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John Turmel

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John Turmel
Turmel in 2012
Leader of the Pauper Party
In office
September 14, 2011 – 2022
PresidentMichael Spottiswood
Wayne Robinson
Preceded byPosition created
Leader of the Abolitionist Party
In office
1993–1996
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Leader of the Christian Credit Party
In office
1982–1983
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born (1951-02-22) February 22, 1951 (age 73)
Rouyn, Quebec, Canada
Political partyIndependent (federal)
Pauper (provincial)
Other political
affiliations		Abolitionist (1993–1996)
Green (1984)
Christian Credit (1982–1983)
Social Credit (1980–1982)
OccupationProfessional gambler
Known forGuinness World Records holder for most elections contested and most elections lost
Websitewww.johnturmel.com

John C. Turmel (born February 22, 1951)[1] is a perennial candidate for election in Canada, and according to the Guinness World Records holds the records for the most elections contested and for the most elections lost, having contested 112 elections and lost 111.[2] The other contest was a by-election that was pre-empted by a general election call.[3]

Background

[edit]

Turmel, who describes himself as a "Libertarian Socred",[3] believes in Louis Even's Quebec social credit theory of monetary reform[4] and has also campaigned for the legalization of gambling, the adoption of "Local Employment Trading Systems" (LETS) which are interest-free barter arrangements, and for the legalization of marijuana.[5] He describes his platform as "I want no cops in gambling, sex or drugs or rock and roll, I want no usury on loans, pay cash or time, no dole."[3]

He has participated in several protests outside of Canada's major banking institutions, saying that bank interest promotes poverty and starvation in the third world.[6]

Turmel, an electrical engineering graduate, who lists his occupation as "professional gambler"[7] was active in the Social Credit Party of Canada and the Social Credit Party of Ontario in the 1980s, and founded the Christian Credit Party in the 1980s, the Abolitionist Party of Canada in the 1990s, and the Pauper Party of Ontario in 2011. He wears a white construction helmet, when campaigning,[8] and calls himself "The Engineer".[8] The colour of his helmet is said to not only refer to the white construction helmets worn by engineers and architects on construction sites, but also to the berets blanc (white berets), the nickname of the Pilgrims of Saint Michael, a radical monetarist faction within the Quebec social credit movement.[citation needed]

Turmel's grandfather, Adelard Turmel, supported the Social Credit Party of Canada from its inception in 1935, and he passed on a belief in social credit monetary theories to his descendants.[4] His brother, Raymond Turmel, has also campaigned for public office on several occasions.[citation needed]

Turmel spent most of his life in Ottawa but has made Brantford, Ontario, his home since 2003 after running in a by-election there and finding he liked the area where he could play high-stakes Holdem Poker professionally at the Brantford Charity Casino.[3]

Political activity

[edit]

Gambling activism

[edit]

Turmel received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1976 with a specialization in the mathematics of gambling[dubious – discuss][citation needed] and became Teaching Assistant to Walter Schneider in the course until 1978 when he was fired for running a highly publicized Blackjack "21" game in the Faculty Club.[citation needed] The next year he received his first conviction for keeping a common gaming house for running Blackjack games at home.[citation needed] In 1981, Turmel was convicted and jailed for 21 days for keeping a gaming house and playing 21, he lost the appeal but had the sentence converted to 100 hours community service playing accordion in old-age homes.[citation needed] In 1991, Turmel was convicted in Gatineau, Quebec, of running a common gaming house and sentenced to 4 months in jail.[citation needed] Before getting out after one month, Turmel ran for Chair of Ottawa-Carleton Regional Municipality while in jail, collecting approximately 3,500 votes. In 1993, as a part of Project Robin Hood, Ottawa and Ontario Provincial Police raided the private 28-table Casino Turmel, the largest gaming house raid in Canadian history. Turmel was convicted and sentenced to 200 hours community service playing accordion in retirement homes.[citation needed]

Entering the electoral fray

[edit]

His campaign to legalize gambling and the notoriety he received as a result, combined with his family's background in social credit ideology, led Turmel to seek election at the federal level for the first time at the age of 28, as an independent candidate in Ottawa West in the May 1979 federal election in which he ran as the self-described "champion of hookers, gamblers and dope smokers"[3] in a campaign in which he argued interest on money, usury, was the evil instability in financial affairs and swore to "abolish interest rates". He won 193 votes.[citation needed]

Social Credit

[edit]

He ran again as an independent in the February 1980 federal election in Ottawa Centre. His application to run as a Social Credit Party of Canada candidate was rejected by party leader Fabien Roy. He won 64 votes.[citation needed] The Social Credit Party lost its remaining seats in the election.

