Robin Mark Richardson (born June 26, 1942) is a former Canadian politician and Vancouver Islander separatist/activist who was a Progressive Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada. He represented the riding of Beaches from 1979 to 1980. He is the founder and current leader of the Vancouver Island Party.
Robin Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Vancouver Island Party | |
| In office June 16, 2016 – November 15, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | First leader |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Member of Parliament for Beaches | |
| In office 1979–1980 | |
| Preceded by | New riding |
| Succeeded by | Neil Young |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 26, 1942 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Political party | Vancouver Islandian (provincial) Conservative (federal) |
| Other political affiliations | Alliance (2000-2003) Progressive Conservative (until 2000) |
| Profession | Economist, cleric |
Background
editRichardson's profession is an economist, once working with the Fraser Institute.[1] At one time, he was a minister for a Christian church in Esquimalt.[2]
Politics
editRichardson represented Ontario's Beaches electoral district which he won in the 1979 federal election.[3] After serving his only term, the 31st Canadian Parliament, he was defeated in the 1980 federal election by Neil Young of the New Democratic Party.[4]
In September 2000, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca Member of Parliament Keith Martin for the Canadian Alliance nomination in that riding. Richardson was particularly critical of Martin's pro-choice position on abortion, while Martin had finished in fourth place during the Canadian Alliance leadership campaign earlier that year.[2] Richardson managed Stockwell Day's successful leadership campaign within Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca.[5]
In June 2016, he started the Vancouver Island Party and serves as leader. The party seeks to make Vancouver Island Canada's 11th province.[6]
Electoral record
edit| 1979 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Progressive Conservative | Robin Richardson | 12,840 | 34.5 | |||||
| New Democratic | Neil Young | 12,322 | 33.1 | |||||
| Liberal | Brian Fullerton | 11,232 | 30.2 | |||||
| Libertarian | David Anderson | 388 | 1.0 | |||||
| Independent | Donald A. Daley | 129 | 0.3 | |||||
| Rhinoceros | Judi Skuce | 111 | 0.3 | |||||
| Marxist–Leninist | Jim McKibbin | 91 | 0.2 | |||||
| Independent | Jim McMillan | 69 | 0.2 | |||||
| Turnout | 37,182 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Parliament of Canada:[7] | ||||||||
| 1980 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| New Democratic | Neil Young | 12,675 | 35.6 | |||||
| Liberal | Terry O'Reilly | 11,179 | 31.4 | |||||
| Progressive Conservative | Robin Richardson | 11,179 | 31.4 | |||||
| Libertarian | Dennis Corrigan | 272 | 0.8 | |||||
| Rhinoceros | David Reid | 214 | 0.6 | |||||
| Marxist–Leninist | Jim McKibbin | 60 | 0.2 | |||||
| Independent | Vince Corriero | 45 | 0.1 | |||||
| Turnout | 35,624 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Parliament of Canada:[7] | ||||||||
| British Columbia provincial by-election, January 30, 2019: Nanaimo | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Sheila Malcolmson | 12,114 | 49.92 | +3.38 | $50,194 | |||
| Liberal | Tony Harris | 9,691 | 39.93 | +7.39 | $57,212 | |||
| Green | Michele Ney | 1,783 | 7.35 | −12.56 | $41,039 | |||
| Conservative | Justin Greenwood | 491 | 2.02 | – | $1,432 | |||
| Vancouver Island Party | Robin Mark Richardson | 112 | 0.46 | – | $4,208 | |||
| Libertarian | Bill Walker | 76 | 0.32 | −0.69 | $246 | |||
| Total valid votes | 24,267 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 33 | 0.14 | −0.36 | |||||
| Turnout | 24,300 | 52.59 | −8.68 | |||||
| Registered voters | 46,210 | |||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | −2.01 | ||||||
| Source: Elections BC[8] | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ Leyne, Les (September 9, 2000). "Richardson facing tough battle against Martin". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. A18. Retrieved March 17, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Harnett, Cindy E. (September 17, 2000). "Martin trounces Richardson". and "Martin: Feels energized". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. pp. D1–D2. Retrieved March 17, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Counting the votes: The Liberals watch from their Quebec fortress...as Conservatives sweep most of the West". The Globe and Mail. May 24, 1979. pp. 10–11.
- ^ "Federal general election results listed riding-by-riding". The Ottawa Citizen. February 19, 1987. pp. 29–30.
- ^ McNulty, Jim (August 27, 2000). "Sure win for Day masks cracks in Alliance". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. A28. Retrieved March 17, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Home". vanisleparty.com.
- ^ a b "History of Federal Ridings since 1867:Beaches, Ontario (1976-1987)". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- ^ "2019 Nanaimo By-election Final Voting Results by Voting Area" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 7, 2019.