Green Party candidates, 1997 Canadian federal election

The Green Party of Canada fielded a number of candidates in the 1997 federal election, none of whom were elected.

Alberta

ol Candel (Calgary Southwest)

Candel is co-owner of the Movie Poster Shop, a family-operated business that collects and displays vintage movie posters. He has led the Calgary branch of the business since 1979. ["Alberta town is scene of epic struggle for vintage movie posters", "Montreal Gazette", 27 April 1988, B1; Frank King, "Museum crammed to the rafters with movie memories", "Calgary Herald", 28 November 1991, N1.] The store also displays recumbent bicycles, which Candel rides on a regular basis. [Graeme Morton, "Chair-men of the roads", "Calgary Herald", 24 May 2001, S3; Bob Blakey, "Magical Memorabilia", "Calgary Herald", 19 August 2001, C8.] The building is powered by solar thermal installation, which Candel says has resulted in significant financial savings. [Paul Stastny, "Solar panels earning spurs", "Calgary Herald", 24 December 2003, N1.]

He has been a member of the Green Party of Canada since at least 1990. ["Environmental party already established", "Calgary Herald", 16 November 1990, A6.] In late 1992, Candel argued on behalf of the Green Party that Canada should reduce its rate of immigration to 100,000 per year. He did not make this suggestion for xenophobic reasons, but rather to promote a gradual decline in the national population base to promote self-sustaining energy and agricultural consumption. [Mark Tait, "Overpopulation seen as threat to environment", "Calgary Herald", 13 December 1992, B8.]

He first campaigned for the House of Commons in 1993, and finished a distant sixth against Reform Party leader Preston Manning. Commenting on this election in 1997, he wryly remarked "I beat out all the other little fringe guys". He was forty-five at the time. [Lisa Dempster, "Green Party team offering alternatives", "Calgary Herald", 7 May 1997.] He has also campaigned for the Alberta Greens.

Candel has postgraduate degrees in international politics and business administration. In 2005, he organized the Eco-Rednecks Salon and Social Group for other environmental activists in Alberta. The title is an ironic reference to Alberta's "redneck" image in the rest of Canada. [Christopher Spencer, "It's not easy being Green and Albertan at the same time", "Edmonton Journal", 28 August 2005, K8.]

Ontario

David James Cooper (Scarborough Southwest)

Cooper was a journalist at the time of the election. According to the "Toronto Star" newspaper, he campaigned for the Green Party out of a belief that "mainstream voting creates apathy, cynicism, mediocrity and corruption". His campaign called for "environmentally sound programs, local democracy, sustainable development and long-term planning" ("Toronto Star", 30 May 1997).

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