Because of the death of the Social Credit candidate in Frontenac riding in Quebec during the election, a by-election was held in March. When Fabien Roy accepted the nomination without a convention, Turmel ran again as an independent against the Social Credit candidate. He ran as an independent candidate in the April 13 federal by-election in London West, claiming to be interim leader of the Ontario Social Credit Party. Turmel won 77 votes as an "independent Social Credit" candidate in a September 8 by-election in Hamilton West.[citation needed]

He also sought the Social Credit Party of Canada’s interim national leadership unsuccessfully at a convention in November in Calgary. Turmel opposed the appointment of Martin Hattersley as interim leader of the federal Social Credit party as being undemocratic. The party executive claimed that the party did not have sufficient funds to hold a convention.[citation needed]

While running in the Hamilton West federal byelection, Turmel registered for Mayor of Ottawa in November, collecting 1,928 votes.[citation needed] At the same time, he ran as the Social Credit candidate in a provincial by-election in Carleton riding, coming in last.[citation needed] Registered in a hat-trick.

With grandfather Adelard, mother Therese, and brother Ray Turmel in support, Turmel started picketing the Bank of Canada on every Thursday when the interest rate was set and then picketing Parliament too. This continued for five years until the retirement of Governor Gerald Bouey.[citation needed]

In the March 1981 provincial election, Turmel ran as a Social Credit candidate in Ottawa Centre, while his brother Raymond ran for the party in Ottawa South and Serge Girard, Dale Alkerton and Andrew Dynowski ran in neighbouring ridings. It was reported that he became interim leader of the Ontario Social Credit Party in early March, although it is not clear if other members of the party agreed.[citation needed]

In September, Turmel was a candidate in the federal by-election in Spadina riding in Toronto, collecting 98 votes.[citation needed] The national Social Credit party president Carl O’Malley refused to endorse a candidate on the basis that the Liberal candidate, Jim Coutts, a former adviser to Pierre Trudeau, was a personal friend. Raymond Turmel ran as an independent against O’Malley in the by-election held in Joliette, Quebec on the same day, claiming to be the "real Social Credit" candidate.

In October, the Ontario Social Credit Party conducted a leadership vote. The eleven delegates, who represented about 100 party members throughout the province, elected former Toronto mayoral candidate Anne McBride as their new interim leader in a vote of 7 to 1 with 3 spoiled ballots. One vote was cast for Bruce Arnold. Turmel, his brother Ray and their mother, Therese, wrote the word "unconstitutional" across the ballots. Turmel argued that the party was violating its constitution by holding a vote without providing four months' notice to its members. McBride was a Christian fundamentalist minister who vowed to run the party "on Christian principles".[citation needed]

In September, Turmel was reported to be fighting his expulsion from the federal Social Credit Party, and seeking its leadership. Further, he was reported to be seeking to replace Joe Clark as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Turmel denied the report, but the journalist stood by her story.[citation needed]

Christian Credit Party

[edit]

In June 1982, Turmel returned to Hamilton West to run in a provincial by-election as a candidate of the Christian Credit Party that he had recently founded. He won 173 votes.[citation needed]

The Christian Credit Party was formed after the Social Credit Party refused to renew the memberships of Turmel and his brother Raymond. The Turmel brothers said that they left the party because it had compromised its principles on interest rates.[citation needed]

He also ran for the Christian Credit Party in the September federal by-election in Broadview—Greenwood (in Toronto), winning an all-time low 16 votes.[citation needed] Raymond ran for the party in Leeds—Grenville in eastern Ontario.[citation needed]

In July, Turmel attempted to recruit members for his new party at the Social Credit national convention in Regina. In September, the party claimed to have 75 members.[citation needed]

In November 1982, Turmel ran for alderman in the Ottawa suburb of Gloucester, and appears to have abandoned an attempt to run in a provincial by-election in Toronto-York South though list #13 shows it was not abandoned. His brother, Raymond, ran for mayor of Gloucester, while their colleague Marc Gauvin ran for mayor of Ottawa.[citation needed]

By 1983, the Christian Credit Party appears to have died. Turmel said he disbanded his party because he realized voters would not give it a chance. "People won't vote for a new party. They've been voting for one colour all their lives. The only way to do anything is to get into a recognized party."[citation needed]

Turmel, with Therese and Ray, Marc and Emi Gauvin and Serge Girard picketed the 1983 Bilderberger conference held at Chateau Montebello.[citation needed]

Turmel ran as an independent candidate in the Central Nova (Nova Scotia) riding by-election in September 1983 against Progressive Conservative leader Brian Mulroney. He claimed to be a "member of the Abolitionist wing of the PC party".[citation needed]

Turmel won 97 votes as a candidate in a provincial by-election in Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, Ontario.[citation needed]

Green Party

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In the months before the 1984 federal election, Turmel attempted to take over the Ottawa branch of the fledgling Green Party of Canada by signing up new members and seeking the party’s nomination in Ottawa Centre. After the party had appointed a candidate in Ottawa Centre rather than hold nominations, Turmel claimed that it was undemocratic and called a meeting at which all Greens were invited to elect candidates to run in various Ottawa area ridings under the Green Party banner. The party rejected those nominations, and then held its own meeting to nominate new candidates.

In the election, Turmel ran as an independent against Green Party leader Trevor Hancock in Toronto—Beaches, Marc Gauvin ran in Ottawa Centre, supporter Serge Girard in Ottawa—Vanier, and John and Ray’s mother, Therese Turmel ran in Ottawa West, and Ray Turmel ran as an "independent Green" in Nepean—Carleton.

Turmel ran as an independent candidate in the December 13, 1984, provincial by-election in Ottawa Centre, and Serge Girard ran in Ottawa East. Turmel also ran for mayor of Ottawa.[citation needed]

In 1985, the Executive of the Ontario Branch of the Green Party expelled Ontario member John Turmel and Quebec member Ray Turmel.[citation needed]

Mid to late 1980s

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Also in 1985, Turmel appears to have founded the "Social Credit Party of Ontario", which was not affiliated with other social credit parties. Turmel led a campaign against the practice of cheque cashing agencies that cashed social assistance (SA, or welfare) cheques at a discount to the face value. Turmel issued ID card to SA recipients and recruited local retailers to cash the cheques at no discount. The Social Credit Party of Ontario guaranteed these cheques.[citation needed] In November, Turmel supporter Walter McPhee ran for Ottawa mayor and Turmel for Nepean mayor. This proved to be Turmel's best performance by percentage of the vote, as he collected 7.25% of the vote, as he was the only other candidate against mayor Ben Franklin. Turmel ran in an April 1986 provincial by-election in Toronto-York East and an August 14 provincial by-election in Cochrane, Ontario, apparently under the "Social Credit Party of Ontario" banner.[citation needed]

In September, he ran as an "independent créditiste" claiming to be the heir of Réal Caouette in a federal by-election in St.-Maurice, Quebec when Liberal MP Jean Chrétien resigned.[citation needed]

In June 1987, Turmel ran in a federal by-election in Hamilton Mountain. He was reported to be "attempting to form" an Ontario Social Credit Party.[citation needed]

In the autumn of 1988, Turmel ran for mayor of Ottawa, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre and Member of Provincial Parliament for Welland—Thorold in the Niagara peninsula in a November 3 provincial by-election.[citation needed]

Abolitionist Party

[edit]

Turmel founded the Abolitionist Party of Canada, which nominated 80 candidates in the 1993 federal election, one more than the Green Party of Canada.[citation needed]

In 1994, Turmel won over 4,500 votes running for Chair of Ottawa-Carleton Regional Municipality, the largest number of votes in his career.[citation needed]

He won 46 votes as the Abolitionist Party candidate in the February 13, 1995, Ottawa—Vanier federal by-election.[citation needed]

In June 1996, Turmel ran under the Abolitionist Party banner in a Hamilton East federal by-election and lost.[citation needed]

Turmel won 4,126 votes (2.5% of the total) running for Chair of Ottawa-Carleton Regional Municipality in 1997, in which Bob Chiarelli defeated Peter Clark by 2,798 votes. Turmel won 214 votes as an independent candidate in Ottawa West—Nepean in the 1997 federal election. In September, Turmel won 201 votes as an independent candidate in Ottawa West in a provincial by-election.[citation needed]

Turmel ran for the board of the National Capital FreeNet after the previous board reduced the number of seats from 7 to 5. He came 6th, and argues he was cheated out of the only election he ever won.[citation needed]

Turmel appeared in the 1997 Guinness Book of World Records for most elections contested.[9]

He ran as an "independent Abolitionist" in a September 14, 1998, federal by-election in Sherbrooke, Quebec.[citation needed]

In 1999, he won 106 votes as an Abolitionist Party candidate in a March federal by-election in Windsor—St. Clair, Ontario, which was more than the margin by which Liberal candidate Rick Limoges defeated Joe Comartin of the New Democratic Party.[citation needed]

Early 2000s

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In 2000, Turmel ran as an independent candidate in the September Kings—Hants (Nova Scotia) federal by-election against Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark. He won 89 votes as an independent candidate in Ottawa West—Nepean in the November federal election.[citation needed]

In the same year, he made a presentation to the United Nations on the interest-free UNILETS resulting in Millennium Declaration Resolution C6 to governments to use an alternative time-based currency to restructure the global financial architecture.[citation needed]

In 2002, Turmel attempted to run for the leadership of the Marijuana Party but the leadership election was called off after Turmel showed up to contest the election.[citation needed]

Turmel won 295 votes as an independent candidate in Brant riding in the 2003 October provincial election.[citation needed] His 56th campaign was for Mayor of Ottawa in the November 2003 municipal election, when he collected 1,166 votes.[citation needed]

He also tried to resurrect the Libertarian Party of Canada, but was prevented from doing so when former members re-registered the name first.[citation needed]

Turmel ran as an independent candidate and placed fifth with 120 votes in a May 13, 2004, provincial by-election in Hamilton East.[citation needed] He placed last of eight candidates as an independent candidate in the March 17, 2005, provincial by-election in Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey and placed last in Brant riding with 213 votes in the 2006 federal election.[citation needed]

Turmel was convicted of drug possession in March 2006, resulting from a one-man protest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa three years earlier. Turmel had taken three kilograms of marijuana to the hill, and openly smoked a joint in front of politicians and security officials. He announced plans to appeal.[10] The conviction was rendered on the same day as a provincial by-election in Nepean—Carleton, in which Turmel was a candidate.[citation needed]

In 2003, Turmel acted as a party to Hitzig v Canada,[11] a civil suit instrumental in reforming the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations and the status of medical cannabis in Canada generally.[citation needed]

Turmel ran as an independent candidate in a 2008 by-election in the riding of Guelph.[12] On Monday, August 25, he disrupted a televised debate involving candidates from the four major political parties to which the other four candidates had not been invited to participate. He yelled out his objections so loudly that the moderator of the debate could not be heard. He was eventually removed from the venue, the River Run Centre, by the Guelph police.[13] The by-election was pre-empted by a federal election call in which Turmel re-filed his candidacy for the same riding – he came in tenth out of eleven candidates receiving 58 votes.

On September 10, 2009, police were called after Turmel lost control and disrupted an all-candidates meeting during the provincial by-election in Ontario's St. Paul's riding.[14] Angry at a moderator's rule which forced residents to direct their questions at four of eight candidates, thus effectively limiting his opportunity to speak, Turmel lashed out and ran around the church hall shouting at debate panelists and audience members that he'd go back onstage when he could answer too. At one point, the debate had to pause as a group of attendees attempted a citizen's arrest. Turmel stated that he would "ruin everyone's night" because "mine was ruined".[citation needed]

Dragon's Den

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On January 13, 2010, Turmel appeared on the CBC television show Dragons' Den pitching his Local exchange trading system scheme,[15][16] asking the panel of entrepreneurs to invest $100,000 for a program which would use poker chips from a local casino as currency at local businesses in Brantford, Ontario. The "dragons" said they didn’t understand Turmel's presentation and mocked him. Kevin O'Leary told Turmel he should "burst into flames" and fellow dragon Jim Treliving told Turmel he was "blowing air up a dead horse's ass".[17] Turmel initiated a lawsuit against the CBC as a result of the program. His complaint was rejected by the Ontario Court of Appeal in July 2011.[18] On December 8, 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada denied Turmel's subsequent request for leave to appeal.[17] He continues to maintain that the show was a "smear job".[3]

2011 federal election

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After contesting every Canadian general election from 1979 to 2008, Turmel did not contest the 2011 federal election.[19] He indicated, however, that he would be willing to serve as prime minister if offered the role by Canada's elected parliamentarians, as per William Aberhart's rise to the premiership of Alberta in 1935 if the Engineer's Dream Team of chosen other party candidates were elected.[20]

Pauper Party

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Turmel contested the 2011 Ontario provincial election as founder and leader of the newly formed Pauper Party of Ontario.[21][22] stating "we want no cops in gambling, sex or drugs or rock and roll, we want no usury on loans, pay cash or time, no dole." Turmel has subsequently run in Ontario by-elections under the "Pauper" banner.[23]

Recent by-elections

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In 2012, Turmel again ran as an independent, this time in the March 19 federal by-election in Toronto—Danforth to choose a successor to Jack Layton. He ran on a campaign pushing for mass production of marijuana to fight cancers he says are coming from the "nuclear fallout that hit us from Fukushima".[3]

On the provincial level, Turmel has continued to carry the banner of the Pauper Party of Ontario and ran in the August 1, 2013 by-election in Ottawa South to choose the successor to Dalton McGuinty placing last with 43 votes. He ran again as a Pauper candidate in the February 13, 2014 provincial by-election in Thornhill placing last with 49 votes. On September 1, 2016, he secured second-to-last place in the Scarborough—Rouge River provincial by-election by one vote over former Trillium Party candidate Ania Krosinska.[citation needed]

