Libertarian Harris runs in Battle River - Crowfoot

Mike Harris has registered as the Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for the August byelection in Battle River - Crowfoot.

2025 Candidates | Michael Harris | Libertarian Party of Canada:

"Something exciting is happening in Alberta.

"Michael Harris, our candidate in the Battle River–Crowfoot by-election being held August 18th, is putting Liberty front and center in a daring by-election bid against Pierre Poilievre. While the political establishment repeats the same tired promises, Michael and his team are doing something bold — travelling town to town, talking to real people about real freedom.

"This is the unmistakable energy of a vibrant and determined movement.

"We’re reaching out to you not just to share the good news, but to invite you to be a part of it. Whether it’s helping on the ground, spreading the word, or simply staying connected, your involvement matters more than ever. This is our moment to show Canadians that liberty is more than a talking point — it’s a principle worth fighting for.

"If you'd like to join the team in Battle River–Crowfoot or donate to his campaign, visit Michael’s website at www.michaelharrisformp.ca or you reach Michael Harris directly at michaelharrisformp@gmail.com, or contact us at communications@libertarian.ca. Getting involved in this campaign puts the message of liberty in front of voters at a pivotal moment — while the opposition leader seeks a new seat, we’re offering Canadians a new voice. Opportunities to contribute are wide open, and now is the time to step in and ride the wave of growing Libertarian momentum.

"Thank you for being part of something bigger. Together, we're building a freer future — one principled candidate, one riding, and one conversation at a time."

https://www.libertarian.ca/michael_harris

Libertarian Party of Canada running 16 candidates

The Libertarian Party of Canada has 16 candidates on the ballot in the federal general election.

2025 Candidates | Libertarian Party of Canada:

British Columbia 

• Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam - Lewis Dahlby
• Langley Township—Fraser Heights - Alex Joehl

Alberta

• Airdrie—Cochrane - David Sabine

Saskatchewan 

• Yorkton—Melville - Alec Guggenmos

Ontario

• Burlington - Ocean Marshall
• Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake - Daniel Shakhmundes
• Orléans - Arlo Arrowsmith
• Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester - Coreen Corcoran
• Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong - Jacques Boudreau 
• Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry - Karl MacKinnon
• Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt - Justin Leroux

New Brunswick 

• Beauséjour - Donna Allen
• Saint John—Kennebecasis - Austin Venedam
• Saint John—St. Croix - Keith Tays

Nova Scotia

• Dartmouth—Cole Harbour - Joseph Shea
• Sydney—Glace Bay - Michael Pittman

https://www.libertarian.ca/2025_candidates

Boudreau runs to give Libertarians a voice

"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.

Libertarian Party of Canada leader Jacques Boudreau. YouTube.

“'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.'”

Read more: https://www.theobserver.ca/news/national/federal_election/libertarian-party-of-canada-leader-enjoys-country-life-near-petrolia 

Sabine runs against Canada's authoritarian shift

David Sabine is running for the Libertarian Party of Canada in the Calgary riding of Airdrie-Cochrane. 

Libertarian running to combat Canada’s 'authoritarian shift' | Cochrane Eagle | Ryan Uytdewilligen:

Apr 2, 2025 - "David Sabine is Airdrie-Cochrane's Libertarian Party candidate in the 2025 Federal Election.

QUESTION: What is your political experience and why have you chosen to run in this election cycle with the Libertarian Party?

David Sabine. Cochrane Eagle.

 ANSWER: I ran for school trustee with TVDSB before returning west, my sister serves as a councillor in Alberta, my father pursued an NDP candidacy in Saskatchewan in the 1970s, and my grandparents supported Tommy Douglas as volunteers. While politics hasn’t been my career focus, my lifelong exposure equips me to run as a candidate, amplifying the voices of Libertarians in Airdrie-Cochrane. 

"Canada’s authoritarian shift over the past nine years — marked by excessive taxation, market intervention, an overreaching administrative state, censorship, and erosion of property and civil rights — concerns me deeply. Libertarian principles can influence the political dialogue for the better....

 Q: What will you and your party do to stand up to President Trump’s tariffs and 51st state rhetoric?

 A: President Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric are disruptive, but they only gain traction because of Canada’s deep economic vulnerabilities and societal fracture. The economic hardship expected from President Trump’s tariffs is a small fraction of the damage done by the Liberal party these past nine years. And decades of mismanagement and corruption by previous Canadian governments have left our economy fragile and Canadians divided. The calls for separation in Quebec and Alberta grow by the day. Canadians are burdened by trillions in debt and unfunded liabilities, over-regulation, excessive taxation, and policies that stifle economic growth. The chaos south of the border is not the root problem; it’s a symptom of our governments' own failures, amplifying the urgency for a bold shift in how we govern ourselves and engage with the world.

 Canada’s unique advantage of bordering the world’s largest economy is not a liability — it is our greatest opportunity. Treating the U.S. as an adversary is shortsighted and the divisive rhetoric from Canada’s mainstream parties is eroding a historically vital relationship beyond repair.

 A Libertarian Party approach would prioritize diplomacy and principled negotiation with the US President and state governors to secure genuine free trade with them. This isn’t just about lowering U.S. tariffs — it’s about dismantling Canada’s own self-inflicted barriers. We’d eliminate interprovincial trade restrictions that choke domestic commerce, scrap pipeline bans that kill investments in our energy sector, and end the equalization mandate that punishes productive regions. Supply management, which drives up costs for staples like dairy, cheese, eggs, butter, chicken, and turkey, would be abolished. Canadians have been sold a myth of free trade with the U.S., but our own massive tariffs and quotas on these essentials prove otherwise — keeping prices artificially high and Canadian consumers trapped.

