Forum Party of Alberta
Encyclopedia
The Forum Party of Alberta was a political party in the Province of Alberta
, Canada
. The party was created on March 2, 1995.
It later became the Equity Party, which held its founding convention in May 2000. The Equity Party did not nominate candidates in the 2001 election
, and the 2004 election
.
The Equity Party had five basic goals, social tolerance for all Albertans, fiscal accountability, grass roots accountability, including revenue sharing between riding associations, environmental responsibility and reforming the First Past the Post electoral system.
The Equity Party had an unusual way of developing their policy structure. They used an online forum that they called their online think tank
to help foster and develop policy, and policy discussion. The party declared itself a new kind of political party, organized around the Internet and electronic communications. The Forum party got its name from the Internet Forum idea. The name was later changed to represent their policy platform. Party members referred to themselves as Equitists. The main reason for the name change was to avoid confusion with the Reform party.
The party struggled to gain traction throughout its life span. The centrist policies and unique low budget way of promoting itself did not capture the imagination or attention of many people. In 2001 Barry Pashak stepped down as leader and the website quietly disappeared. Emil van der Poorten, the man who replaced him as party president, seemingly became more interested in community activism and Edmonton municipal politics than reviving the party. The party was de-registered in 2004 under amended Elections Alberta
rules that states a party must run one candidate in a provincial election. The party was deregistered with the Reform Party of Alberta
.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The party was created on March 2, 1995.
It later became the Equity Party, which held its founding convention in May 2000. The Equity Party did not nominate candidates in the 2001 election
Alberta general election, 2001
The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, and the 2004 election
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
.
The Equity Party had five basic goals, social tolerance for all Albertans, fiscal accountability, grass roots accountability, including revenue sharing between riding associations, environmental responsibility and reforming the First Past the Post electoral system.
The Equity Party had an unusual way of developing their policy structure. They used an online forum that they called their online think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
to help foster and develop policy, and policy discussion. The party declared itself a new kind of political party, organized around the Internet and electronic communications. The Forum party got its name from the Internet Forum idea. The name was later changed to represent their policy platform. Party members referred to themselves as Equitists. The main reason for the name change was to avoid confusion with the Reform party.
The party struggled to gain traction throughout its life span. The centrist policies and unique low budget way of promoting itself did not capture the imagination or attention of many people. In 2001 Barry Pashak stepped down as leader and the website quietly disappeared. Emil van der Poorten, the man who replaced him as party president, seemingly became more interested in community activism and Edmonton municipal politics than reviving the party. The party was de-registered in 2004 under amended Elections Alberta
Elections Alberta
Elections Alberta is the non-partisan organization which oversees general elections and by-elections for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections Alberta also oversees Senatorial elections and plebiscites.-History:...
rules that states a party must run one candidate in a provincial election. The party was deregistered with the Reform Party of Alberta
Reform Party of Alberta
The Reform Party of Alberta is a defunct provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was registered with Elections Alberta. Its leader was David Salmon.-Early history:...
.
Overall Results
| Overall: 1997 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1997 The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Pop. % | Overall Placement | |
| 4 | 597 | 0.06% | 8 of 9 | |
Candidate results
| Candidate | Votes | Pop. % | District | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Finn | 29 | 0.30% | Edmonton Beverly-Clareview | 6 of 6 |
| Emil van der Poorten | 98 | 0.90% | Edmonton Centre Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district) Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:... |
5 of 6 |
| Bruce Hinkley | 279 | 2.20% | Wetaskiwin-Camrose Wetaskiwin-Camrose Wetaskiwin-Camrose is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It is one of 83 current district in the province mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting.... |
5 of 5 |
| Don Ronaghan | 191 | 2.10% | Lac La Biche-St. Paul Lac La Biche-St. Paul Lac La Biche-St. Paul is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-2004 general election:-2004 Senate nominee election district results:... |
5 of 6 |
By-election results May 21, 1996
| Candidate | Votes | Pop. % | District | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Finn | 135 | 1.50% | Redwater Redwater (provincial electoral district) Redwater was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada from 1940 until 1971 and again from 1993 until 2004.-MLAs:The district elected the following members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta:-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
5 of 6 |
Party Leaders
- William Finn (1995 - 1997)
- Emil van der Poorten (1997 - 2000)
- Barry PashakBarry PashakBarry Leonard Pashak is a former college instructor and a Canadian provincial and federal level politician. He served as member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1986 to 1993 sitting with the opposition New Democratic Party caucus...
(2000 - 2001) - Brent Johner (2001 - 2003)
- Emil van der Poorten (2003 - 2004)
Board of directors at dissolution
- Emil van der Poorten Leader, Party Spokesperson
- Bruce Hinkley Chief Financial Officer
- Brent Johner Vice President
See also
- List of Alberta general elections
- List of Alberta political parties