto, received an LL.B degree in 1983, and was called to the bar in Ontario in 1985. He also qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1991.

Bob is a senior partner with Gowling Lafleur Henderson, Canada's second largest law firm. For over 20 years he has been sought out by his international corporate clients to help them to grow their businesses and to be more competitive. Bob has had a close-up look at the challenges facing companies in a global market place and an appreciation for the role that government can play in making sure Canadian companies and the people who work for these companies succeed.

During his terms as President of the Empire Club of Canada and President of the British-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Bob has had the opportunity to meet with and benefit from the varied perspectives of Canadian and international leaders form business, media, government, healthcare, academia and the charitable sector.

Bob joined the PC party in 1972, and has served actively in the PC Youth Federation, PC Campus Association, and in riding associations wherever he has lived in Hamilton, Ottawa, Toronto and Mississauga. In addition, he has worked at all levels in riding campaigns in both federal and provincial elections.

He was instrumental in helping bring together and unite the PC and Canadian Alliance parties. Bob was the founding National Secretary of the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance (2000-2002) and has remained an active participant in the successful initiatives intended to unify Canadian conservatives as a single alternative to the Liberals. Bob Dechert was the Conservative Candidate for Mississauga-Erindale in the 2004 federal election.

Bob lives in Mississauga with his wife Ruth Clark.