 Q: What is the biggest issue facing Canadians that you wish to tackle?

 A: Libertarians fundamentally reject central economic planning, whether it’s Trump’s heavy-handed edicts or the suffocating policies of Canada’s recent governments. Both represent the same flaw: a belief that bureaucrats and politicians can micromanage the prosperity of citizens. Ottawa’s market distortions, bloated administration, and disregard for individual liberty, mirrors the authoritarian tendencies we criticize abroad. By slashing these domestic barriers, we’d not only counter U.S. pressure but rebuild an economy resilient enough to thrive, regardless of who occupies the White House.

 The Libertarian Party is also deeply concerned about the plight of our country's elderly. Taxpaying Canadians are strained under a shrinking GDP per capita, with socialism’s economic fallout driving taxes up, costs up, and doctors out. Health professionals, lured by far higher salaries and greater freedom elsewhere, are fleeing Canada’s punitive taxes and red tape in droves. Though healthcare is provincial jurisdiction, the next federal government must act with urgency — bolstering our currency, freeing markets to boost productivity, and refining immigration and foreign policy to let hardworking citizens prosper. Canada is facing an unprecedented crisis, driving the nation toward bankruptcy and saddling future generations with an unpayable tax burden.

 Q: Anything else you would like to add?

 A: The mission of the Libertarian Party of Canada is to reduce the responsibilities and expense of government. This, so that we may each manage our lives to mutually fulfill our needs by the free and voluntary exchange of our efforts and property for the value that best realizes happiness for ourselves, our families, and our communities."

Read more: https://www.cochraneeagle.ca/local-news/libertarian-running-to-combat-canadas-authoritarian-shift-10461732

CapitalismAndMorality conference held in Calgary

Capitalists confront sacred cows in Calgary | Western Standard | Fergus Hodgson: 

May 27, 2024 - "CapitalismAndMorality has been gathering for 15 years in Vancouver, with as much of a penchant for political incorrectness as for libertarian thought. Since 2023, Calgary has hosted its own one-day franchise, advertised by local organizers Darcy Gerow and Clayton Reeder as bringing 'together some of the finest minds to discuss the economics and philosophy of liberty.' This weekend's event — held Saturday at the Danish Canadian Club — had a lineup of seven speakers and a four-man panel. They lived up to CapitalismAndMorality's rebel reputation for the roughly 60 attendees.

"Event founder Jayant Bandhari addressed Canada's changing demographics and soaring immigration. A native of India, Bandhari contends that Indian culture will eventually dominate Canada, given the prevalence of Indian and other South Asian immigrants. Bandhari dismissed European civilization as on its last legs, leaving East and Southeast Asia to fill the vacuum.

"Retired Manitoba judge Brian Giesbrecht added spice to the menu by explaining the myth of residential-school mass graves. The Assembly of First Nations, Giesbrecht said, 'has milked this issue for all it's worth.' He added that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to back the notion of indigenous genocide was likely his worst decision among many bad decisions.

"The final panel, 'Secession, Separatism, Independence,' was led by Gerow and demonstrated the welcome for different perspectives: from anarcho-capitalists to classical liberals and sovereigntists. Michael Wagner of Edmonton is an established Christian-conservative columnist with the Western Standard and an author who advocates Alberta separatism. Flanking him were this article's writer (Fergus Hodgson) and Cory Morgan, a show host and fellow Western Standard columnist but a self-described libertarian. They are the authors of Time to Leave (2024), Financial Sovereignty for Canadians (2024), and The Sovereigntist's Handbook (2023), respectively....

Corey Morgan speaking at CapitalismAndMorality conference. Photo by Western Standard.

"Brett Oland, CEO of Bow Valley Credit Union ... conveyed his concerns about central-bank digital currencies — given the prospect of surveillance and social control — and endless inflation of fiat currencies. His organization holds precious metals on its balance sheet, and he is building parallel, competitive currencies for Albertans....

"Libertarian Party leader Jacques Boudreau traveled from Petrolia, Ontario, for the event. An actuary by trade, he spoke about Canada's precarious finances. He is pessimistic about the political class facing up to the crisis, concealed via unfunded liabilities and layering across levels of government. He foresees dwindling returns on pensions and higher taxes and/or reduced social services.... Boudreau thought the limited attendance was 'shameful' given 'the brainpower of the people who presented … It would make any Liberal MP's head explode'.... 

"Organizer Gerow shared that he was ambivalent about politicians speaking at the event. However, he acknowledged that the previous year's event had a higher attendance on account of leader of the People's Party of Canada Maxime Bernier's presence. Gerow wants the event to be educational and not promote a specific political party. Boudreau respected that request and his presentation, 'Government & Immorality,' had barely a mention of his party affiliation. That fit with an audience without any apparent consensus affiliation of its own. Likely, attendees included apolitical types among supporters of the United Conservative Party, People's Party, Libertarian Party, and secessionist-inclined parties.

