Newmarket
November 15, 2008 08:51 PM
Amanda Persico
For the fourth time, Dorian Baxter has been acclaimed candidate for the Progressive Canadian Party for Newmarket and Aurora.
It is Mr. Baxter’s makeup — priest, entertainer and political enthusiast — that makes him the best contender for the next race, party leader Sinclair Stevens said.
At a PC Party riding meeting earlier this week, Mr. Baxter closed the door to his old campaign and started a new one with Canadian flags, decorated pens and Frisbees.
“The Progressive Canadian campaign is kicking off tonight,” he said. “I’m 58 years old (and) I have given myself to 98 to get into office. That’s 40 years leeway.”
In October’s election, Mr. Baxter received 1,004 votes, about 1.9 per cent of those cast in the Newmarket-Aurora riding. That’s about 300 more than he received in the 2006 election.
“In most of the ridings, we ran fifth,” Mr. Stevens said. “That means people in other parties don’t have the recognition we do.”
Mr. Baxter’s signs are clean and stored away, ready for his next political race.
“We’re still a small party but we made a lot of noise,” he said. “You don’t become a champion in the first race.”
The party hopes to build its local membership to about 15,000.
“If we have 15,000 members, plus one family member, then we have 30,000 votes,” Mr. Baxter said in front of the packed room of PC supporters. “That will send me to Ottawa to be the giant pain in (Stephen) Harper’s neck.”
The PC Party plans an organizational meeting in January, on the birthday of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir. John A. Macdonald.
The Progressive Canadian membership drive starts in January.
For more information, visit
progressivecanadian.ca