Turmel placed sixth out of six candidates in the 2020 York Centre federal by-election, earning just under 0.6% of the vote.[24]

In 2023, he was a candidate in the Hamilton Centre provincial by-election,[25] the Oxford federal by-election,[26] the Scarborough—Guildwood provincial by-election,[27] and the Kitchener Centre provincial by-election.[28]

In 2024, he contested the Milton provincial by-election,[29] the LaSalle—Émard—Verdun federal by-election, and the Bay of Quinte provincial by-election.[30]

Vexatious litigation

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According to the Attorney General of Canada, Turmel is a "perennial litigant" and has filed at least 67 court proceedings since 1980.[31] In 2022, Canada's Federal Court labelled Turmel a "vexatious litigant", which prevents him from introducing a new application to the Court unless he had a court order to allow it.[25][32][33]

Appearance before Parliament

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On June 6, 2018, Turmel appeared as a witness before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the Trudeau Government's proposed changes to the Canada Elections Act.[34] During his appearance Turmel argued for free and equal broadcasting time for all candidates and fair auditing rules for candidates with only minor campaign expenses.[35] He also discussed the time banking software "LETS", being arrested, and being invited to give speeches at the United Nations.[35]

Election results

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# Date Level Location Party Votes % Ref.
1 May 22, 1979 Federal Ottawa West Independent 193 0.35 [36]
2 February 18, 1980 Federal Ottawa Centre Independent 62 0.13 [36]
3 March 24, 1980 Federal by-election Frontenac Independent 101[37] 0.31 [36]
4 September 8, 1980 Federal by-election Hamilton West Independent 88 0.28 [36]
5 November 10, 1980 Municipal/Mayor Ottawa N/A 1,928 2.21
6 November 20, 1980 Provincial by-election Carleton Social Credit 95 0.39
7 March 19, 1981 Provincial Ottawa Centre Social Credit 376 1.48
8 April 12, 1981 Federal by-election London West Independent 37 0.08 [36]
9 May 4, 1981 Federal by-election Lévis Independent 172 0.51 [36]
10 August 17, 1981 Federal by-election Spadina Independent 69 0.31 [36]
11 June 17, 1982 Provincial by-election Hamilton West Christian Credit Party 173 0.75
12 October 12, 1982 Federal by-election Broadview—Greenwood Christian Credit Party 19 0.07 [36]
13 November 4, 1982 Provincial by-election York South Independent 66 0.27
14 November 8, 1982 Municipal/Alderman Gloucester N/A 1,193 1.27
15 August 29, 1983 Federal by-election Central Nova Independent 46 0.15 [36]
16 December 15, 1983 Provincial by-election Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry Independent 97 0.46
17 September 4, 1984 Federal Beaches Independent 112 0.31 [36]
18 December 13, 1984 Provincial by-election Ottawa Centre Independent 90 0.46
19 May 2, 1985 Provincial Ottawa Centre Independent 364 1.33
20 November 12, 1985 Municipal/Mayor Nepean N/A 1,405 7.25
21 April 17, 1986 Provincial by-election York East Social Credit Party of Ontario 44 0.17
22 August 14, 1986 Provincial by-election Cochrane North Social Credit Party of Ontario 75 0.74
23 September 29, 1986 Federal by-election Saint-Maurice Independent creditiste 104 0.31 [36]
24 July 20, 1987 Federal by-election Hamilton Mountain Independent 166 0.50 [36]
25 September 10, 1987 Provincial Ottawa Centre Independent 598 2.03
26 March 31, 1988 Provincial by-election London North Independent 115 0.35
27 November 3, 1988 Provincial by-election Welland—Thorold Independent 187 0.65
28 November 14, 1988 Municipal/Mayor Ottawa N/A 3,123 3.88
29 November 21, 1988 Federal Ottawa Centre Independent 152 0.31 [36]
30 August 13, 1990 Federal by-election Oshawa Independent 50 0.20 [36]
31 September 6, 1990 Provincial Ottawa Centre Independent 160 0.53 [38]
32 December 10, 1990 Federal by-election York North Independent 97 0.23 [36]
33 November 12, 1991 Municipal/Regional Chair Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton N/A 3,570 1.81
34 October 23, 1993 Federal Frontenac Abolitionist 210 0.63 [36]
35 December 2, 1993 Provincial by-election Essex South Independent 84 0.46 [39]
36 March 17, 1994 Provincial by-election Victoria—Haliburton Independent 123 0.52 [39]
37 November 14, 1994 Municipal/Regional Chair Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton N/A 4,563 2.35
38 February 13, 1995 Federal by-election Ottawa—Vanier Abolitionist Party 46 0.23 [36]
39 June 8, 1995 Provincial Ottawa Centre Independent 173 0.61 [40]
40 March 25, 1996 Federal by-election Etobicoke North Abolitionist Party 75 0.28 [36]
41 June 17, 1996 Federal by-election Hamilton East Abolitionist Party 21 0.08 [41]
42 June 2, 1997 Federal Ottawa West—Nepean Independent 211 0.39 [36]
43 September 4, 1997 Provincial by-election Ottawa West Independent 201 0.93
44 November 10, 1997 Municipal/Regional Chair Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton N/A 4,129 2.49
45 September 14, 1998 Federal by-election Sherbrooke Independent Abolitionist 97 0.27 [42]