"Gerow was still pleased with the turnout and said the attendees tended to be the core of the Calgary Libertarian Meetup Group, which hosts monthly gatherings. His hope is to cultivate a free-thinking, supportive community via in-person events, in addition to whatever educational material is conveyed at the same time. For those who cannot be there, CapitalismAndMorality has shared content online for free, thus echoing it well beyond the audience on the day."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/capitalists-confront-sacred-cows-in-calgary/54844

13 candidates run for Libertarian Party of Canada

The Libertarian Party of Canada was hit by a double whammy this election: (1) a snap election call at the worst possible time, less than a month after a convention brought in a new leader and administration; and (2) the continuing Covid pandemic and government lockdown measures, which made it virtually impossible for candidates to collect signatures to get on the ballot. Despite this, 13 Libertarians managed to be nominated, and will appear on election ballots across the country.  

2021 Candidates | Libertarian Party of Canada:

Here is our list of confirmed candidates as of September 2nd. Congratulations to all our candidates who worked within a short timeframe under difficult circumstances to get on the ballot.

Atlantic

• Fredericton - Brandon Kirby

Ontario

• Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill - Serge Korovitsyn
• Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock - Gene Balfour
• London West - Jacques Boudreau (Leader)
• Ottawa—Vanier - Daniel Elford
• Thunder Bay—Superior North - Alex Vodden

Manitoba

• Winnipeg Centre - Jamie Buhler

Alberta

• Edmonton Centre - Valerie Keefe
• Edmonton Griesbach - Morgan Watson
• Edmonton Strathcona - Malcolm Stinson
• Red Deer—Lacombe - Matthew Watson
• Red Deer—Mountain View - Jared Pilon

British Columbia

• Vancouver East - Gölök Z Buday  

https://www.libertarian.ca/2021_candidates

2019 election was deja vu for LP of Canada

by Jean-Serge Brisson 

Brisson, Libertarian Party of Canada leader (2000-2008), responds to 71 Republic's recent hatchet job on the Party:

You accuse the Libertarian Party of Canada of failing to get any kind of traction in this country. I don't think that you are well versed on the history of how libertarianism has developed and is developing in Canada.

Have you ever heard of a man named Preston Manning? Manning arrived on the scene in 1987 with a Western Canada-based political party called the Reform Party, notable for adopting more of the libertarian playbook than any other Canadian political party had in the past (other than the Libertarian Party itself). His Reform Party lasted 13 years, only to amalgamate in 2000 with the Progressive Conservatives to become the Conservative Party of Canada.

Manning was well known in the political arena. When he popped onto the scene we lost members and organizers to him. After that exodus, the Libertarian Party of Canada didn't make much noise for many years and in 1996 even lost its official party registration. When the law was changed in 2004, we were able to get re-registered and we immediately started running candidates again.

Rising from the ashes in a few years, we made headway in a manner that we had never known before. In 2018, in the province (like an American 'state') of Ontario, the provincial party reached a level of success unprecedented for any libertarian party in Canada. We came close to achieving what is called a full slate, which is a candidate in every constituency.

Also in 2018 that same federal Conservative Party had a leadership race, and a charismatic Member of Parliament, Maxime Bernier, ran on a libertarian platform. He lost after 13 ballots by less than half a percent. His frustration led him to form his own party, the "Peoples Party of Canada," in 2019. What happened then? The same thing that had happened 3 decades prior when Manning came on the scene. We had another exodus of people who thought that a charismatic individual could bring them victory at the polls. Deja vu.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. Bernier's sole intent was to get revenge against his leadership rival. But Bernier had a very libertarian agenda at first. Thus many of the LPoC executives and many other members went to support what they thought was going to be a quicker route to power.

It didn't happen. The Peoples Party garnished less than 300,000 votes, hardly enough to make a dent in the Canadian political structure. Bernier didn't hurt his rival, but did hurt us. Volunteers, donors, resources, and voters that would normally have come to us, went to Bernier at the last minute.

It is actually because the libertarian idea was catching on that these two upstarts were able to get off the ground so well. To have two parties within 3 decades start up with "Messiahs," draining and crippling the Libertarian party infrastructure, does not show lack of traction. It was the traction we had gained that caused the upstarts to do so well, but they had no stamina to maintain their drive.

The Libertarian Party of Canada got a punch that knocked us to the floor in this election. But unlike the last time, we were not knocked out. On the contrary, we are more like a boxer who is determined to see this fight to the end, no matter who stands in front of us. Because whether you realize it or not, the libertarian movement now is stronger in Canada than ever before.

When I ran in my first federal election, I was an unknown as a libertarian. But today, the word "libertarian" is not an unknown quantity anymore. It is well understood that it stands for less government. That is the result of many individuals in Canada working hard at getting our name and ideas into the media and also in front of politicians and voters.

Just like the Reform Party, Bernier's Peoples Party will be folding soon. Where do you think its members and organizers will turn to look for a political home?

US libertarian news site dumps on LP of Canada

Canada's Rhinoceros Party Is the Real Anti-government Party · 71 Republic - Ryan Lau, Editor in Chief:

October 26, 2019 - "On Monday, the people of Canada turned up in droves at voting stations across the country to choose who will rule them for the next several years. Though it was a tight race for several hours, Justin Trudeau eventually won a second term. Deservedly missing the news, however, was the Libertarian Party of Canada. Earning a paltry 8,281 votes, the Libertarians received less than a fourth of the support they received four years ago. It gets worse, though: the satirical Parti Rhinoceros Party ranked just above the Libertarians....

