Éric Ferland

Éric Ferland is a politician and organizer in the Canadian province of Quebec. He was the leader of the Green Party of Quebec from 1994 to 1996 and has sought election to the Canadian House of Commons. He is also a prominent organizer of the Projet Ecosphere event in southeastern Quebec.

Political career

Ferland became the leader of the Green Party of Quebec in 1994, following that year's provincial election. The party was in a weakened state in this period, after former leader Jean Ouimet and several top organizers left to join the Parti Québécois.[1] Ferland held the party leadership for two years before standing down. He did not seek election to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in this period, although he ran as a Green Party of Canada candidate in a 1995 by-election in Brome—Missisquoi.

Ferland later served as a town councillor in Frelighsburg, Quebec on at least two occasions. He stood down from council in 2002, but was returned in 2005 and served another term.[2] He did not run for re-election in 2009.

Organizer

In 2006, Ferland was a prominent organizer of the first Projet Ecosphere, an autumn fair in Brome devoted to environment and sustainability.[3] One hundred and thirty exhibitors were featured.[4] The second fair, held the following year, featured 170 exhibits and was attended by over seven thousand people.[5]

Electoral record

Federal
Canadian federal by-election, February 13, 1995: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalDenis Paradis 19,078 51.02 +14.36 $54,562
  Bloc Québécois Jean-François Bertrand 15,764 42.16 +1.40 $53,734
  Progressive Conservative Guy Lever 1,235 3.30 -13.85 $36,225a
  Reform Line Maheux 517 1.38 $21,755
  New Democratic Party Paul Vachon 371 0.99 -0.27 $9,325
  Christian Heritage Jean Blaquière 126 0.34 $2,321
  Non-Affiliated Yvon V. Boulanger 107 0.29 $3,816
GreenÉric Ferland 101 0.27 $412
  Natural Law Michel Champagne 77 0.21 -1.08 $6,538
  Abolitionist John H. Long 15 0.04 -1.61 $1,219
Total valid votes 37,391 100.00
Total rejected ballots 288
Turnout 37,679 64.32 -12.32
Electors on the lists 58,579
a- Does not include unpaid claims.
Municipal (incomplete)
2005 Frelighsburg municipal election, Councillor, Ward Two
Candidate Total votes % of total votes
Éric Ferland acclaimed .

Source for 2005 municipal elections: Official results from the Government of Quebec

References

  1. Andre Picard, "Colourful characters adorn fringes," Globe and Mail, 8 September 1994, A4.
  2. Maurice Crossfield, "Three elections to watch for in the west end," Sherbrooke Record, 16 October 2002, p. 5.
  3. "Environmental fair in Brome," Sherbrooke Record, 24 April 2006, p. 2; Joshua Bleser, "A different kind of Brome fair," Sherbrooke Record, 25 September 2006, p. 3.
  4. Stephanie Whittaker, "Ecosphere more than house of straw," Montreal Gazette, 3 October 2006, B3.
  5. Maurice Crossfield, "Fair honoured for eco message; Ferland recognized," Sherbrooke Record, 28 February 2008, p. 3.