46 April 12, 1999 Federal by-election Windsor—St. Clair Abolitionist Party 106 0.33 [43]
47 June 3, 1999 Provincial Ottawa West—Nepean Independent 94 0.20
48 November 15, 1999 Federal by-election Hull—Aylmer Independent 51 0.29 [43]
49 September 7, 2000 Provincial by-election Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Aldershot Independent 80 0.24
50 September 11, 2000 Federal by-election Kings—Hants Independent 221 0.81 [44]
51 November 13, 2000 Municipal/Mayor Ottawa N/A 677 0.27
52 November 27, 2000 Federal Ottawa West—Nepean Independent 89 0.17 [45]
53 March 22, 2001 Provincial by-election Parry Sound—Muskoka Independent 61 0.23
54 May 2, 2002 Provincial by-election Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey Independent 120 0.37
55 October 2, 2003 Provincial Brant Independent 295 0.66
56 November 10, 2003 Municipal/Mayor Ottawa N/A 1,166 0.63
57 May 13, 2004 Provincial by-election Hamilton East Independent Abolitionist 120 0.50
58 June 28, 2004 Federal Brant Independent 373 0.70 [46]
59 March 17, 2005 Provincial by-election Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey Independent Abolitionist 85 0.31
60 January 23, 2006 Federal Brant Independent 213 0.40 [47]
61 March 30, 2006 Provincial by-election Nepean—Carleton Independent 112 0.37
62 September 14, 2006 Provincial by-election Parkdale—High Park Independent 77 0.27
63 November 13, 2006 Municipal/Mayor Brantford N/A 226 0.84
64 February 8, 2007 Provincial by-election Burlington Independent 90 0.40
65 September 17, 2007 Federal by-election Outremont Independent 30[48] 0.13 [49]
66 October 10, 2007 Provincial Brant Independent 272[50] 0.57
67* September 8, 2008 Federal by-election Guelph Independent N/A[51] N/A
68 October 14, 2008 Federal Guelph Independent 58 0.10 [52]
69 March 5, 2009 Provincial by-election Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock Independent 92 0.26
70 September 17, 2009 Provincial by-election St. Paul's Independent 51 0.19
71 November 9, 2009 Federal by-election Hochelaga Independent 69 0.40 [53]
72 February 4, 2010 Provincial by-election Toronto Centre Independent 67 0.25
73 March 4, 2010 Provincial by-election Ottawa West—Nepean Independent 230 0.81
74 October 25, 2010 Municipal/Mayor Brantford N/A 61 0.22
75 October 6, 2011 Provincial Brant Pauper Party 87 0.20
76 March 19, 2012 Federal by-election Toronto—Danforth Independent 57 0.20 [54]
77 September 6, 2012 Provincial by-election Kitchener—Waterloo Independent 23 0.05
78 August 1, 2013 Provincial by-election Ottawa South Pauper Party 64 0.20
79 November 25, 2013 Federal by-election Toronto Centre Independent 56 0.22 [55]
80 February 13, 2014 Provincial by-election Thornhill Pauper Party 49 0.18
81 June 12, 2014 Provincial Brant Pauper Party 61 0.12
82 June 30, 2014 Federal by-election Trinity—Spadina Independent 141 0.41 [56]
83 October 27, 2014 Municipal/Mayor Brantford N/A 133 0.55
84 November 17, 2014 Federal by-election Whitby—Oshawa Independent 101 0.30 [57]
85 February 5, 2015 Provincial by-election Sudbury Pauper Party 118 0.46
86 September 3, 2015 Provincial by-election Simcoe North Pauper Party 46 0.12
87 October 19, 2015 Federal Brantford—Brant Independent 164 0.26
88 February 11, 2016 Provincial by-election Whitby—Oshawa Pauper Party 11 0.03
89 September 1, 2016 Provincial by-election Scarborough—Rouge River Pauper Party 37 0.15
90 November 17, 2016 Provincial by-election Ottawa—Vanier Pauper Party 51 0.17
91 April 3, 2017 Federal by-election Ottawa—Vanier Independent 147 0.50 [58]
92 June 1, 2017 Provincial by-election Sault Ste. Marie Pauper Party 47 0.18
93 December 11, 2017 Federal by-election Scarborough—Agincourt Independent 145 0.80 [59]
94 June 7, 2018 Provincial Brantford—Brant Pauper Party 59 0.10
95 June 18, 2018 Federal by-election Chicoutimi—Le Fjord Independent 98 0.41 [60]
96 October 22, 2018 Municipal/Mayor Brantford N/A 128 0.53
97 December 3, 2018 Federal by-election Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Independent 111 0.38 [61]
98 February 25, 2019 Federal by-election York—Simcoe Independent 64 0.40 [62]
99 October 21, 2019 Federal Brantford—Brant Independent 146 0.22
100 February 27, 2020 Provincial by-election Orléans Pauper Party 32 0.12
101 October 26, 2020 Federal by-election York Centre Independent 104 0.58 [63]
102 September 20, 2021 Federal Brantford—Brant Independent 138 0.21 [64]
103 June 2, 2022 Provincial Brantford—Brant Independent 157 0.33 [65]
104 October 24, 2022 Municipal/Mayor Brantford N/A 343 1.71
105 December 12, 2022 Federal by-election Mississauga—Lakeshore Independent 14 0.06 [66]
106 March 16, 2023 Provincial by-election Hamilton Centre Independent 37 0.21
107 June 19, 2023 Federal by-election Oxford Independent 171 0.44 [67]
108 July 27, 2023 Provincial by-election Scarborough—Guildwood Independent 20 0.13
109 November 30, 2023 Provincial by-election Kitchener Centre Independent 13 0.06
110 May 2, 2024 Provincial by-election Milton Independent 64 0.23
111 September 16, 2024 Federal by-election LaSalle—Émard—Verdun Independent 25 0.08
112 September 19, 2024 Provincial by-election Bay of Quinte Independent 149 0.4

