Communist Party of Canada (Ontario) candidates, 2003 Ontario provincial election

The Communist Party of Canada - Ontario ran six candidates in the 2003 provincial election in Ontario, Canada. Relevant information about these candidates may be found on this page.

Howard Cukoff (Bramalea--Gore--Malton--Springdale)

Longtime resident of Mississauga, Ontario. Writer, translator and office worker, and a social and community activist. Involved in the peace movement and the campaign to protect public health care. Received 503 votes, the highest of any CPC-O candidate. Finished last in a field of five candidates. The winning candidate was Kuldip Singh Kular of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Bob Mann (Hamilton East)

Retired steelworker. Was 62 years old at the time of the 2000 federal election. Lifelong resident and labour activist in Hamilton, Ontario, served on the Hamilton District Labour Council for many years. An activist in the Steelworkers' union, a tenants organizer, and involved in local Social Justice and Health Care Coalitions. Once served as Chief Steward of Local 1005 of the United Steel Workers of America. 1999 campaign focused on health care, education, and opposition to the Red Hill Creek expressway. In 2004, campaigned in favour of protection for Hamilton's Stelco plant ("If Stelco doesn't want to run the plant, then the government should run it"). Helps lead an annual People's Voice Solidarity Picnic in the Hamilton suburb of Stoney Creek. Received 388 votes, finishing fifth out of seven candidates. The winning candidate was Dominic Agostino of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Other candidacies:

• Canadian federal election, 1980, received 159 votes in Hamilton East as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: John Munro, Liberal)
• Canadian federal election, 1984, received 157 votes in Hamilton West as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: Pete Peterson, Progressive Conservative)
• Ontario general election, 1995, received 389 votes in Hamilton East (winning candidate: Dominic Agostino, Liberal)
• Canadian federal election, 1997, received 312 votes in Hamilton East as an independent candidate (the Communist Party was not registered with Elections Canada in this period) (winning candidate: Sheila Copps, Liberal)
• Ontario general election, 1999, received 288 votes in Hamilton East (winning candidate: Dominic Agostino, Liberal)
• Canadian federal election, 2000, received 144 votes in Hamilton East as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: Sheila Copps, Liberal)
• Canadian federal election, 2004, received 166 votes in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: Tony Valeri, Liberal)

Stuart Ryan (Ottawa Centre)

President of his Canadian Auto Workers local, also works for a Canadian Union of Public Employees local at Carleton University (from which he has a degree in journalism). His father was a law professor at Queen's University. Active in the Committee for Peace in Iraq, and the Network Opposing War and Racism (NOWAR-PAIX). A delegate to the Ottawa District Labour Council. Made affordable education the primary issue of his campaign. An uncomfortable public speaker, by many accounts. Received 306 votes, finishing fifth out of seven candidates. The winning candidate was Richard Patten of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Other candidacies:

• Canadian federal election, 2000, received 70 votes in Ottawa West--Nepean as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: Marlene Catterall, Liberal)
• Canadian federal election, 2004, received 90 votes in Ottawa Centre as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: Ed Broadbent, New Democratic Party)
• Canadian federal election, 2006, received 102 votes in Ottawa Centre as a candidate of the Communist Party of Canada (winning candidate: Paul Dewar, New Democratic Party)

Karin Larsen (Parkdale--High Park)

Lifelong resident of Parkdale—High Park. A history graduate, studying to be a high school teacher at the time of the election. Opposes cuts to education, and supports lower tuition. Also a proponent of community democracy, immigrant services and affordable childcare. Is not to be confused with another Karin Larsen who works for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Received 349 votes, finishing sixth out of eight candidates. The winning candidate was Gerard Kennedy of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Elizabeth Rowley (Scarborough Centre)

Main article: Elizabeth Rowley

CPC-O leader during the 2003 Ontario election. See her biography page for more information. Received 241 votes, ironically the lowest total of any CPC-O candidate. The winning candidate was Brad Duguid of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Christopher Black (York West)

Toronto criminal lawyer, who has participated in the international criminal tribunal for Rwanda. See his biography page for more information. Received 408 votes, finishing fifth out of five candidates. The winning candidate was Mario Sergio of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Party Platform

The CPC-O's 2003 election platform[1], entitled "A People's Agenda for Ontario", endorsed such policies as:

• the outlawing of private hospitals and clinics
• rejecting proposed public funding for private schools
• affordable housing, increased minimum wage and pensions, a shorter work week
• voluntary retirement at age 60
• progressive tax reform including increased corporate taxation
• implementing the Walkerton Report and Kyoto Accord, and prohibiting the sale of water
• 100,000 units of affordable housing over five years
• rent controls and rent reductions
• implementing the Romanow Report and expanding public health insurance
• investing $20 billion in public education over five years, and banning user fees
• the abolition of university tuition fees
• implementing the day care program currently used in Quebec
• transferring 50% of gas and road-use taxes to municipalities, and ending toll roads
• eliminating the provincial sales tax
• public automobile insurance
• cutting the work week to 32 hours, with 40 hours pay
• increasing the minimum wage to $12 an hour
• pay equity and employment equity
• a Labour Bill of Rights
• developing solar and wind energy
• equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians
• proportional representation in elections