Freedom Party of Manitoba
Encyclopedia
The Freedom Party of Manitoba is a provincial political party in Manitoba
, Canada
. The party was created in the mid-1980s as the Libertarian Party of Manitoba, and formally changed its name to the Manitoba Marijuana Party in early 2005 and in 2007 became the Freedom Party of Manitoba. It is not affiliated with Freedom Party International, Freedom Party of Ontario
, or Freedom Party of Canada
.
The LPM ran four candidates in the provincial election of 1986, one fewer than was required for official party certification. It achieved ballot status in 1988 with six candidates, and ran five in 1990.
The LPM ran six candidates in 1995, six again in 1999 and five in 2003. It has never come close to electing a member to the legislature, and Buors has acknowledged the LPM is a marginal political force in the province. Like other "fringe parties", the LPM claims to present ideas to the public which are ignored by mainstream organizations.
The party appears to have been founded by Clancy Smith, who is still an active member. Dennis Rice became party leader at some point in the early 1990s, and stepped down two days after the 2003 election was called. Chris Buors
was chosen without opposition as Rice's replacement, and led the party into the election.
Like most Libertarian
parties, the LPM advocated the view that government activities which affect the lives of citizens (whether in social or economic matters) be kept to a minimum. Buors, who led the party in the 2003 election
, is a marijuana-rights activist and has also run as a candidate for the Marijuana Party of Canada
.
Buors is primarily known as an activist in Canada's cannabis
movement. In 2005, he legally changed the party's name to the Manitoba Marijuana Party, on the advice and with the support of prominent cannabis activist Marc Emery
.
In early February 2007, James Cotton, expressed interest in changing the Party name and becoming Party Leader. All the proper forms for Elections Manitoba were gathered, signed, sealed and delivered and on February 27, 2007 it became the Freedom Party. It supports the full legalization of drugs, and has also called for the restriction of state powers on other issues. The party did not nominate candidates for the 2007 provincial election
.
James Cotton was the party leader while past leader Chris Buors served as party president.
In May 2007, the Freedom Party of Manitoba failed to field the five candidates needed in Manitoba for a provincial party to remain registered in that province. There have since been reports that the party has disbanded.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
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...
. The party was created in the mid-1980s as the Libertarian Party of Manitoba, and formally changed its name to the Manitoba Marijuana Party in early 2005 and in 2007 became the Freedom Party of Manitoba. It is not affiliated with Freedom Party International, Freedom Party of Ontario
Freedom Party of Ontario
The Freedom Party of Ontario is a provincial political party in Ontario, Canada. It was founded on January 1, 1984 in London, Ontario by Robert Metz and Marc Emery, as a successor to the Unparty....
, or Freedom Party of Canada
Freedom Party of Canada
The Freedom Party of Canada was founded on July 20, 2001 by Paul McKeever and Robert Metz...
.
The LPM ran four candidates in the provincial election of 1986, one fewer than was required for official party certification. It achieved ballot status in 1988 with six candidates, and ran five in 1990.
The LPM ran six candidates in 1995, six again in 1999 and five in 2003. It has never come close to electing a member to the legislature, and Buors has acknowledged the LPM is a marginal political force in the province. Like other "fringe parties", the LPM claims to present ideas to the public which are ignored by mainstream organizations.
The party appears to have been founded by Clancy Smith, who is still an active member. Dennis Rice became party leader at some point in the early 1990s, and stepped down two days after the 2003 election was called. Chris Buors
Chris Buors
Chris Buors is a cannabis activist and politician in Manitoba, Canada. He became leader of the Libertarian Party of Manitoba in 2003, and oversaw the party's transformation to the Manitoba Marijuana Party in 2004...
was chosen without opposition as Rice's replacement, and led the party into the election.
Like most Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
parties, the LPM advocated the view that government activities which affect the lives of citizens (whether in social or economic matters) be kept to a minimum. Buors, who led the party in the 2003 election
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
, is a marijuana-rights activist and has also run as a candidate for the Marijuana Party of Canada
Marijuana Party of Canada
The Marijuana Party is a Canadian federal political party. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition of cannabis. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area...
.
Buors is primarily known as an activist in Canada's cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
movement. In 2005, he legally changed the party's name to the Manitoba Marijuana Party, on the advice and with the support of prominent cannabis activist Marc Emery
Marc Emery
Marc Scott Emery is a Canadian cannabis policy reform advocate, as well as a former cannabis seed seller. He is currently serving a five year sentence in a United States federal prison for selling cannabis seeds....
.
In early February 2007, James Cotton, expressed interest in changing the Party name and becoming Party Leader. All the proper forms for Elections Manitoba were gathered, signed, sealed and delivered and on February 27, 2007 it became the Freedom Party. It supports the full legalization of drugs, and has also called for the restriction of state powers on other issues. The party did not nominate candidates for the 2007 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
.
James Cotton was the party leader while past leader Chris Buors served as party president.
In May 2007, the Freedom Party of Manitoba failed to field the five candidates needed in Manitoba for a provincial party to remain registered in that province. There have since been reports that the party has disbanded.
See also
- Political parties of Canada
- Marijuana Party of CanadaMarijuana Party of CanadaThe Marijuana Party is a Canadian federal political party. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition of cannabis. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area...
- Libertarian Party of CanadaLibertarian Party of CanadaThe Libertarian Party of Canada is a political party in Canada that subscribes to the tenets of the libertarian movement across Canada.-History:...