Pauper Party of Ontario
Former provincial party
LeaderJohn Turmel
PresidentWayne Robinson
FounderJohn Turmel
FoundedSeptember 14, 2011 (2011-09-14)
Preceded byAbolitionist Party of Canada
Headquarters50 Brant Ave.
Brantford, Ontario
N3T 3G7
Ideology
Political positionBig tent
Colours  Canary Yellow
Seats in Legislature
0 / 107
Website
johnturmel.com/paupers.htm

The Pauper Party of Ontario (French: Parti Pauvre de l’Ontario) is a former[1] libertarian-populist political party in the Canadian province of Ontario based on the principles of social credit.[2] Registered in 2011, the party was led by perennial candidate John Turmel.[3]

History

Turmel founded the party in 2011, opting to run in Ontario's provincial election that year under the slogan "we want no cops in gambling, sex or drugs or rock and roll, we want no usury on loans, pay cash or time, no dole".[4] During the campaign, Turmel characterized the policies of the party as "social credit libertarian".[5] Turmel's economic policies focused on what he called the "Argentine solution", based on the policies of the de la Rúa administration in Argentina, which involved the issuing of government bonds to civil employees.[6]

In the 2011 election, Turmel stood in the constituency of Brant while another party candidate, Michael Spottiswood received 54 votes in London North Centre.

Following the 2011 vote, Turmel stood in by-elections in Kitchener–Waterloo, in 2012, Ottawa South in 2013, and Thornhill in 2014.[7]

In the 2014 provincial election, Turmel again stood in Brant, receiving 60 votes. Spottiswood again sought election in London North Centre, and received 70 votes. Another party candidate, Michael Faux, received 52 votes in the riding of Peterborough.

Following the 2014 election, Turmel again stood in three provincial by-elections, including contests in Simcoe North and Sudbury in 2015, and Ottawa-Vanier in 2016.[8][9][10]

In both the Simcoe North and Ottawa-Vanier by-elections, Turmel was removed from all-candidates debates by local authorities after seizing the podium and disrupting proceedings.[11][12][13]

The party's platform was to legalize gambling, legalize marijuana and institute monetary reform and bartering in the form of the Local Exchange Trading System.[14]

The party de-registered before the 2022 election.[15]

Election results

Election results
Election year # of
overall votes 		% of
overall total 		No. of
candidates run 		No. of
seats won 		+/− Government
2018 111 nil 2
0 / 124
 		0 Extra-parliamentary
2014 194 nil 3
0 / 107
 		0 Extra-parliamentary
2011 140 nil 2
0 / 107
 		New Party Extra-parliamentary

References

  1. ^ "Registered Political Parties". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Turmel, John. "Pauper Party of Ontario", Accessed March 16, 2018". Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  3. ^ Greg Essensa. "Elections Ontario Annual Report 2011/12" (PDF). elections.on.ca. Elections Ontario. Retrieved June 1, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Perkel, Colin (October 6, 2011). "Fringe parties add spice, smiles to Ontario election despite no hope of sea". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  5. ^ "Turmel: Pauper Party of Ontario 1st General Meeting". Yahoo! Groups. August 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017.
  6. ^ Waterloo Region Record, "John Turmel calls for 'Argentine solution'", Waterloo Region Record, August 31, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – 2012–2014 By-elections" (PDF). Elections Ontario. April 1, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "Election Ontario Simcoe-North Unofficial Results" (PDF). Elections Ontario.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Election Ontario Sudbury Unofficial Results" (PDF). Elections Ontario.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Election Ontario Sudbury Unofficial Results". Elections Ontario.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Dawson, Dave (August 28, 2015). "Democracy's sideshow". orilliapacket.com. Orillia Packet & Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  12. ^ Matys, Frank (August 28, 2015). "Police remove Simcoe North byelection candidate from meeting". simcoe.com. Metroland Media. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  13. ^ "Police escort 2 uninvited candidates out of Ottawa-Vanier byelection debate". CBC News. November 11, 2016. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "John Turmel – Pauper Party of Ontario". CTV News. August 28, 2012. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017.
  15. ^ "Resourcefulness & Resiliency: 2022 Post-Event Report" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 23 July 2023.

External links

Provincial political parties in Ontario
Social Credit
Categories