Watson running for CHP in Oxford

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A rookie candidate will have his name on the ballot in Oxford on April 28 as he runs for the Christian Heritage Party (CHP) in the federal election.

Jacob Watson was born and raised in Oxford County, just north of Woodstock, on a 50-acre farm.

“Though I did not do any farming personally, my dad grew up on that same farm, farming pigs and working the fields. I was very active in sports. In my teen years I was overrun by various battles and difficulties.”

Watson decided to give his life to the Lord in his early 20s and found his passion serving in church ministries and articulating the principles in the bible.

“For the last seven or eight years, I’ve served in church and community-based youth ministries, assisting in their development and teachings. More recently, I’ve moved into evangelism ministries, leading, developing, and teaching. For my nine-to-five, I work at Stubbe’s Precast as a forklift operator for the receiving department. My wife currently works at Big Brothers Big Sisters and we have been married for five and a half years and reside in Oxford Centre.”

Watson explained the nudge to get into politics came from submitting to the supremacy of God and the lasting transformation it gave him.

“As I have seen and experienced what’s been going on in our communities and nation, I realized we need transformation as well. When I found out Canada was founded upon principles that recognized the supremacy of God, the dots connected for me. The further we push God out, the easier our nation topples. I got involved in politics to call Canada back to its firm foundation.”

He sees three main issues in this campaign, first and foremost is forming a responsible government.

“We need to make sure we are honouring our word and are meeting our commitments, whether it’s at the border, in external relationships or promises made to Canadians. We must be transparent and trustworthy, expose corruption instead of covering it up and be frugal with taxpayers' money.”

Watson also believes monetary policy needs to transform, particularly in the areas of restoring the Bank of Canada, reforming tax policy and rerouting government funding.

“Something I would like to undertake to help make life easier in Oxford is pushing for the federal income tax to be replaced with our fair consumer’s tax. Allowing everyone to take home 20 to 30 per cent more of their hard-earned money. It would help stimulate the economy, increase savings and investment, and make life affordable again.”

He added the country also needs to find alternative and better solutions to abortion.

“The moral turmoil in our country causes a lot of inward division and fighting. The CHP would aim to end all that so Canada can prosper in unity.”

Watson explained the job of an MP is to address the concerns of constituents and make sure their voice is being heard in Ottawa.

“Anything that needs to be tackled for the residents in Oxford, it would be my pleasure to line up for them in Ottawa and sack the issues. I want them to know they are heard and their voices carry authority. If they elect me, they will be putting a true representative for them in the House of Commons. I want to hear from them, so Ottawa can hear them.”

Watson added he has talked to a lot of people in Oxford who want to vote CHP but are worried that the Liberals or Conservatives will win the election.

“They feel obligated to vote for one of the two parties to prevent the other. Your vote is a powerful statement if you’re voting for what you stand for and believe in. Voting for the CHP can influence all the parties, like the Green Party did when it had a five or six per cent increase in the polls. It caused the other parties to adopt a greener platform as they realized Canadians were starting to lean towards the green.”

He is encouraging the residents of Oxford to vote with courage and vote with their conscience.

“This is your country, and you have the right and authority as citizens to stand up and use your voice. You determine how the government does its job, not the other way around. This election, we need more than change - we need transformation. I’d like to call all those who have been voting out of fear to a spot of valor and bravery as they go to the polls late in April and cast their votes with the freedom our democracy entitles them to.”