"This year, the Rhinos pulled together 9,408 votes, many of which came from Quebec. On the contrary, the Libertarian Party was lucky to pull 0.1% in Ontario; they did not meet the mark in any other province or territory....

"We’re all-too-familiar with the Libertarian Party of the United States’ awkward moments. The Canadian counterpart, though, makes them look impeccable by comparison. Their candidate for prime minister, Tim Moen, is a talented renaissance man, but his social media presence is lacking, to say the least. Did 8,000 people even see his name before the election? If anyone remembers him in a decade, it won’t be for his politics.

"The national party’s presence is even more abysmal. Their last tweet, nearly a month ago, was an awkwardly professional admission that they couldn’t scrape together one candidate in an Ontario district with more than 100,000 residents....

"The embarrassment doesn’t stop at social media; the official webpage leaves much to be desired. On the front page, an uncaptioned picture of Moen scrolls beside a grainy quote and the ever-hip #WeAreLiberty. If this is the best that Liberty has to offer, big government isn’t going anywhere for Canadians.

"Looking at the platform and confusing bylaws, the majority of points don’t stand out much. Though the party clearly attempts a serious tone and wants recognition as a political force, they should probably first make sure that they use proper punctuation on formal pages. Dull, uninspiring, and amateurish, the Libertarian Party of Canada was lucky to perform as well as they did this October. They can’t play the part of another political cog and that of a unique new voice at the same time.

"With a few keystrokes, Cody Wilson did more for liberty than the Canadian Libertarian Party ever will. If the party really wanted to make a difference, they would stop creating bylaws and regulations, stop becoming the very bureaucracy they claim to oppose, stop believing in the system that causes so much harm. They can’t be truly, radically anti-government while accepting the political landscape the State imposes.

"If they focused their efforts on proactively eliminating the demand for a strong government, rather than passively rebuking it after the fact, they would have much more success. Find something the State does and do it better, without stealing from people for revenue. It’s not that hard; governments are notoriously and inherently inefficient. Start an underground market. Educate others on the harms of war. Create a competitor to the post office or the police or the unemployment office."

Read more: https://71republic.com/2019/10/26/rhinoceros-party-beats-libertarians/

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98% of Canadians voted for more of the same

Canadians Demonstrate Rare Show of Unity: 98% Vote for Bigger Government, Higher Taxes, More Debt - Peter Diekmeyer (24/10/2019) | Sprott Money:

October 24, 2019 - "Mainstream media pundits, as usual, missed the key message when analyzing the results of Monday’s election, which returned Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to power. On paper the country was divided as never before, with no clear winner. The Conservatives, who won the popular vote, picked up a meagre 34.4% of ballots cast.

"Yet while Canadians can’t agree on a leader or how to divvy up the loot, they were unanimous on one important issue: they trust government, and they want it to do more.... [T]he Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Greens, and the Bloc (who gathered a combined 98% votes) all put forward platforms that would increase overall taxes, spending, borrowing, and regulations during their mandate....

"During the past three years we have highlighted growing danger signals that politicians are essentially flying blind and that due to vast bureaucracy, conflicting interests, and use of misleading data points they couldn’t stop the country’s downward spiral even if they wanted to. Productivity is collapsing throughout the system and gross domestic product hasn’t grown in major economies such as the U.S. in more than a decade (as calculated on a debt-adjusted basis, using a realistic deflator).

"Canadian public sector debts, when combined with the country’s private, household and financial debts (much of which are de facto government guaranteed) now total an unbelievable $8.3 trillion. That works out to nearly $1 million in debt for each Canadian under the age of 19, making the country’s youth the functional equivalent of debt slaves.

"The results of the recent election suggest that either Canadians aren’t concerned with any this or that they trust future governments to do better.... Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada, the only major party that could credibly promise to reduce the scope of government, got a meagre 1.6% of the vote.

"The only positive sign for advocates of sound public finances came from the Libertarian Party of Canada. Party leader Tim Moen — who advocated elimination of all taxes (except the GST), the privatization of the Bank of Canada, and a return to the gold standard — managed to keep the party on its feet, despite being banned from the debates and deprived of media coverage from all major outlets.

“'We are in a battle of ideas,' said Moen. 'Right now even if a free market-oriented party won power, they would not be able to accomplish much. Things will not change unless we change the culture, and that process takes place one vote at a time.'”

Read more: https://www.sprottmoney.com/Blog/canadians-demonstrate-rare-show-of-unity-98-vote-for-bigger-government-higher-taxes-more-debt-peter-diekmeyer-24-102019.html
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Libertarian Little sees campaign as base-building

Local candidates celebrated win or lose | Owen Sound Sun Times - Scott Dunn:

October 21, 2019 - "Less than an hour after local polls closed in Owen Sound, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound NDP, Green, People’s Party and Libertarian candidates celebrated their achievements, win or lose. About 10:10 p.m., CBC declared the Liberals would win the election nationally, though most of the rest of the country’s results had yet to be tabulated and local results had only just begun to come in....

"Libertarian candidate Dan Little said he wasn’t surprised with the results in Eastern Canada which were strongly Liberal and was buoyed when a supporter told him he was leading local People’s Party of Canada candidate Bill Townsend. That was with too few polls reporting to celebrate yet and as this story was being filed, Townsend was well ahead of Little.

