Hilda Pauline Watson (January 13, 1922 – July 14, 1997) was a Canadian schoolteacher and politician from the Yukon Territory.
She was the first woman in Canadian history to lead a political party which was successful in having its members elected.
[7] In 1974, Watson survived a motion of no confidence brought against her for her handling of a student strike in Pelly Crossing.
[6] Watson was reelected in the 1974 election, but the validity of her election was challenged in court by former executive councillor John Livesey on the basis of allegations that 26 ineligible voters had cast ballots in the district — although it was impossible to determine which way the invalid votes had been cast, the result was in doubt because the number exceeded the 17-vote margin between Watson and Livesey.
[9] After the legislation authorizing the creation of the Legislative Assembly of Yukon, and the resulting establishment of political parties in the territory, was passed in 1977, Watson narrowly won the leadership of the new Progressive Conservative Party over federal Member of Parliament Erik Nielsen.