# Robin Richardson

Robin Mark Richardson (born June 26, 1942) is a former Canadian politician and Vancouver Islander separatist/activist who was a Progressive Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada. He represented the riding of Beaches from 1979 to 1980. He is the founder and current leader of the Vancouver Island Party.

## Background

Richardson's profession is an economist, once working with the Fraser Institute. At one time, he was a minister for a Christian church in Esquimalt.

## Politics

Richardson represented Ontario's Beaches electoral district which he won in the 1979 federal election. After serving his only term, the 31st Canadian Parliament, he was defeated in the 1980 federal election by Neil Young of the New Democratic Party.
In September 2000, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca Member of Parliament Keith Martin for the Canadian Alliance nomination in that riding. Richardson was particularly critical of Martin's pro-choice position on abortion, while Martin had finished in fourth place during the Canadian Alliance leadership campaign earlier that year. Richardson managed Stockwell Day's successful leadership campaign within Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca.
In June 2016, he started the Vancouver Island Party and serves as leader. The party seeks to make Vancouver Island Canada's 11th province.

## Electoral record

1979 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robin Richardson | 12,840 | 34.5 |
| | New Democratic | Neil Young | 12,322 | 33.1 |
| | Liberal | Brian Fullerton | 11,232 | 30.2 |
| | Libertarian | David Anderson | 388 | 1.0 |
| | Independent | Donald A. Daley | 129 | 0.3 |
| | Rhinoceros | Judi Skuce | 111 | 0.3 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Jim McKibbin | 91 | 0.2 |
| | Independent | Jim McMillan | 69 | 0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,182 | 100.0 |
| Parliament of Canada: |||||||
1980 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | New Democratic | Neil Young | 12,675 | 35.6 |
| | Liberal | Terry O'Reilly | 11,179 | 31.4 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robin Richardson | 11,179 | 31.4 |
| | Libertarian | Dennis Corrigan | 272 | 0.8 |
| | Rhinoceros | David Reid | 214 | 0.6 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Jim McKibbin | 60 | 0.2 |
| | Independent | Vince Corriero | 45 | 0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,624 | 100.0 |
| Parliament of Canada: |||||||
vteBritish Columbia provincial by-election, January 30, 2019: Nanaimo :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Sheila Malcolmson | 12,114 | 49.92 | +3.38 | $50,194 |
| | Liberal | Tony Harris | 9,691 | 39.93 | +7.39 | $57,212 |
| | Green | Michele Ney | 1,783 | 7.35 | −12.56 | $41,039 |
| | Conservative | Justin Greenwood | 491 | 2.02 | – | $1,432 |
| | Vancouver Island Party | Robin Mark Richardson | 112 | 0.46 | – | $4,208 |
| | Libertarian | Bill Walker | 76 | 0.32 | −0.69 | $246 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 24,267 | 100.00 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 33 | 0.14 | −0.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,300 | 52.59 | −8.68 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | 46,210 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | −2.01 |
| Source: Elections BC |||||||