"Little said if he got 300 votes he’d be happy with the result. [He received 306 according to election-night reporting - ed.].... 'But then that just builds the base and we can expand from there.'

"That would be one more vote than Jim Turner got in the riding of Bruce-Grey in 1980 while running under the Libertarian banner. That represented 0.8 per cent of the vote. In 1993, Ralph Hanke received just 152 votes or 0.3 of the vote....

"Little mostly campaigned outside the liquor store in Owen Sound, favouring that method over door-knocking, which he said he finds too intrusive. He mostly talked about taxes being too high, that we’re not properly represented and monetary system faults.

"He’s a marine engineer who works on ships and so only started campaigning in person 10 days into the campaign, once he returned to his home in Owen Sound. He campaigned here, Meaford, Wiarton, Markdale, Flesherton and Hanover."

Read more: https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/local-candidates-celebrated-win-or-lose
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12 Ontario Libertarians running federally

Ontario Libertarian Party, Facebook:

October 20, 2019 - The Ontario Libertarian Party would like to take the opportunity before voting day this federal election, to recognize the hard work of all the men and women within our membership who have taken it upon themselves to carry the torch of liberty high within federal politics, and give the constituents of their ridings a liberty minded choice on the ballot.

• Patrick Bernier - PPC [People's Party of Canada] - Kitchener Centre - @ppcpatrick
• Jacques Boudreau - LPOC [Libertarian Party of Canada] - London West - @voteboudreau
• Coreen Corcoran - LPOC - Ottawa Centre
• Darcy Neal Donnelly - LPOC - Glengary-Prescott-Russell
• John Kitteridge - LPOC - Don Valley West
• Keith Komar - LPOC - York-Simcoe - @libertykkomar
• Serge Korovitsyn - LPOC - Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill
• Dan Little - LPOC - Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
• Michael Staffieri - PPC - Eglinton-Lawrence - @staff_ieri
• Richard Styve - LPOC - Elgin-Middlesex-London
• Sabile Trimm - PPC - Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry - @sabiletrimm
• Markian Wojo Wrzesniewski - LPOC - Etobicoke Centre

"Ontario Libertarian Party would like to applaud your efforts federally, and appreciates your continued support fighting for liberty provincially.

"Good luck to you all!"

https://www.facebook.com/Ontario.Libertarian.Party/posts/2640582319340163

Lystang runs for Libertarians in Yellowhead AB

Meet the candidate: Cory Lystang, Libertarian Party of Canada | rdnewsNOW | Red Deer, Central Alberta | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Real Estate:

Oct 18, 2019 - "Brought-up as a Conservative supporter, the Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for the riding of Yellowhead, says it was the Conservatives Party not doing what they said they would do that prompted him to run in this year’s federal election. As a result, Cory Lystang says he became disillusioned with government and got into politics while fighting for the rights of firearms owners.

“'The Libertarian Party is a good fit because I definitely believe that government is too large,' he explains. 'We pay way too much tax and it kind of ticks all the boxes. Once you get over the idea that you don’t have a right to tell other people what to do, as long as they’re not damaging anything of yours, or yourself, it all kind of works for me.'

"Lystang describes the Party as being based on the ‘Libertarian ideal’. 'Which means basically government should be restrained and smaller and taxation should be kept to an absolute minimum, if at all,' he explains. 'We would be happy to see government become voluntary, instead of a paid position. The basics behind the Libertarian platform are less government, lower taxes and more freedom, that’s the basis behind everything that the Libertarian Party stands for'....

"[P]ipelines are the biggest issue Lystang hears about on the campaign trail.... 'We believe the pipeline should be able to go through, so long as all of the people have come up with contracts with the companies,' says Lystang. 'We don’t believe that the government should have been involved in buying the pipeline'....

"In terms of climate change ... 'We would like to look at more of a market approach, than a government regulation approach,' says Lystang. 'It could be argued that a regulation could stand in the way of the next creative energy source because we’re focusing on ethanol let’s say for an example, and not on clean, nuclear energy'....

"Lystang says he and the Libertarian Party of Canada make a great choice for undecided voters. 'We speak to people that just want to be left alone and go to work every day,' he explains. 'That’s our average person, and that’s our average candidate as well'.... The oilfield supervisor and business owner says if elected, [he] would represent the voters, even if he didn’t personally agree with their position. 'As long as it’s not increasing government, increasing taxation or decreasing freedom.'"

Read more: https://rdnewsnow.com/2019/10/18/meet-the-candidate-cory-lystang-libertarian-party-of-canada/
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Minor parties marginalized in Canadian election

They might never win an election — so what keeps a fringe party alive? - National | Globalnews.ca - Rachel Browne:

October 14, 2019 - "Four rescue cats roam the offices of the Animal Protection Party of Canada ... one of more than a dozen registered political parties in Canada running this election against the established parties like the Liberals, Conservatives and the NDP. But the odds are stacked against them and they likely won’t win. Some have been around for more than 30 years and have never come close to winning a single seat....

"There are currently 21 federal political parties registered with Elections Canada — the highest number ever. Eight became registered this year in time for the election, including the more well-known People’s Party of Canada (PPC), and other much smaller ones such as the Stop Climate Change party and Canada’s Fourth Front. The emergence of the far-right National Citizens Alliance of Canada and the Canadian Nationalist Party, both of which became registered this year, has prompted criticism from anti-hate groups who say this points to the problems with letting anyone register a federal party, regardless of their ideology....