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Birthdate and birthplace Archived November 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine: CBC News website.
  2. ^ "'No regrets': world's biggest election loser runs for 96th time in Canada". TheGuardian.com. September 23, 2018. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Daubs, Katie (February 16, 2012). "Danforth byelection: John Turmel has lost 74 elections, and is ready to lose another on Monday". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Steve Dumas. "eventxts". Johnturmel.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  5. ^ "John C. "Canada's Medpot Engineer" Turmel's "Abolish Laughing Grass Prohibition" page". Johnturmel.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  6. ^ John Turmel (September 9, 1982). "1982 Turmel Arrest at World Bank IMF, Toronto Star". Johnturmel.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  7. ^ "Great Canadian Gambler TajProfessor's Project Robin Hood Raid on Casino Turmel "Play Holdem Poker like a Bookie Call Odds System"". Johnturmel.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  8. ^ a b Jonathon Gatehouse (September 9, 2019). "The biggest loser: John Turmel is making his 99th try for office this fall". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Bell, Pat (August 26, 1997). "Turmel: The perennial candidate". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. Retrieved December 7, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Byelection candidate convicted on drug charge". CBC News. March 30, 2006.
  11. ^ "Hitzig v. Canada, 2003 CanLII 3451 (ON SC)". canlii.org. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Guide". Punditsguide.ca. July 12, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  13. ^ "TURMEL: Best of Turmel in Guelph byelection - YouTube". YouTube. April 23, 2011. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  14. ^ Friesen, Joe (September 11, 2009). "Police called to candidates' debate". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "CBC Dragon's Den pitch by John Turmel". Archived from the original on June 13, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  16. ^ "'The Engineer' takes on Dragons", Brantford Expositor, January 7, 2010
  17. ^ a b McFarland, Janet (December 8, 2011). "Top court won't hear Dragons' Den case". Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  18. ^ mcfarland, janet (2011). "Mocked Dragon's Den contestant has no grounds to complain, court rules – The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail. Canada. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  19. ^ "John The Engineer's Dream Team of election candidates in Turmel's 2011 Federal General Election Campaign for Prime Minister of Canada". Johnturmel.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  20. ^ Ian Bussières, "Le recordman des défaites prend une pause" Archived April 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Le Soleil, April 24, 2011, accessed June 24, 2011.
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  24. ^ "Past results: York Centre (Ontario)". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Peesker, Saira (May 17, 2023). "'Vexatious litigant' John 'The Engineer' chugs along after failing to win world record 106 elections". CBC News. Hamilton, Ontario. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  26. ^ Healey, Marshall (June 20, 2023). "Conservatives hang on to federal Oxford riding with Khanna edging Hilderley". Global News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  27. ^ Adler, Mike (July 27, 2023). "Scarborough Business Association president Andrea Hazell keeps Scarborough-Guildwood Liberal in provincial byelection". Toronto.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  28. ^ Baker, Jennifer (November 30, 2023). "Greens win second seat at Queen's Park in Kitchener Centre byelection". CTV News. Kitchener, Ontario. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  29. ^ "Man with Guinness record for 'most elections contested' seeks office in Milton". HaltonHillsToday.ca. April 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  30. ^ staff, Oldies 100 9 News. "Meet Independent Bay of Quinte candidate John Turmel". Brighton Today.ca. Retrieved September 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Mandel, Michele (November 17, 2022). "MANDEL: Canada's biggest loser loses again, declared 'vexatious litigant'". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  32. ^ "Federal Court Decisions: Canada (Attorney General) v. Turmel". Federal Court of Canada. November 9, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  33. ^ Hamilton, Jonnette Watson (May 2, 2017). "Vexatious Litigants: An Interpretation of Section 40 of the Federal Courts Act". Retrieved May 11, 2022. "Section 40 reflects the fact that the Federal Courts are community property...not a private resource...[As such]...courts allow unrestricted access by default...[b]ut those who misuse unrestricted access...must be restrained..The Federal Courts have finite resources...Every moment devoted to a vexatious litigant is a moment unavailable to a deserving litigant".
