{{short description|Canadian federal political party}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox political party | name = Libertarian Party of Canada | native_name = Parti libertarien du Canada | native_name_lang = fr | logo = Logo of the Libertarian Party of Canada-en.png | logo_upright = 1.2 | colorcode = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}} | leader = Derek Elliott | president = Coreen Corcoran | leader2_title = Deputy Leader | leader2_name = Michael Harris<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Josh |title=Battle River-Crowfoot candidate to help lead new Libertarian Party of Canada |url=https://rdnewsnow.com/2026/05/08/battle-river-crowfoot-candidate-to-help-lead-new-libertarian-party-of-canada/ |website=Red Deer News Now |publisher=Pattison Media |access-date=16 May 2026 |date=8 May 2026}}</ref> | founder = Marshall Bruce Evoy | foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1973|07|07}}<ref name=leaders>{{cite web|url=http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Party.aspx?Item=2ef41a44-7f48-4b22-a342-781e589f8ed1&Language=E|publisher=Library of Parliament|title=Libertarian Party of Canada – Leadership Roles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403141558/http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Party.aspx?Item=2ef41a44-7f48-4b22-a342-781e589f8ed1&Language=E|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | headquarters = 409–207 Bank St. Ottawa, Ontario<ref name="Elections Canada">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol&document=index&dir=par&lang=e&textonly=false#libert|title=Elections Canada|publisher=Elections.ca|access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> | ideology = {{ubl| Libertarianism | Classical liberalism }} | position = | international = Interlibertarians<br>International Alliance of Libertarian Parties | colours = {{color box|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}|border=silver}} Yellow | seats2_title = House of Commons | seats2 = {{Infobox political party/seats|0|343|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} | seats1_title = Senate | seats1 = {{Infobox political party/seats|0|105|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} | state = Canada | parties_dab1 = List of federal political parties in Canada | elections_dab1 = List of Canadian federal general elections | website = {{URL|https://www.libertarian.ca/}} | country = Canada }} The '''Libertarian Party of Canada''' ({{langx|fr|Parti libertarien du Canada}}) is a federal political party in Canada founded in 1973 that is currently unregistered.
== History == The party was founded in July 1973 by Marshall Bruce Evoy. The party's founding convention, attended by 64 delegates and modeled on the 1972 Founding Convention of the United States Libertarian Party and the Libertarian Alternative of Alberta's September 1973 rally in Edmonton, took place in Toronto in October 1973; Sieg Pedde was elected leader.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Parties/Profile?partyId=4844 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403141558/http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Party.aspx?Item=2ef41a44-7f48-4b22-a342-781e589f8ed1&Language=E |archive-date=2017-04-03 |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Parlinfo |publisher=Library of Parliament}}</ref><ref name="LK">{{citation |last=Kinsky |first=Lynn |title=Frontlines |work=Reason |date=January 1974 |url=https://reason.com/1974/01/01/frontlines-19/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922002309/https://reason.com/1974/01/01/frontlines-19/ |archive-date=2021-09-22 |url-status=live}}</ref> Evoy ran unsuccessfully for election to Parliament in the 1974 federal election in a Toronto riding.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grigsby |first=Wayne |date=February 3, 1980 |title=For Libertarians, less is more |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/for-libertarians-less-is-more |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416124232/https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/for-libertarians-less-is-more |archive-date=2021-04-16 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |website=CBC Digital Archives |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Libertarian Party of Canada |url=https://studentvote.ca/canada/party-profiles/libertarian-party-of-canada/ |publisher=Student Vote Canada |access-date=November 17, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
The party achieved registered status in the 1979 federal election by running more than fifty candidates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sikora |first=Adam |date=1988-11-16 |title=Libertarians support free trade, oppose 'big government' |pages=19 |work=Whitby Free Press |url=https://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Whitby/002451802p19.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2022-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005172419/http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Whitby/002451802p19.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-05 |via=OurOntario.ca}}</ref> The party spent $45,818 on the 1984 Canadian federal election running 72 candidates and received 0.2% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calgary Herald, March 6, 1985 |url=https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10835-3006689 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=www.oldnews.com}}</ref>
Stanisław Tymiński, who was briefly the party's leader from 1990 to 1991, ran for President of Poland in the 1990 and 1995 elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Jewish Post & News |date=January 9, 1991 |url=https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10835-11100640}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|date=November 2025}}