"The PPC, led by former Conservative MP Maxime Bernier, calls itself the fastest-growing new political party in Canada with more than 300 candidates running in the 338 federal ridings in just a year since it was founded. Bernier also got himself into the federal leaders’ debates, after initially being rejected, due to the high number of candidates running and after successfully arguing that at least more than one had a reasonable chance of winning.

"Coreen Corcoran, president of the Libertarian Party of Canada who is running in the Ottawa-Centre riding last held by Liberal MP Catherine McKenna, said the popularity and ideals of the PPC resulted in the loss of many potential candidates for her party. 'A couple years ago, our plan was to run 388 [candidates] in this year’s election,' she said in an interview. 'Then the PPC came on board. They had a direct hit on our party, absolutely a direct hit. Because Maxime Bernier was, to many libertarians, a libertarian guy.' Corcoran said that the draw of Bernier coupled with the way his ideas encompassed some libertarian values made it appealing to a lot of those who had previously allied themselves with her party.

"She added that this election will be important in determining the future of her party, which is running a couple dozen candidates this year on a platform that champions a 'free market economy where entrepreneurs and employees can flourish.' A lot depends on the success of the PPC. 'If they do well, then it may hurt us again. If they don’t do well, I think it could end up helping us,' Corcoran said. 'It could have people coming back to us, people finding us. Who knows.'

"But the growth and momentum seen by the PPC is rare for a new party..... A significant barrier for smaller parties is Canada’s first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral regime, in which the candidate who gets the highest number of votes wins the right to represent that riding in the House of Commons. But candidates do not need an absolute majority — more than 50 per cent of votes — in order to win. FPTP can also encourage strategic voting, where voters may cast a ballot for the candidate who is more likely to defeat another candidate they dislike, rather than cast a ballot for the candidate they would actually prefer....

"As for the potential to end up with a seat in the House of Commons, Carleton University political science professor Jon Pammett said the Green Party can serve as a model. Though the Green Party was registered in 1984, leader Elizabeth May secured the party’s first seat nearly 30 years later in 2011. Paul Manly secured its second seat in May, along with significant gains made by the party’s provincial counterparts.... Pammett added that ideologies held by the parties like the Greens can also be taken up by the bigger parties ... depending on how popular they are among voters."

Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/6016479/federal-election-fringe-parties/
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Donnelly explains libertarianism to the voter

Less government is main focus for Libertarian candidate Darcy Neal Donnelly: James Morgan, The Review:

October 1, 2019 - "The best government is very little government, according to Darcy Neal Donnelly. The Libertarian Party of Canada candidate in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell has been part of a combination of three federal and provincial elections in the past.

“'There’s only so many laws our country needs,. said Donnelly. He explained that the only necessary laws are for protecting individual rights, freedoms, and markets. The Libertarian Party supports having police, courts and the military for the purpose of protection, and not control....

"Donnelly explained that the government has given big corporations the right to pollute and that property rights should be the basis of environmental protection.  He said that the environment would be better protected by private owners who had to take responsibility for it, including for environmentally significant places like national parks.

"When asked about ethics issues like the SNC Lavalin scandal, Donnelly said problems like corruption occur when governments and corporations are too big.  He ... strongly criticized the spending of taxpayer dollars on 'corporate welfare.'  As an example, he referred to the $18 million in support the Trudeau government announced over the summer for Heico, the American parent company of Ivaco Rolling Mills in L’Original.

"According to Donnelly, Canada has a mixed economy containing some free markets.... The Libertarian Party wants a free market for everything....

"Donnelly said the Libertarian Party would end the federal income tax for everyone and the government’s sources of revenue would be through trade and voluntary gifts.  Health care and social services for the less fortunate could be provided through benevolent organizations.  He highlighted how successful private institutions such as Shriners Hospitals are, as an example.

"Libertarians see themselves as influencers on other parties, said Donnelly.  He said the party is not totally dedicated to some day governing, but tries to influence existing candidates and parties with its ideas.  He said the People’s Party of Canada, led by Maxime Bernier has ideas that represent 80 per cent of what the Libertarians have been recommending, and he is pleased that they have had that influence on Bernier’s party."

Read more: https://thereview.ca/2019/10/01/less-government-is-main-focus-for-libertarian-candidate-darcy-neal-donnelly/
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Komar running for LP of Canada in York-Simcoe

York-Simcoe Libertarian Party candidate Keith Komar says "government is upside down" - BradfordToday.ca Natasha Philpott:

September 13, 2019 - "Keith Komar is a Barrie resident representing the Libertarian Party for the York-Simcoe riding in this election. Originally from British Columbia, Komar is a bricklayer by trade, travelling ... between BC and Ontario.... His start in activism started in the early '90s, fighting for gay rights. His brother was gay and one of the first men to be married in Ontario. Since then, [Keith] has become an advocate for equality and human rights and joined the BC Libertarian party in 2016....

"He believes it’s time for the government to look at the root cause of the problems in our country. 'That’s the problem with politics today, no one talks about the root problems. We’re talking about these surface issues,' he said. He is aware that his party may not have the numbers to win the election, but his goal [is] for their message to be heard among the politicians in power...