  34. ^ "Minutes - PROC (42-1) - No. 112". House of Commons of Canada. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  35. ^ a b "Evidence – PROC (42-1) – No. 112". House of Commons of Canada. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "History of the Federal Electoral Ridings, 1867-2010". open.canada.ca. Library of Parliament. September 26, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  37. ^ Among the candidates for that election was perennial candidate Patricia Métivier. Turmel finished a distant 6th, just ahead of Métivier who finished 7th.
  38. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate: 1990 General Election". Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  39. ^ a b "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate: 1992 - 1994 By Elections". Elections Ontario. p. 1. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  40. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate: 1995 General Election". Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  41. ^ "By-Elections 1996 – Official Voting Results and Candidates' Contributions and Expenses". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  42. ^ Kingsley, Jean-Pierre (1998). By-elections 1998: official voting results (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 4. ISBN 0-662-64011-X.
  43. ^ a b Kingsley, Jean-Pierre (1999). By-elections 1999: official voting results (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 14. ISBN 0-662-64588-X.
  44. ^ Kingsley, Jean-Pierre (2000). By-elections 2000: official voting results (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 14. ISBN 0-662-65309-2.
  45. ^ Kingsley, Jean-Pierre (2001). Thirty-seventh general election 2000: official voting results: synopsis (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 61. ISBN 0-662-65518-4.
  46. ^ "Thirty-eighth General Election 2004: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. 2004. Table 12. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  47. ^ "Thirty-ninth General Election 2006: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  48. ^ Turmel received 30 votes (0.13%) and finished 12th out of 12 candidates.
  49. ^ Mayrand, Marc (2007). By-elections September 17, 2007: official voting results: Outremont, Roberval–Lac-Saint-Jean and Saint-Hyacinthe–Bagot (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-662-05189-3.
  50. ^ With results from 291 precincts out of 291, Turmel received 272 votes (0.57%) and finished 6th out of 6 candidates.
  51. ^ The scheduled by-election for Guelph was cancelled due to the dissolution of the 39th Canadian parliament and the issuing of writs for the 40th Canadian federal election.
  52. ^ "Fortieth General Election 2008: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Table 12. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  53. ^ Mayrand, Marc (2010). By-elections November 9, 2009: official voting results: Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, Hochelaga, Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup and New Westminster–Coquitlam (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-100-50757-6.
  54. ^ Mayrand, Marc (2012). By-election March 19, 2012: official voting results: Toronto-Danforth (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-100-54349-9.
  55. ^ Mayrand, Marc (2014). By-elections November 25, 2013: official voting results: Bourassa, Brandon–Souris, Provencher, Toronto Centre (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-100-54686-5.
  56. ^ Mayrand, Marc (2014). By-elections June 30, 2014: official voting results: Fort McMurray–Athabasca, Macleod, Scarborough–Agincourt, Trinity–Spadina (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-100-54836-4.
  57. ^ Mayrand, Marc (2015). By-elections November 17, 2014: official voting results: Whitby–Oshawa, Yellowhead (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-100-54900-2.
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  63. ^ "October 26, 2020, By-Elections: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  64. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  65. ^ "Votes Totals From Official Tabulation 2022 Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  66. ^ "December 12, 2022, By-Election: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  67. ^ "June 19, 2023, By-Elections: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
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