Robert Toupin

Robert Toupin
MP
Member of Parliament
for Terrebonne
In office
1984–1988
Preceded byJoseph-Roland Comtois
Succeeded byJean-Marc Robitaille
Personal details
Born (1949-01-20) January 20, 1949 (age 75)
L'Assomption, Quebec, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative (1984-1986)
Independent (1986, 1987-1988)
New Democratic Party (1986-1987)

Robert Toupin (born January 20, 1949) is a former Canadian politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons for the riding of Terrebonne from 1984 to 1988.

Toupin had been a worker for the Quebec Liberal Party[1] when he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada following Brian Mulroney's election as party leader. Toupin was a successful Tory candidate in Terrebonne riding in the 1984 federal election.[2]

He was critical of the new government's policies crossed the floor in May 1986 to sit as an independent.[3] He attempted to join the Liberal Party of Canada but the Liberal riding association for the constituency he represented rejected him.[4] He ultimately joined the New Democratic Party (NDP), becoming the first NDP MP from a Quebec riding.[5] However, in October 1987, he left the party after ten months to again sit as an independent, after claiming that the party was dominated by the extreme left.[6][7] He was then invited to join the Rhinoceros Party of Canada.[8]

Toupin was defeated as an independent candidate in the 1988 federal election.[9]

Electoral record

1988 Canadian federal election: Terrebonne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jean-Marc Robitaille 35,345 52.8 -7.5
Liberal Claire Brouillet 12,422 18.5 -7.7
Independent Robert Toupin 10,390 15.5
New Democratic Lauraine Vaillancourt 7,194 10.7 +1.9
Rhinoceros Alain Cowboy De Lagrave 1,647 2.5
Total valid votes 66,998 100.0
1984 Canadian federal election: Terrebonne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Robert Toupin 43,822 60.30
Liberal Joseph-Roland Comtois (incumbent) 19,040 26.20
New Democratic Brian Umansky 6,454 8.88
Parti nationaliste Jean-A. Bonin 3,060 4.21
Commonwealth of Canada Claude Brosseau 292 0.40
Total valid votes 72,668 100.00
Total rejected ballots 1,634
Turnout 74,302 74.93
Electors on the lists 99,162
Source: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Thirty-third General Election, 1984.

References

  1. ^ "CBC News In Depth: Canadian government". Cbc.ca. June 27, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  2. ^ "Will Toupin be a team player for NDP?". The Gazette. Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian Press. December 17, 1986. p. B1. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Quebec MP quits Conservatives to sit as independent". and "Quebec Conservative MP quits to sit as independent". The Gazette. Ottawa, Ontario. May 15, 1986. pp. A1 – A2. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ McGillivray, Don (December 18, 1986). "Cheap and easy Quebec seat may hurt the NDP". The Hamilton Spectator. Ottawa, Ontario. Southam News. p. A6. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Block, Irwin (December 17, 1986). "Toupin faces fight to hold seat". The Gazette. Repentigny, Quebec. p. B1. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Quebec MP quits NDP, citing extremism faction". The Star-Phoenix. Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian Press. October 27, 1987. p. A12. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Conway, J.F. (November 12, 1987). "Toupin was bad political retreat for Broadbent". Waterloo Region Record. Waterloo, Ontario. p. A7. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Cohn, Martin (October 27, 1987). "Lone Quebec NDP MP quits party after bitter dispute with Broadbent". Toronto Star. Ottawa, Ontario. p. A10. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "St. Germain, five other ministers defeated". Vancouver Sun. Ottawa, Ontario. November 22, 1988. p. A2. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via newspapers.com.


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