"The ideal role of federal government for the Libertarian Party would be a small one.... Military, currency and trading within the provinces are the only issues the Libertarians believe the federal government is needed for, with everyhing else being handled on a provincial and municipal level.  In terms of the economy, Komar says there are too many layers of government that need to be taken out in order to give people more control over their money....

"The Libertarian Party would also re-evaluate victimless crimes and in the federal criminal code: sex work and the war on drugs. Their plan would be to repeal the cannabis act. 'It makes [cannabis] more illegal now than it was when it was illegal,' he explained.

"Privacy rights are another pillar of the Libertarian platform. They believe the government has no right to be in the bedrooms of Canadian citizens. They would put an end to warrantless searches and repeal Bill C-51, which gives the government authority to share private information about individuals.... Regulatory agencies are also a point of contention with the Libertarian Party. They would like to repeal the powers of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)....

"In their platform, the Libertarians would make responsible gun possession legal for hunting, self defence and recreation.

"Environmental issues are also a major concern for the Libertarians. They would enforce property rights so owners would be made responsible for all the land and natural resources on and below it. And any damage done to property through pollution would be dealt with in the judicial system. .... They would like to end all restrictions and obligations on indigenous territories and replace the Indian Act with a guarantee of sovereignty for all indigenous people."

"Komar is confident that he will be the leader of the Libertarian Party of Ontario. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the provincial party and is running against two other candidates for the title. The vote takes place on Nov. 2, 2019."

Read more: https://www.bradfordtoday.ca/canadavotes/york-simcoe-libertarian-party-candidate-keith-komar-says-government-is-upside-down-1689114
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Scott runs for Libertarians in Sherwood Park AB

Federal election kicks off | Sherwood Park News - Lindsay Morey:

September 12, 2019 - "All MP seats are officially up for grabs across all of Canada’s 338 electoral districts and that includes ... the Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan constituency.

"Come October 21, voters should expect the following candidates on the ballot; incumbent Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, Joe Pound (Green Party), Preston Scott (Libertarian), Aidan Theroux (NDP), and Darren Villetard (People’s Party of Canada).... [A]  local Liberal .. candidate was not yet confirmed ....

"Along with his wife and daughter, Libertarian candidate Preston Scott has lived in Sherwood Park since 2014, when he relocated from Red Deer to expand the security company he was working for across the Edmonton area. Since 2017, he works as a branch office manager for a staffing agency and he has seen first-hand the struggles of workers getting back into the workforce with the downturn in the economy. He landed on the Libertarian Party after being turned off by Stephen Harper-style bully politics and not favouring “horror stories” of how Pierre Trudeau treated Alberta back in his parent’s time, he couldn’t align with Liberals.

“'No taxes, less government, free markets, and more liberty for the people to have the freedom to do what they want rather than having a government babysit them is more in line with what I believe in,' Scott explained.

"He acknowledges he doesn’t have much political experience other than running for student council in junior high, but he believes being a common, everyday person offers a candidate that’s more relatable for voters.

“'Don’t vote for the party, vote for the candidate that aligns with your views the most… Vote for someone you can relate to. People don’t find politics as sexy as it used to be,' Scott said. 'There are a lot of undecided people out there, so to those people, why don’t you give the Libertarian Party a chance? People who are tired of the rinse and repeat with the Liberals and Conservatives, why not give the Libertarian Party a chance to prove what they can do? People I’ve spoken to are tired of politicians, they want somebody they can relate to, someone who they can understand and speak to on a level playing field and know their voices are being heard.'”

Read more: https://www.sherwoodparknews.com/news/local-news/federal-election-kicks-off
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Rob Ferguson withdraws from federal election

Libertarian candidate withdraws from federal election | Brantford Expositor - Vincent Ball:

September 24, 2019 - "Libertarian Rob Ferguson is withdrawing as a candidate in Brantford-Brant for the Oct. 21 federal election. Ferguson, 44, cited health reasons in announcing his withdrawal Tuesday.

"'I have to put my health first,' he said. 'I had a massive heart attack after the last federal election (in 2015) and recently I was starting to feel fatigued and seeing some of the signs of ill health. I spoke with my family and my physician and we all agreed that it’s probably best that we sit this one out.'

"He said running for office is stressful because candidates must knock on a lot of doors, attend all-candidates meetings and be prepared for questions from voters.

"'I’m thankful for the support I have had over the years from the public groups and the inclusion of Libertarians here in Brant surpasses any riding across the county,' ... Ferguson said. 'Once my health is better I plan to return to fight for the cause.

“'The riding of Brantford-Brant has been good to me as a candidate.'

"The Brantford resident received 515 votes in the 2015 federal election. He has also run municipally and provincially and has served as interim leader and deputy leader for the Ontario Libertarian Party."

Read more: https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/libertarian-candidate-withdraws-from-federal-election
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BC Libertarian welcomes PPC competition

Burnaby Libertarian sees Bernier's People's Party as allies, not a threat | Burnaby Now - Dustin Godfrey:

September 15, 2019 - "New Westminster-Burnaby’s Libertarian Party candidate says there are no existential questions for his party with a competing libertarian-leaning brand with broad coverage in the upcoming election. Neeraj Murarka, New West's B.C. Libertarian Party candidate 2017 and B.C. director of the federal Libertarian Party, is replacing Rex Brocki in New West-Burnaby, with Brocki set to run up against NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in Burnaby South under the Libertarian banner.