Tim Moen ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|oʊ|ə|n}}) became the party's leader in May 2014, succeeding Katrina Chowne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tim Moen Elected Leader Of The Libertarian Party Of Canada|publisher=Libertarian Party of Canada|url=http://libertarian.ca/tim-moen-elected-leader-libertarian-party-canada|date=May 19, 2014|access-date=August 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806012434/https://www.libertarian.ca/tim-moen-elected-leader-libertarian-party-canada|archive-date=August 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In the 2015 Canadian federal election, Lauren Southern was the Libertarian candidate in the district of Langley–Aldergrove.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Kabas |first=Marisa |author-link=Marisa Kabas |date=15 June 2015 |title=Meet the Canadian college student who's about to be the next enemy of the feminist movement |url=https://www.dailydot.com/irl/lauren-southern-libertarian/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728105328/http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/lauren-southern-libertarian/ |archive-date=28 July 2015 |work=The Daily Dot}}</ref> She was briefly removed by the party as a candidate but was reinstated with support from ''Breitbart News'' and Rebel Media. She received 535 votes, or 0.9% of the total.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Voting Results {{!}} British Columbia, Langley–Aldergrove {{!}} Forty-second General Election, 2015 |url=http://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/41/9800e.html |website=www.elections.ca |access-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815205225/http://elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/41/9800e.html |archive-date=15 August 2016}}</ref>
In September 2018, Moen, who had previously offered the leadership of the Libertarian Party to Maxime Bernier, stated that he was open to the idea of a merger with Bernier's People's Party of Canada.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Libertarian Party considering a merger with Bernier's People's Party|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bernier-libertarian-party-merger-1.4827241|quote=Libertarian leader Tim Moen had offered to step aside for Bernier following the results of the 2017 Conservative leadership race and adopted Bernier's platform.}}</ref> When asked by ''Global News'', Bernier indicated he had no interest in a merger.<ref>{{Cite news|title='I am not a communist': Maxime Bernier doubles down on People's Party name amid criticism|work=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4464574/maxime-bernier-peoples-party-of-canada-name/|access-date=September 19, 2018}}</ref>
Jacques Boudreau succeeded Moen as the party's leader in August 2021.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=moen_tim|number=1426963290337411073|date= 15 August 2021 |title=Meet the new Leader of the @LibertarianCDN party! He beat out 4 other quality candidates. Congrats Jacques Boudreau! }}</ref> The party was deregistered on March 31, 2026, though it has announced its National Convention, slated for May 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Deregistration of the Libertarian Party of Canada |url=https://elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&dir=pre&document=mar0326&lang=e |website=www.elections.ca |access-date=4 March 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-06 |title=No, the Libertarian Party of Canada Isn’t Dead, But It Is in Trouble |url=https://triopolitan.com/2026/03/06/no-the-libertarian-party-of-canada-isnt-dead-but-it-is-in-trouble/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Triopolitan.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
On May 3, 2026, Derek Elliott became the new leader of the party.<ref>{{cite web |title=Congratulations to Derek Elliott for his election as the New Leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada! |url=https://x.com/LibertarianCDN/status/2050963922661032412 |website=Twitter |publisher=Libertarian Party of Canada |access-date=16 May 2026 |date=3 May 2026}}</ref>
== Ideology == The party subscribes to libertarian and classical liberal tenets; its stated mission is to reduce the size, scope, and cost of government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission |url=https://www.libertarian.ca/about-us |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205220743/https://www.libertarian.ca/about-us |archive-date=5 February 2017 |publisher=Libertarian Party of Canada}}</ref> Having stated that the party "wouldn't criminalize much except murder and theft",<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muse, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Jan 19, 2006 |url=https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-11035-145781 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=www.oldnews.com}}</ref> policies include ending drug prohibition, ending government censorship, open borders,<ref>{{Cite web |title=LPoC Platform |url=https://www.libertarian.ca/lpoc_platform |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Libertarian Party of Canada |language=en}}</ref> lowering taxes, protecting gun rights, legalising sex work,<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2016 |title=Statement of Policy |url=https://www.libertarian.ca/statement_of_policy |access-date=20 December 2023 |website=libertarian.ca |publisher=Libertarian Party of Canada}}</ref> free trade and non-interventionism.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gunn |first=Andrea |date=6 June 2015 |title=Canada's own Rand Paul? Libertarian Party amps up for election |url=https://www.ipolitics.ca/news/canadas-own-rand-paul-libertarian-party-amps-up-for-election |access-date=19 October 2015 |website=iPolitics}}</ref>
