The Trillium Party of Ontario (french: Parti Trillium de l’Ontario) was a

right-wing populist Right-wing populism, also called national populism and right-wing nationalism, is a political ideology that combines right-wing politics and populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric employs anti-elitist sentiments, opposition to the Establi ...

social conservative Social conservatism is a political philosophy and variety of conservatism which places emphasis on traditional power structures over social pluralism. Social conservatives organize in favor of duty, traditional values and social institution ...

political party in the

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

province of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

.Benzie, Robert. "MPP Jack MacLaren out of Tory caucus after comments about French language rights," ''Toronto Star'', May 28, 2017.
/ref> Founded in 2014, the party was led by Bob Yaciuk for the duration of its existence.
/ref>Trillium Party of Ontario, "About Us", trilliumontario.ca, Accessed March 3, 2018.
/ref>

History

First contesting the 2014 General Election, the Trillium Party ran two candidates and received 397 votes. The Trillium Party gained its first member of the

Legislative Assembly of Ontario The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (OLA, french: Assemblée législative de l'Ontario) is the legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its elected members are known as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Bills passed by ...

after Jack MacLaren, the Progressive Conservative MPP for

Carleton—Mississippi Mills Carleton—Mississippi Mills (formerly known as Lanark—Carleton and Carleton—Lanark) was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1988 to 2015. This riding was created in 19 ...

announced he had joined the party on May 28, 2017, after being removed from the PC caucus for making negative remarks about

Francophones in Ontario Franco-Ontarians (french: Franco-Ontariens or if female, sometimes known as ''Ontarois'' and ''Ontaroises'') are Francophone Canadians that reside in the province of Ontario. Most are French Canadians from Ontario. In 2016, the Government of O ...

.Kupfer, Matthew; Florence Ngué-No; The Canadian Press. "Ottawa-area MPP Jack MacLaren expelled from PC caucus", ''CBC Ottawa'', May 28, 2017.
/ref> Since the Trillium Party lacked

official party status Official party status refers to the Westminster practice which is officially used in the Parliament of Canada and the provincial legislatures of recognizing parliamentary caucuses of political parties. In official documents, this is sometimes re ...

, MacLaren was listed as an independent by the Legislature. Following MacLaren's defection, the Trillium Party saw an increase in media attention as this marked the first time a party other than the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, or

New Democrats New Democrats, also known as centrist Democrats, Clinton Democrats, or moderate Democrats, are a centrist ideological faction within the Democratic Party in the United States. As the Third Way faction of the party, they are seen as culturall ...

had maintained representation at Queen's Park since Robert Wayne Gibson sat as a Liberal-Labour MPP for

Kenora Kenora (), previously named Rat Portage (french: Portage-aux-Rats), is a city situated on the Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada, close to the Manitoba boundary, and about east of Winnipeg by road. It is the seat of Kenora District. The his ...

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

. At the time of MacLaren's defection, party leader Bob Yaciuk informed the media the party had "between 1,200 and 1,400 members".Agar, Jerry. "Trillium Party doesn't trust Patrick Brown", ''Toronto Sun'', July 3, 2017.
/ref> The party's brief presence at Queen's Park ended when MacLaren, running in the new riding of Kanata—Carleton, was unseated at the 2018 provincial election. Following the 2018 election, the party remained active online only briefly. After expressing support for the Yellow Vest and "United We Roll" protests, the party's website stopped being updated. After failing to submit financial returns after 2021, the party was deregistered by Elections Ontario.

Policies

The Trillium Party's platform focused on health care, education policy, and policing.Langlois, Denis. "Marshall to carry Trillium Party of Ontario banner," ''Owen Sound Sun Times'', July 6, 2017.
/ref>Shantz, Troy.Bruziewicz to represent Trillium Party in provincial election," ''Sarnia Journal'', January 29, 2018.
/ref>Trillium Party of Ontario, "Policy", trilliumontario.ca, Accessed March 3, 2018.
/ref> Trillium Party policy called for monthly health care statements, a reduction in time between application and granting of practising licences for medical professionals from overseas, involving parents in education issues, and increasing financial support for police. Additional policies included introducing legislation on

referendums A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

, addressing corruption through the office of the

Auditor General An auditor general, also known in some countries as a comptroller general or comptroller and auditor general, is a senior civil servant charged with improving government accountability by auditing and reporting on the government's operations. Freq ...

, implementing whistle-blower protection legislation, allowing

free votes A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are allowed to vote according to their own personal conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party. In a parliamentary ...

by MPPs in the legislature, and opposing updates to the province's

sexual education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduc ...

curriculum.Campbell, John. "Trillium Party candidate admits he faces uphill battle but he won't be whipped," ''Brighton Independent'', January 5, 2018.
/ref>

Election results

In the 2014 provincial election, the Trillium Party nominated 2 candidates: party leader Bob Yaciuk in Newmarket-Aurora and Gennady Vilensky in

Oak Ridges—Markham Oak Ridges—Markham was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 to 2015. Its population in 2006 was 169,645., with 136,755 electors, the highest of any riding in Canad ...

. In total, the party won a total of 397 votes.

References

{{Canadian Conservative Parties 2014 establishments in Ontario Conservative parties in Canada Political parties established in 2014 Provincial political parties in Ontario Right-wing populism in Canada Social conservative parties