Independent candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election

Seventy-one independent and non-affiliated candidates contested the 2008 Canadian federal election in different ridings across the country. Of these, two were elected: André Arthur in Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, Quebec, and Bill Casey in Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, Nova Scotia. Both had served in the previous parliament. Arthur was first elected in 2006 as an independent, while Casey had served as a Progressive Conservative and Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for many years before leaving the party due to policy differences.

Information about other candidates may be found on this page.

Quebec

Brome—Missisquoi: David Marler

David Francis Herbert Marler (born October 3, 1941 in Montreal) is a lawyer in Knowlton, Quebec who specializes in transportation and international law. After graduating from Malvern College in England, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature from Bishop's University (1962) and a Bachelor of Laws degree from McGill University (1965).^[1] Marler has published articles on maritime law, served as city councillor in Lac-Tremblant-Nord (1970–72), and been a director of the Brome Lake Chamber of Commerce.^[2] He is member of the United Church of Canada.

Marler's family has been active in politics and government for many decades. He is the grandson of Herbert Meredith Marler, who served as a cabinet minister in the government of William Lyon Mackenzie King, and a grand-nephew of George Carlyle Marler, who was a cabinet minister in the governments of Louis St. Laurent and Jean Lesage.^[3]

Marler moved to Brome—Missisquoi in 2003 and ran for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2006 federal election, after defeating Jacques Dalton for the nomination.^[4] He highlighted his support for provincial rights within the Canadian constitution and actively supported his party's promise for more free votes in the Canadian House of Commons. Marler's campaign manager described him as "the least conservative of Conservative candidates."^[5] He finished third against Bloc Québécois candidate Christian Ouellet.

In December 2006, was appointed as a commissioner on the Eastern Townships School Board.^[6] He did not seek re-election in late 2007.^[7]

Marler left the Conservative Party in January 2008. He has said that he refused to accept thirty thousand dollars via the party's controversial "in-and-out" transfer scheme during the 2006 election,^[8] and that party officials later informed him they did not want him as a candidate in 2008. The Conservative Party rejected the accusation.^[9] (Under the "in-and-out" scheme, the Conservatives transferred national campaign money into individual ridings and before transferring it out again to pay for national advertising. In this way, the party was able to avoid national spending limits. Marler has said that he refused the transfer because he did not know what the money was for and could not get a clear explanation from party officials.^[10])

In the 2008 election, Marler published a piece entitled, ""Sixty-Six Said Yes; a Personal Account of a Campaign and a Scandal," covering his involvement with the Conservative Party. He ran as an independent, saying that a Conservative majority government would be dangerous for Canadian democracy.^[11]

Electoral record

Election	Division	Party	Votes	%	Place	Winner
2006 federal	Brome—Missisquoi	Conservative	9,874	20.35	3/6	Christian Ouellet, Bloc Québécois
2008 federal	Brome—Missisquoi	Independent	354	0.71	6/6	Christian Ouellet, Bloc Québécois

References

1. ^ Curriculum Vitae, David Marler, accessed 18 November 2010.
2. ^ Joshua Bleser, "Can Paradis eke out another victory in Brome-Missisquoi?: Federalist vote split four ways," Sherbrooke Record, 20 January 2006, p. 4; Norman Webster, "Bad stuff can happen on the election trail - just ask Harper," Montreal Gazette, 21 September 2008, A17; Canada Votes 2008: Brome—Missisquoi, candidates, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, accessed 18 November 2010.
3. ^ Eric Marler, The Marler Family in Quebec, Musée McCord Museum, accessed 19 November 2010.
4. ^ Maurice Crossfield, "Denis Paradis ready for the campaign trail," Sherbrooke Record, 3 May 2005, p. 3; Maurice Crossfield, "Marler makes ready for campaign trail in B-M," Sherbrooke Record, 20 May 2005, p. 4.
5. ^ Joshua Bleser, "Marler promises autonomy in Harper government," Sherbrooke Record, 19 December 2005, p. 4.
6. ^ "New names, new faces: Marler appointed to school board," Sherbrooke Record, 1 December 2006, p. 8.
7. ^ "Woo hoo! Elections!", Sherbrooke Record, 2 October 2007, p. 6.
8. ^ Richard Brennan, "Tory party frowned on plan to attend hearing, MPs told," Toronto Star, 13 August 2008, A15.
9. ^ Elizabeth Thompson, "Ex-Tory candidate refused money scheme; Marler wouldn't accept funding manoeuvre," Montreal Gazette, 23 April 2008, A8.
10. ^ Tim Naumetz, "Tories should be held in contempt of Parliament, say Liberals," Canadian Press, 12 August 2008, 19:50.
11. ^ Elizabeth Thompson, "Harper a threat to democracy: independent," Montreal Gazette, 19 September 2008, A15.