"Brocki tallied 2.6 per cent of the vote in New West-Burnaby in 2015, which Murarka admitted will be a challenge to meet.... His own name recognition won’t be the only challenge to the Libertarians in New West-Burnaby, though. The People’s Party of Canada, run by former Conservative Party leadership contender Maxime Bernier, has received significant press coverage in the year since its September 2018 formation. That’s particularly true, given the PPC hasn’t even breached the five per cent mark in either CBC’s poll tracker or fellow poll aggregate 338Canada since the party’s creation.

"That name recognition could steal what little sway the Libertarians wield. But although the Libertarians considered a merger with the PPC last year, Murarka said the party doesn’t have any question about where it stands with a competing libertarian brand in the mix.

"Murarka called the People’s Party a more 'practical' rendition of his own party. Where the PPC could conceivably snag a seat or two in October, Murarka sees his party as the more principled libertarian brand. 'They’re basically doing whatever is necessary to get into office,' Murarka said.

"While he said the PPC concedes parts of a libertarian platform to get into office, Murarka says the party could push libertarian ideals into the mainstream.... 'If they manage to disrupt things, just manage to get a seat, I would be, honestly, very happy,' Murarka said. I don’t see them as the enemy; I’m not going to vote for them because I’m running, myself. But I think that both of our parties are kind of on the same level'....

"Murarka said his main issue this election is getting more voter involvement in the choices of government – more referendums and more decentralized control of Parliament. 'I want ,,, the voters to get to make those decisions, whether it relates to taxes, foreign policy, foreign intervention, military, spending, welfare – all those things.'”

Read more: https://www.burnabynow.com/federal-election-2019/burnaby-libertarian-sees-bernier-s-people-s-party-as-allies-not-a-threat-1.23946692
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Ferguson running for LP of Canada in Brantford

Candidates off and running! | Brantford Expositor - Vincent Ball:

September 11, 2019 - "Voters in Brantford-Brant will have plenty of choice when they cast their ballots on Oct. 21. With the official start of the federal election campaign on Wednesday, there are five candidates so far challenging incumbent Conservative Phil McColeman.... Sabrina Sawyer, of the New Democrats, Danielle Takacs, of the Liberal Party, Bob Jonkman, of the Green Party, Dave Wrobel of the People’s Party of Canada and Rob Ferguson, of the Libertarian Party....

"Ferguson has run unsuccessfully at the municipal level, as well as provincially and federally. He said he intends to talk a lot about leadership during the campaign.

“'When I look at the leaders of all the other parties, I see a sad state of affairs,' said Ferguson, who is the Ontario Libertarian Party leader. 'I don’t think any of them have earned the trust of Canadians. We’re offering Canadians something different, a different platform and clearly Tim Moen, our leader, is the only one to lead our country.'

"Nationally, the Libertarian Party has been hurt by the emergence of the People’s Party of Canada, Ferguson said. But he noted that the Libertarian Party has been around for a long time and is not a populist movement."

Read more:  https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/candidates-off-and-running
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McFadzean runs for LP of Canada in Lakeland

McFadzean joins the race for Lakeland MP - Bonnyville Nouvelle - Robynne Henry:

July 23, 2019 - "Robert McFadzean is once again in the running for Lakeland [Alberta] MP as the candidate for the Libertarian Party of Canada. While he doesn’t consider himself a politician, McFadzean’s main priorities are to decrease taxes and government regulations. 'Our contention is if you do that, we find that people will prosper,' he said, adding he would be opposed to any legislation put forward that would increase either.

"According to McFadzean, the basic philosophy of libertarianism is the government having minimal impacts on people’s lives. 'That’s the right that everybody has to choose for themselves, and where that leads to is that any income that a person earns, for example, is their property. They decide what to do with it,' he explained. 'When a government comes along and taxes away a part of that income, then they’re violating the liberty of that person. They’re taking away their property, which is a violation of that person’s rights.'

"McFadzean noted the main libertarian belief is people are free to decide how to interact with each other as long as no one’s rights are breached.... McFadzean believes people should be allowed to live how they choose, and the government shouldn’t interfere in that respect.

"According to McFadzean, the basis of libertarianism started back in the 1700s after the American war of independence when ... a relatively free society was established. 'It spread into the western countries, and led to a tremendous progress of wellbeing of people. We would argue that was because of liberty, that was because of the freedom people had, and since then, it seems like the governments in this country have gradually backtracked on that… We’re still free enough that our economy and lives are tremendously better than 200 years ago, but we would suggest it could be even better if we were more free than we are now'....

"McFadzean ... first ran for the position in the 2015 federal election. 'Libertarians typically get approximately one per cent of the vote, so when you run as a Libertarian you’re not exactly expecting to get elected. But, as a Libertarian, I wanted to vote for liberty. I want to vote for a Libertarian, so I run as a Libertarian so I and other like minded people have a Libertarian to vote for.'”

"The Vermilion native spent 23 years teaching at Lakeland College in economics and financial management in the agriculture department. He’s married with seven children and has been involved in the community through his church and the local music festival.

"When he ran during the 2018 provincial election for the Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright riding, McFadzean pledged to cover his own expenses and to put any salary he earns, if elected, into a fund toward promoting liberty. He also promised to do the same if he’s chosen as MP for the Lakeland."

Read more: https://www.bonnyvillenouvelle.ca/article/mcfadzean-joins-the-race-for-lakeland-mp-20190723
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