Ontario Party of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Party of Canada was a political party
in Canada
that was co-founded in September 2002 by George Burns and Brad Harness of London, Ontario
to promote the interests of the Province of Ontario
within the Canadian confederation. Burns, a former Liberal
and past president of the London-North-Centre Canadian Alliance
riding association
, and Harness, a former Progressive Conservative
and regional organizer of the London area Reform Party of Canada
, both promised that a successful Ontario party would force the federal government to be run by a coalition of regions.
Burns, as interim leader, vowed to have 50 candidates in the next federal election. Harness, as the interim deputy leader and chief party organizer
, quickly worked on the principles and policy for the Ontario Party of Canada. A founding workshop was held, a website was developed and the party applied to Elections Canada, the government elections agency, for party status.
The party issued two news releases, which resulted in articles in the National Post on September 9, 2002 and September 16, 2002.
But in February 2003, Burns wrote an article in The London Free Press newspaper endorsing the Canadian Alliance
and promising that the Ontario party would live on, at least in spirit: "The Ontario Party of Canada will, for the time being, become an ardent advocate for the best interests of Ontarians and comment on national, provincial and municipal matters. Should the time ever arise when the electorate wants a regional representation in Parliament, we will be there. If this scenario never arises, advocacy and strategic support alliances will be the order of the day."
In late 2003, Burns, the would-be defender of Ontario’s interests in Confederation, had moved to Vancouver
, British Columbia
, where he became active in the new Conservative Party of Canada
. He was quoted as writing: "Several months ago we made the decision to fold the party and fully support Stephen Harper
and the new and improved Conservative party. We are convinced that it will address Ontario's and every region's concerns."
The merger of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
and the Canadian Alliance in late 2003 undermined the commitment of those who supported the Ontario Party.
Elections Canada reported on March 29, 2004 the party lost its eligibility to become registered because it failed to report a change of leader.
See also: List of political parties in Canada
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in 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...
that was co-founded in September 2002 by George Burns and Brad Harness of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
to promote the interests of the Province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
within the Canadian confederation. Burns, a former Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
and past president of the London-North-Centre Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
riding association
Riding association
In Canadian politics a riding association , officially called an electoral district association is the basic unit of a political party, that is it is the party's organization at the level of the electoral district, or "riding"...
, and Harness, a former Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
and regional organizer of the London area Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
, both promised that a successful Ontario party would force the federal government to be run by a coalition of regions.
Burns, as interim leader, vowed to have 50 candidates in the next federal election. Harness, as the interim deputy leader and chief party organizer
Party organizer
A party organizer or local party organizer is a position in some political parties in charge of the establishing a party organization in a certain locality.Herbert Ames wrote in his 1911 article "Organization of Political Parties in Canada" :...
, quickly worked on the principles and policy for the Ontario Party of Canada. A founding workshop was held, a website was developed and the party applied to Elections Canada, the government elections agency, for party status.
The party issued two news releases, which resulted in articles in the National Post on September 9, 2002 and September 16, 2002.
But in February 2003, Burns wrote an article in The London Free Press newspaper endorsing the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
and promising that the Ontario party would live on, at least in spirit: "The Ontario Party of Canada will, for the time being, become an ardent advocate for the best interests of Ontarians and comment on national, provincial and municipal matters. Should the time ever arise when the electorate wants a regional representation in Parliament, we will be there. If this scenario never arises, advocacy and strategic support alliances will be the order of the day."
In late 2003, Burns, the would-be defender of Ontario’s interests in Confederation, had moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where he became active in the new Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. He was quoted as writing: "Several months ago we made the decision to fold the party and fully support Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
and the new and improved Conservative party. We are convinced that it will address Ontario's and every region's concerns."
The merger of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
and the Canadian Alliance in late 2003 undermined the commitment of those who supported the Ontario Party.
Elections Canada reported on March 29, 2004 the party lost its eligibility to become registered because it failed to report a change of leader.
See also: List of political parties in Canada