The statement of principles adopted by the founding convention in 1973 called for a new Canadian Constitution to supersede the British North America Act and for privatization of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Royal Mail Canada through their sale. No consensus could be reached at the time on age of majority, capital punishment and abortion.<ref name="LK" />
== Election results == {|class="wikitable" |- !Election !Leader !Candidates !Votes !Share of popular vote !Share in ridings contested |- !1979 |Alex Eaglesham |{{composition bar|60|282|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |16,042 |0.1% |0.6% |- !1980 |Vacant |{{composition bar|58|282|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |14,656 |0.1% |0.6% |- !1984 |Victor Levis |{{composition bar|72|282|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |23,514 |0.2% |0.7% |- !1988 |Dennis Corrigan |{{composition bar|88|295|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |33,185 |'''0.3%''' |0.8% |- !1993 |Hilliard Cox |{{composition bar|52|295|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |14,630 |0.1% |0.5% |- !1997 |colspan=5 rowspan=2 align=center|''did not contest'' |- !2000 |- !2004 |rowspan=2|Jean-Serge Brisson |{{composition bar|8|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |1,949 |nil% |0.5% |- !2006 |{{composition bar|10|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |3,002 |nil% |0.6% |- !2008 |rowspan=2|Dennis Young |{{composition bar|26|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |7,300 |0.1% |0.6% |- !2011 |{{composition bar|23|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |6,002 |nil% |0.5% |- !2015 |rowspan=2|Tim Moen |{{composition bar|72|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |'''37,407''' |0.2% |'''0.9%''' |- !2019 |{{composition bar|24|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |8,281 |0.1% |0.6% |- !2021 |rowspan=2|Jacques Boudreau |{{composition bar|13|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |4,765 |nil% |0.7% |- !2025 |{{composition bar|16|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Libertarian}}}} |5,561 |nil% |0.6 |}
== Leaders == {{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=350 | image1 = StanislawTyminski.jpg | image2 = George Dance 1988.jpg | image3 = Jean-Serge Brisson.jpg | image4 = Tim Moen at the 2016 Libertarian Party Convention.jpg | footer = Top row: Stanisław Tymiński (left) and George Dance (right); bottom row: Jean-Serge Brisson (left) and Tim Moen (right) }} {| class="wikitable" !No. !Leader !Years in office |- ! align="center" |1 |Sieg Pedde | align="center" |1973–1974 |- ! align="center" |2 |Charles "Chuck" Lyall | align="center" |1974–1976 |- ! align="center" |3 |Ron Bailey | align="center" |1976–1978 |- ! align="center" |4 |Alex Eaglesham | align="center" |1978–1979 |- ! align="center" |5 |Linda Cain | align="center" |1980–1982 |- ! align="center" |6 |Neil Reynolds | align="center" |May 1982 – 1983 |- ! align="center" |7 |Victor Levis | align="center" |1983–1987 |- ! align="center" |8 |Dennis Corrigan | align="center" |1987–1990 |- ! align="center" |9 |Stanisław Tymiński | align="center" |1990–1991 |- ! align="center" |10 |George Dance | align="center" |1991–1993 |- ! align="center" |11 |Hilliard Cox | align="center" |May 1993 – 1995 |- ! align="center" |(10) |George Dance | align="center" |1995–1996 |- ! align="center" |12 |Vincent Pouliot | align="center" |12 May 1996 – 5 April 1997 |- ! align="center" |13 |Robert Morse | align="center" |1997–1999 |- ! align="center" |14 |Jean-Serge Brisson | align="center" |1999 – 18 May 2008 |- ! align="center" |15 |Dennis Young | align="center" |18 May 2008 – May 2011 |- ! align="center" |16 |Katrina Chowne | align="center" |May 2011 – May 2014 |- ! align="center" |17 |Tim Moen | align="center" |May 2014 – 2021 |- ! align="center" |18 |Jacques Boudreau | align="center" |15 August 2021 – 3 May 2026 |- ! align="center" |19 |Derek Elliott | align="center" |3 May 2026 – present |- | colspan="3" align="center" |Source<ref>{{Cite web |title=Libertarian Party of Canada (2004-06-02 - ) |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/Parties/Profile?partyId=4844 |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=lop.parl.ca}}</ref> |}
== See also == * Libertarian Party of Canada candidates in the 1988 Canadian federal election * Libertarian Party of Canada candidates in the 1993 Canadian federal election * Libertarian Party of Canada candidates in the 2006 Canadian federal election * Libertarian Party of Canada candidates in the 2008 Canadian federal election * Libertarian Party of Canada candidates in the 2011 Canadian federal election * Libertarian Party of Canada candidates in the 2015 Canadian federal election
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{official website|libertarian.ca}} (in English). * [https://wayback.archive-it.org/227/*/http://www.libertarian.ca/ Libertarian Party of Canada – Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups]. Web archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries.
{{Canadian federal political parties}} {{Libertarian parties in Canada}} {{Conservatism in Canada}} {{Portal bar|Canada|Libertarianism|Politics}} Category:1973 establishments in Ontario Category:Classical liberal parties Category:Federal political parties in Canada Category:International Alliance of Libertarian Parties Category:Libertarian parties in Canada Category:Non-interventionist parties Category:Organizations based in Ottawa Category:Political parties established in 1973