"We have to field candidates so libertarians can have a voice," explains Libertarian Party of Canada leader Jacques Boudreau.
Libertarian Party of Canada leader enjoys country life near Petrolia | Sarnia Observer | Paul Morden:
April 14, 2025 - "Jacques Boudreau is the only national party leader to campaign, so far this election, in Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong. Campaigns of other leaders hadn’t stopped in the riding in Ontario’s far southwest as of Monday but Boudreau, leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada, is there daily. He lives in near Petrolia and is running in the April 28 election to be MP for Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong.
“'My wife and I moved to Petrolia February of last year,' he said. 'It was a lifelong dream for me to move to the country,” said Boudreau who lived in London. “In terms of lifestyle, I’ve never been this happy in my life'....
"After attending Western University, Boudreau worked as an actuary for 38 years. Now semi-retired, he’s involved in a life insurance startup. He described himself as [a] 'pretty average' swing voter until his early 40s, 'trying to find the right fit' and 'get a government that would get things right.'
"An 'epiphany' came when a financial newsletter he read included a link to mises.org, a website of an institute promoting teachings of Ludwig [von] Mises, an Austrian economist embraced by libertarians. 'I was so taken that for the next, I would say, 15 years, I would actually begin my day' on the site reading about Austrian economics and libertarianism, he said.... 'I could no longer defend my previously held beliefs and became a libertarian.'
"A few years ago, Boudreau noticed a lawn sign for a Libertarian candidate in the London riding where he lived but when he looked at his ballot on election day, it wasn’t listed there. He contacted the party to ask why and discovered what he would later experience firsthand. As a small party, it didn’t have the means to help candidates get on the ballot.
"'I decided I was going to put my money where my mouth is and ran as a Libertarian candidate for the first time in the 2015 federal election,' he said, This is Boudreau’s fourth federal election running as a candidate. He has also run in three provincial elections....
"Boudreau became national leader in 2021. He started out seeking a deputy leader post, thinking his proficiency in French could be helpful, and then the sitting leader decided not to seek another term. 'In a moment of madness, I put my name forth,' and became leader, Boudreau said.
"Nationally, the party calls for 'a marked reduction' in the size and powers of the federal government. 'I would shrink the government to a fraction of what it is now,' Boudreau said....
"He is disappoint[ed that] only 16 Libertarian candidates are registered to run this election.... Libertarians are independently minded, which is both a blessing and curse, he said. 'One of the things they treasure most in life is to be left alone,' which makes recruiting candidates a challenge, Boudreau said. 'As a political party, we are not a think tank. We have to field candidates so libertarians can have a voice.'”
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