Independent candidates, 2003 Ontario provincial election

Twenty-four candidates appeared on the ballot as independents in the 2003 provincial election in Ontario, Canada. Of these, ten were Independent Renewal candidates affiliated with the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), one was an Independent Reformer, and one a member of the Communist League. The other eleven appear to have been fully independent candidates, unaligned with any registered or unregistered party. Information about these candidates may be found on this page.

Candidates

Brant: John C. Turmel

Perennial candidate. Holds world records for most elections contested, and most elections lost. See his biography page for further details. Received 295 votes, finishing fifth out of five candidates (0.66%). The winner was Dave Levac of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Davenport: David Senater

Twenty-nine years old at the time of the election, and president of Senater Industries, an industrial design company. Previously carried placards to protest increased gasoline prices around Toronto. Attained unwanted notoriety during the election when the Toronto Sun tabloid accused him of withholding funds from Vanessa Pinto (a University of Toronto student and former campaign worker), and several other students in the Toronto area.[1] Eventually paid Pinto in full, after much criticism.

Also ran for Ward 17 on the Toronto City Council in the 2003 election, concurrent with his provincial campaign. Was opposed to granting the Toronto Transit Commission use of two streetcar lanes on St. Clair Avenue West, a controversial local issue. One newspaper article indicates that Senater only entered the provincial race to gain additional advertising opportunities for his municipal campaign (i.e., to get around a municipal bylaw that prohibited campaign signs before a certain date).[2] Delivered 15,000 campaign brochures during the provincial campaign. Some flyers implied that he was supported by local Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament Tony Ruprecht and former councillor Betty Disero, prompting denials from both. Finished fifth out of seven candidates in his provincial campaign with 293 votes (1.11%). The winner was Tony Ruprecht. Also lost his municipal campaign, finishing third out of five candidates with 940 votes (8.2%). The winner was Cesar Palacio.

Etobicoke North: Frank M. Acri

No information. Received 1,990 votes (6.42%) for a fourth place finish, an impressive result for an independent candidate. The winner was Shafiq Qaadri of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Kitchener—Waterloo: Owen Alastair Ferguson

Young candidate, twenty-three years old in 2003. Graduate of the University of Waterloo, and a former member of student council. Was planning to attend medical school. Slightly eccentric, frequently quoted and wrote in the style of William S. Burroughs on his private blog (no longer active).[3] Criticized the governing Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario for being out of touch with the electorate. Cast an advance ballot for the local candidate of the Ontario New Democratic Party. Received 242 votes, finishing sixth in a field of seven candidates. The winner with Elizabeth Witmer of the Progressive Conservatives. Owen is a cousin of Eva Vertes. Owen Ferguson can be reached at [e-mail].

Lambton—Kent—Middlesex: James Armstrong

No information. There is a James Armstrong who serves as chief executive officer of the Ontario Association of Community Care Access centres, but it is unlikely that this is the same person. Received 1,053 votes, finishing fifth out of six candidates. The winner was Maria Van Bommel of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Ottawa Centre: Fakhry Guirguis

Concerned with homelessness, and with class sizes in Ontario public schools. At one all-candidates meeting, was the only candidate not to answer questions about same-sex marriage and marijuana decriminalization.[4] Received 214 votes, finishing seventh in a field of seven candidates. The winner was Richard Patten of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Ottawa West—Nepean: Robert Gilles Gauthier

Publisher of National Capital News, an independent Ottawa newspaper founded in 1982 and printed at irregular intervals. Involved in a long-standing dispute with the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, which refuses to give him membership because of its policy of excluding small newspapers. Has presented his case as a "free speech" issue. Took his case to the United Nations in 1999, claiming that Canada had violated his rights under article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in denying him access to the press gallery's premises. An investigating committee found that the Canadian government was, in fact, in contempt of Article 19, in the limited sense that Gauthier had no legal recourse to determine the legality of his exclusion. The committee called upon the government to remedy the situation.[5] Gauthier claims that no such remedies have yet been taken. Took Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Milliken to court on this matter in 2002; the case was dismissed. At the same time, very few issues of his newspaper have actually been printed. Gauthier also runs Clear Air Ride Corporation, and introduced a model of electric bicycles in 1998. Received 353 votes, finishing last in a field of five candidates. The winner was Jim Watson of the Ontario Liberal Party. Also ran in the 2004 federal election in Ottawa Centre and received 121 votes, finishing sixth out of nine candidates. The winner on that occasion was Ed Broadbent of the New Democratic Party. Has also campaigned for Mayor of Ottawa in the past.

Peterborough: Bob Bowers

Bob Bowers received 178 votes, finishing sixth against Liberal candidate Jeff Leal.

Simcoe North: Karnail Singh

No information. Received 101 votes (0.2%), finishing sixth in a field of six candidates. The winner was Garfield Dunlop of the Progressive Conservative Party.

Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh: Gary R. Besner

Lives in Long Sault. Reasons for running unclear. In 2005, criticized the federal Liberal government over the revelations of the Gomery inquiry.[6] Received 968 votes, finishing fifth in a field of five candidates. The winner was Jim Brownell of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Toronto—Danforth: Mehmet Ali Yagiz

Received 73 votes, the lowest total of any candidate on this list, and finished sixth in a field of six candidates. The winning candidate was Marilyn Churley of the Ontario New Democratic Party. Yagiz has run for Mayor of Toronto in the 2003 election, receiving 193 votes (0.02%) and finishing fortieth in a field of forty-four candidates. He also ran in the 2006 mayoral election, and received 753 votes (0.13%).