The Animal Protection Party of Canada () is a federal political party in Canada that focuses on animal rights and environmentalism. It was formed in 2005 as the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada by the merger of two organizations, the Animal Alliance of Canada and Environment Voters; it changed to its current name in 2016. Both parent organizations have been vocal in opposition to the seal hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador, fur farming, trapping, and bear hunting. The party is led by Liz White, a Toronto-based animal rights advocate.

Influence of electoral law Federal laws restricting political advocacy by "third parties" (i.e., organizations not registered by Elections Canada as political parties) during election campaigns led to the formation of this party. Following a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that allowed political parties to be registered by only running a single candidate, animal rights activists formed the party. The AAEV party provides its members and candidates the opportunity to promote its views during election periods.

The party originally endorsed major-party candidates who promoted positions favourable to its own. In the 2006 general election, AAEV's free-time political ads endorsed the New Democratic Party, counterbalanced by the statement that voters could also vote for AAEV party leader Liz White in Toronto Centre.

Canadian electoral laws hinder misuse of this loophole by setting campaign spending limits for parties, proportional to the number of voters in the electoral districts where the party is running candidates. Because the AAEV was running only one candidate, it was permitted to spend $66,715.37, compared to the $18,225,260.74 limits granted to the major national parties.Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Announces Election Expenses Limits for Registered Political Parties In 2008, the party ran four candidates. In 2011, it ran seven candidates with one candidate in the Western Arctic riding. In 2015, the party ran eight candidates, with one in Victoria, British Columbia. In 2019, the party ran 15 candidates. The party now acts like a traditional political party and rarely endorses other parties or candidates.

Candidates

2008 candidates In the 2008 general election, the AAEVPC fielded four candidates, all in Ontario: Marie Crawford in Toronto–Danforth Karen Levenson in Guelph Simon Luisi in Davenport Liz White in Toronto Centre National Post profile, October 23, 2008

2011 candidates

In the 2011 general election, the AAEVPC fielded seven candidates: six in Ontario, one in the territories: Marie Crawford in Toronto—Danforth Bonnie Dawson in Western Arctic Karen Levenson in Guelph in Davenport Yvonne Mackie in Newmarket—Aurora AnnaMaria Valastro in London North Centre Liz White in Thornhill

2015 candidates In the 2015 general election, the AAEVPC fielded eight candidates: seven in Ontario, one in British Columbia: Elizabeth Abbott in Toronto—Danforth Kyle Bowles in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Jody Di Bartolomeo in Niagara Centre Emma Hawley-Yan in Waterloo Simon Luisi in University-Rosedale Jordan Reichert in Victoriahttps://www.straight.com/news/517426/vegan-party-running-federal-election-candidate-bc Georgia Straight Rudy Brunell Solomonivici in Eglinton-Lawrence Liz White in Etobicoke-Lakeshore

2019 candidates In the 2019 general election, the APPC fielded fifteen candidates: eight in Ontario, two in British Columbia, two in New Brunswick, one in Quebec, one in Nova Scotia, and one in Alberta. Liz White in University-Rosedale Shelby Bertrand in Ottawa Centre Natalie Spizziri in Mississauga-Streetsville Simon Luisi in Scarborough Southwest Ellen Pappenburg in Kitchener Centre Rob Lewen in Toronto Centre Elizabeth Abbott in Toronto—Danforth Chanel Lalonde in Sudbury (federal electoral district) Victoria de Martigny in Lac-Saint-Louis Brad MacDonald in Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Lesley Thomas in Fredericton Bill Wilson in Halifax Eden Gould in Calgary Centre Jordan Reichert in Victoria Kira Cheeseborough in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo

2021 candidates In the 2021 federal election, the APPC fielded ten candidates: six in Ontario, one in British Columbia, two in Quebec, and one in Manitoba.

Kimberly LaMontange in Laurier Saint-Marie Lucas Munger in Drummond Shelby Bertrand in Ottawa Centre Liz White in Toronto-Danforth Peter Stubbins in Toronto Centre Natalie Spizziri in Mississauga-Streetsville Karen Levenson in Guelph Ellen Papenburg in Kitchener Centre Debra Wall in Winnipeg Centre Jordan Reichert in Victoria

2025 candidates In 2025 federal election, the APPC fielded 7 candidates: four in Ontario, one in British Columbia, one in Manitoba, and one in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mike Peach in Cape Spear Liz White in Toronto-Danforth Edward Fraser in Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park Ellen Papenburg in Kitchener Centre Simon Luisi in Toronto Centre Debra Wall in Winnipeg Centre Teresa Knight Courtenay-Alberni

Election results Election# of candidates# of votes% of popular vote% in contested ridings2006172http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2006/default.html Elections Canada 2006 Results 0.00%0.120%2008 by-election11230.00%0.51%20084527http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2008/default.html Elections Canada 2008 Results0.00%0.277%201171,344http://www.elections.ca/scripts/ovr2011/default.html Elections Canada 2011 Results0.01%0.404%201581,7610.01%0.362%2019174,4070.02%0.436%2021102,546https://www.elections.ca/enr/help/national_e.htm September 20, 2021 General Election National Results0.01%0.475%202571,2990.007%0.324%

See also List of animal advocacy parties List of political parties in Canada

References

External links

Animal Protection Party of Canada (I) – Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups – Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries Animal Protection Party of Canada (II) – Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups – Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries