George Dance (politician)

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For other persons of the same name, see George Dance.

George Dance is a politician and political activist in Ontario, Canada. He has been a member of the Libertarian Party of Canada and the Ontario Libertarian Party since the mid-1970s, and has served as interim leader of both parties.

Dance listed his occupation as stock clerk, layout artist, freelance typesetter and office manager on various occasions between 1979 and 1993. He has long published The Bulletin, the Ontario Libertarian Party's newsletter.

Like many others in his party, Dance has called for increased privatization and is an opponent of unionization. He is an opponent of anarchism, and describes himself as a "proper-government libertarian" (i.e., supporting a government and recognizes and respects individual liberties). Dance is also an opponent of restrictions on public smoking.

Dance became leader of the Libertarian Party in 1991, after former leader Stanislaw Tyminski left Canada to form Party X in Poland. He held this position until May 1993, when Hilliard Cox was chosen to replace him. Dance also served as interim leader of the federal party from 1995 to 1996.

Dance has served on the executive of the Ontario Libertarian Party since 1985, and is currently its chairman. He became the party's leader following the resignation of John Shadbolt on June 9, 1995, and held the position until Sam Apelbaum was selected at a delegated convention in late 1996. As party leader, Dance contested a 1996 by-election in York South.

In 1992, Dance indicated that his party might seek an electoral alliance with the Freedom Party of Ontario. The Freedom Party soon rejected this suggestion.

[edit] Electoral record

Preceded by
Stanislaw Tyminski		 Libertarian Party of Canada leaders (first time)
1991-1993		 Succeeded by
Hilliard Cox
Preceded by
Hilliard Cox		 Libertarian Party of Canada leaders (second time)
1995-1996		 Succeeded by
Vincent Pouliot