James Cotton (Manitoba politician)
Encyclopedia
James Cotton is a political figure in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was chosen as the leader of the Freedom Party of Manitoba
in 2007, and intended to lead the party into the 2007 provincial election
. He was unable to do so, as the party failed to register any candidates with Elections Manitoba
.
Cotton was 29 years old at the time of the election, and lived in Matlock
, near Winnipeg Beach. He was previously a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
, but left because he believed it was too liberal
and did not pay sufficient attention to the concerns of grassroots members.
He became politically active through talks with Chris Buors
, who was leader of the small Manitoba Marijuana Party from 2005 to 2007. Buors offered the party leadership to Cotton, who accepted it on condition that the name be changed to the "Freedom Party". While his political views are largely similar to Buors's, Cotton has said that he is "not a marijuana guy".
He planned to run against Justice Minister Dave Chomiak in the division of Kildonan, but was unable to do so when the party could not field the minimum five candidates required for official ballot status. Buors surmised that some people who had promised to run as candidates backed out at the last minute. Cotton himself was not available for comment.
Cotton does not appear to have played an active role with the Freedom Party after the election, although he remained its nominal leader for an unspecified period of time. The party is no longer registered with Elections Manitoba
.
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...
. He was chosen as the leader of the Freedom Party of Manitoba
Freedom Party of Manitoba
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...
in 2007, and intended to lead the party into 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...
. He was unable to do so, as the party failed to register any candidates with Elections Manitoba
Elections Manitoba
Elections Manitoba is the non-partisan agency of the Government of Manitoba, responsible for the conduct of provincial elections....
.
Cotton was 29 years old at the time of the election, and lived in Matlock
Matlock, Manitoba
Matlock, Manitoba is a resort community in the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada, on the southwestern shore of Lake Winnipeg. Along with the adjacent communities of Whytewold and Ponemah, Matlock is the southernmost part of the Village of Dunnotar...
, near Winnipeg Beach. He was previously a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
, but left because he believed it was too liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and did not pay sufficient attention to the concerns of grassroots members.
He became politically active through talks with 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...
, who was leader of the small Manitoba Marijuana Party from 2005 to 2007. Buors offered the party leadership to Cotton, who accepted it on condition that the name be changed to the "Freedom Party". While his political views are largely similar to Buors's, Cotton has said that he is "not a marijuana guy".
He planned to run against Justice Minister Dave Chomiak in the division of Kildonan, but was unable to do so when the party could not field the minimum five candidates required for official ballot status. Buors surmised that some people who had promised to run as candidates backed out at the last minute. Cotton himself was not available for comment.
Cotton does not appear to have played an active role with the Freedom Party after the election, although he remained its nominal leader for an unspecified period of time. The party is no longer registered with Elections Manitoba
Elections Manitoba
Elections Manitoba is the non-partisan agency of the Government of Manitoba, responsible for the conduct of provincial elections....
.