Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada is a small registered political party in Canada
. It was formed by two organizations, the Animal Alliance of Canada and Environment Voters. The latter had previously been organized as a subsidiary of the former. Elections Canada lists the party’s official short name as Animal Alliance/Environment Voters.
and environmentalism
; the party best known for organizing around that issue.
Both parent organizations have been particularly vocal in the past opposing the seal hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador
, and other causes have included opposition to the use of fur farming
and trapping
, and bear
hunting.
as political parties) during election campaigns. AAEV intends to use its status as a political party to circumvent that restriction by running a sole candidate, thus allowing it to promote its views during election periods.
Though the party ran a single candidate in the 2006 general election in order to entitle it to political-party status, its role in most ridings is to endorse a major-party candidate which it sees as promoting the organization’s views. In the 2006 general election, AAEV's free-time political ads specifically endorsed the New Democratic Party
, counter-balanced by the statement that voters "could" vote for AAEV leader Liz White
in Toronto Centre
.
Canadian electoral laws hinder abuse of this loophole by setting campaign spending limits for parties that are proportional to the number of voters in the electoral districts where the a party is running candidates. Because the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada was running only one candidate, it was only permitted to spend $66,715.37, compared to the $18,225,260.74 limits granted to the major national parties.
In 2008, however, the party ran four candidates.
AAC and EV have in the past campaigned to elect candidates and parties with positions favourable to animal rights and the environment, respectively, and to oppose those with unfavourable positions. Since 1999, the groups claim to have participated in over 50 campaigns.
, the AAEVPC fielded four candidates, all in Ontario:
The party ran one candidate in the 2006 federal election, receiving 72 votes. This is the lowest number of votes and the lowest percentage of the popular vote (0.0004% of total votes cast) ever recorded by a federal party contesting an election in Canada. During the March 17, 2008 by-election, the party managed to improve its vote share, despite low voter turnout.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was formed by two organizations, the Animal Alliance of Canada and Environment Voters. The latter had previously been organized as a subsidiary of the former. Elections Canada lists the party’s official short name as Animal Alliance/Environment Voters.
Ideology
The party’s program is centred on animal rightsAnimal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
and environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
; the party best known for organizing around that issue.
Both parent organizations have been particularly vocal in the past opposing the seal hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, and other causes have included opposition to the use of fur farming
Fur farming
Fur farming is the practice of breeding or raising certain types of animals for their fur.Fur used from wild caught animals is not farmed, and is instead known as 'free range fur' because the animals have lived their lives free and natural in the wild....
and trapping
Trapping (Animal)
Animal trapping, or simply trapping, is the use of a device to remotely catch an animal. Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including food, wildlife management, hunting, and pest control...
, and bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
hunting.
Influence of electoral law
The party was formed as a result of laws restricting political advocacy by “third parties” (i.e., organizations that are not registered by Elections CanadaElections Canada
Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency reporting directly to the Parliament of Canada. Its ongoing responsibility is to ensure that Canadians can exercise their choices in federal elections and referenda through an open and impartial process...
as political parties) during election campaigns. AAEV intends to use its status as a political party to circumvent that restriction by running a sole candidate, thus allowing it to promote its views during election periods.
Though the party ran a single candidate in the 2006 general election in order to entitle it to political-party status, its role in most ridings is to endorse a major-party candidate which it sees as promoting the organization’s views. In the 2006 general election, AAEV's free-time political ads specifically endorsed the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, counter-balanced by the statement that voters "could" vote for AAEV leader Liz White
Liz White (politician)
Elizabeth "Liz" White is a Canadian politician and animal rights activist residing in Toronto, Ontario. She is the current leader of the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada, a minor federal political party in Canada.-Animal Alliance of Canada:...
in Toronto Centre
Toronto Centre
Toronto Centre is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1925, and since 1935, under the names Centre Toronto , Toronto Centre , Rosedale and Toronto Centre—Rosedale .Toronto Centre covers the heart of...
.
Canadian electoral laws hinder abuse of this loophole by setting campaign spending limits for parties that are proportional to the number of voters in the electoral districts where the a party is running candidates. Because the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada was running only one candidate, it was only permitted to spend $66,715.37, compared to the $18,225,260.74 limits granted to the major national parties.
In 2008, however, the party ran four candidates.
AAC and EV have in the past campaigned to elect candidates and parties with positions favourable to animal rights and the environment, respectively, and to oppose those with unfavourable positions. Since 1999, the groups claim to have participated in over 50 campaigns.
2008 candidates
In the 2008 general electionCanadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
, the AAEVPC fielded four candidates, all in Ontario:
- Marie Crawford in Toronto–DanforthToronto—DanforthToronto—Danforth is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979. It lies to the east of Downtown Toronto....
- Karen Levenson in GuelphGuelph (electoral district)Guelph is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988 and has been since 2004.The riding's parliamentary seat is held by Liberal MP Frank Valeriote.-History:...
- Simon Luisi in DavenportDavenport (electoral district)Davenport is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935. Its population in 2001 was 111,705.-Geography:...
- Liz WhiteLiz White (politician)Elizabeth "Liz" White is a Canadian politician and animal rights activist residing in Toronto, Ontario. She is the current leader of the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada, a minor federal political party in Canada.-Animal Alliance of Canada:...
in Toronto CentreToronto CentreToronto Centre is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1925, and since 1935, under the names Centre Toronto , Toronto Centre , Rosedale and Toronto Centre—Rosedale .Toronto Centre covers the heart of...
2011 candidates
In the 2011 general election, the AAEVPC fielded seven candidates, six in Ontario, one in the territories:- Marie Crawford in Toronto—DanforthToronto—DanforthToronto—Danforth is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979. It lies to the east of Downtown Toronto....
- Bonnie Dawson in Western ArcticWestern ArcticWestern Arctic is a federal electoral district and senate division in Northwest Territories, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979....
- Karen Levenson in GuelphGuelph (electoral district)Guelph is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988 and has been since 2004.The riding's parliamentary seat is held by Liberal MP Frank Valeriote.-History:...
- Simon Luisi in DavenportDavenport (electoral district)Davenport is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935. Its population in 2001 was 111,705.-Geography:...
- Yvonne Mackie in Newmarket—AuroraNewmarket—AuroraNewmarket—Aurora is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The district contains the towns of Newmarket and Aurora....
- AnnaMaria Valastro in London North CentreLondon North CentreLondon North Centre is an electoral district in the province of Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997....
- Liz WhiteLiz White (politician)Elizabeth "Liz" White is a Canadian politician and animal rights activist residing in Toronto, Ontario. She is the current leader of the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada, a minor federal political party in Canada.-Animal Alliance of Canada:...
in ThornhillThornhill (electoral district)Thornhill is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.It covers the community of Thornhill, Ontario, which is made up of portions of Vaughan and Markham, and was created in 1996 from parts of...
Election results
| Election | # of candidates | # of votes | % of popular vote | % in ridings run in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Canadian federal election, 2006 The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:... |
1 | 72 | 0.00% | 0.12% |
| 2008 by-election | 1 | 123 | 0.00% | 0.51% |
| 2008 Canadian federal election, 2008 The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008... |
4 | 529 | 0.00% | 0.28% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1451 | 0.01% | 0.40% |
The party ran one candidate in the 2006 federal election, receiving 72 votes. This is the lowest number of votes and the lowest percentage of the popular vote (0.0004% of total votes cast) ever recorded by a federal party contesting an election in Canada. During the March 17, 2008 by-election, the party managed to improve its vote share, despite low voter turnout.