Nick Ternette
Encyclopedia
Nick Ternette is a politician and political activist in Winnipeg, Manitoba
. He is a perennial candidate
for mayor
of the city, representing left-wing and socialist
policies.
Ternette was born in Germany
, and moved to Canada
in 1955 when he was ten years old. He has a Bachelor of Sociology and Political Science degree from the University of Winnipeg
. He currently writes a column entitled "Left Punch" for Uptown magazine in Winnipeg. Somewhat ironically, he has also worked as a delivery man for the Winnipeg Sun
, a right-wing tabloid.
Ternette served as president of the NDP riding association in Crescentwood during the early 1970s. He first ran for mayor of Winnipeg in 1977, and finished third against more prominent candidates Robert Steen
and Bill Norrie
. He ran again in 1986, describing himself as the only genuinely left-wing candidate in the race. He promoted feminist and environmental issues, and claimed to be influenced by the Green Party of Germany.
He campaigned for the leadership of the Manitoba New Democratic Party in 1979, but withdrew before the party's leadership convention and backed rival candidate Muriel Smith
.
He formed a local "Green Party" to contest the 1989 mayoral election, and offered endorsements to candidates for city council Such Glen Murray, Greg Selinger and Mike Gidora. (Ternette would later become one of Murray's most vocal critics from the left, after Murray was elected mayor of the city.) Ternette's "Green Party" dissolved soon after the election, and has no connection to the Green Party of Canada
or the current Green Party of Manitoba
.
He described himself as a protest candidate in the 2002 mayoral election, claiming "there has to be a socialist opposition". He argued that the city's wards were too large, arguing that the city had 29 provincial MLAs but only 15 municipal councillors.
Ternette was arrested in June 2004 after attending a peace rally in Winnipeg. One of the charges raised against him was organizing a rally without a permit, although Ternette denied that he was even an organizer of the event. The charges against him were not criminal; many believe that they were politically-motivated.
In recent columns, he has endorsed proportional representation
and called for the NDP
to return to its socialist roots.
In 2009, Ternette lost his legs and all his teeth due to a flesh-eating bacteria.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He is a perennial candidate
Perennial candidate
A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city, representing left-wing and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
policies.
Ternette was born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and moved to 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...
in 1955 when he was ten years old. He has a Bachelor of Sociology and Political Science degree from the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
. He currently writes a column entitled "Left Punch" for Uptown magazine in Winnipeg. Somewhat ironically, he has also worked as a delivery man for the Winnipeg Sun
Winnipeg Sun
The Winnipeg Sun is a daily tabloid-sized newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.It is owned by Sun Media, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media, and shares many characteristics typical of Sun Media tabloids, including an emphasis on local news stories, extensive sports coverage, a Canadian conservatism...
, a right-wing tabloid.
Ternette served as president of the NDP riding association in Crescentwood during the early 1970s. He first ran for mayor of Winnipeg in 1977, and finished third against more prominent candidates Robert Steen
Robert Steen
Robert Ashley Steen was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1966 to 1969, and later served as the 38th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1977 to 1979.Steen was educated at the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Law...
and Bill Norrie
Bill Norrie
William Norrie, CM, OM, QC was the 39th Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the former Chancellor of the University of Manitoba....
. He ran again in 1986, describing himself as the only genuinely left-wing candidate in the race. He promoted feminist and environmental issues, and claimed to be influenced by the Green Party of Germany.
He campaigned for the leadership of the Manitoba New Democratic Party in 1979, but withdrew before the party's leadership convention and backed rival candidate Muriel Smith
Muriel Smith
Muriel Smith, OC is a Manitoba politician. She ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba in 1979, and subsequently served in the cabinet of NDP Premier Howard Pawley....
.
He formed a local "Green Party" to contest the 1989 mayoral election, and offered endorsements to candidates for city council Such Glen Murray, Greg Selinger and Mike Gidora. (Ternette would later become one of Murray's most vocal critics from the left, after Murray was elected mayor of the city.) Ternette's "Green Party" dissolved soon after the election, and has no connection to the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
or the current Green Party of Manitoba
Green Party of Manitoba
The Green Party of Manitoba is a provincial political party in Manitoba, Canada, founded on November 11, 1998. The party is legally autonomous from the Green Party of Canada, though for several years many of its members also belonged to the Green Party of Canada in Manitoba, a federal...
.
He described himself as a protest candidate in the 2002 mayoral election, claiming "there has to be a socialist opposition". He argued that the city's wards were too large, arguing that the city had 29 provincial MLAs but only 15 municipal councillors.
Ternette was arrested in June 2004 after attending a peace rally in Winnipeg. One of the charges raised against him was organizing a rally without a permit, although Ternette denied that he was even an organizer of the event. The charges against him were not criminal; many believe that they were politically-motivated.
In recent columns, he has endorsed proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
and called for the NDP
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
to return to its socialist roots.
In 2009, Ternette lost his legs and all his teeth due to a flesh-eating bacteria.
Electoral Record
- 1977 Municipal Election, Mayor of Winnipeg, 5682 votes (winner: Robert SteenRobert SteenRobert Ashley Steen was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1966 to 1969, and later served as the 38th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1977 to 1979.Steen was educated at the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Law...
) - 1986 Municipal Election, Mayor of Winnipeg, 3060 votes (winner: Bill NorrieBill NorrieWilliam Norrie, CM, OM, QC was the 39th Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the former Chancellor of the University of Manitoba....
) - 1989 Municipal Election, Mayor of Winnipeg, 6865 votes (winner: Bill NorrieBill NorrieWilliam Norrie, CM, OM, QC was the 39th Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the former Chancellor of the University of Manitoba....
) - 1995 Municipal Election, Mayor of Winnipeg, 1782 votes (winner: Susan ThompsonSusan ThompsonSusan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971...
) - 2002 Municipal Election, Mayor of Winnipeg, 2665 votes (winner: Glen Murray)