Bob's Biography

Before his election as Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, Mr. Bob Dechert was a Senior Partner with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Canada's largest law firm.

Throughout his career, Bob has had a close-up view of the issues faced by Canadian businesses, their employees and consumers.

Active in Conservative Politics for over 35 years, Bob volunteered in both federal and provincial elections and served in various roles on all levels of National and Provincial organizations and campaigns. He has also served as president of the Empire Club of Canada and president of the British-Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Born in Brampton, Bob obtained an economics degree from McMaster University in Hamilton. He obtained his law degree from the University of Toronto, and was called to the bar in Ontario in 1985. He has also qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Bob Dechert was elected to the House of Commons in 2008, representing Mississauga-Erindale (Ontario).

Mr. Dechert was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in March 2010. Bob has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics and the Standing Committee on Finance.

Bob currently serves on the following committees, caucuses and legislative associations:

• Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights;
• Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan;
• Ad-hoc Panel on Funding for Officers of Parliament;
• Chair of the Community Relations Caucus;
• Vice-Chair of the GTA Caucus;
• Vice Chair of Canada-China Legislative Association;
• Member of the Auto Caucus;
• Member of the Ontario Caucus and National Caucus;
• Member of the Canada-Japan Legislative Association;
• Member of the Canada-US Legislative Association; and
• Member of the Canada-UK Legislative Association.

Bob has lived in Mississauga for many years with his wife Ruth Clark.