Freedom Flyer November 1996 Cover

Freedom Flyer 30

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

November 1996




From Lindsay This Week, this reproduced article is a follow-up to our own coverage of this event, reported in the last issue of Freedom Flyer. While generally accurate, the article does leave an important misconception that we regard as fundamental, even though most people might not notice.

Freedom Party does not advocate "more" rights, but only individual rights, and would do away with the myriad of collective (group) rights that currently exist; Fp's emphasis is not on "less government", but on more freedom. Freedom Party does not acknowledge group rights of any kind. The article incorrectly describes Metz as party leader; Mr. Metz is party president.

Articles electronically reproduced from:

Lindsay This Week

March 26, 1996


Freedom Party advocates more rights, less government

By ROD BENNS
This Week Staff Writer

As a former accountant, Bob Metz has seen a lot of government interference in the lives of others.

Twelve years ago, that interference prompted him to help found the Freedom Party of Ontario, one of the so-called fringe parties in the province.

The party president was at Jim McKee's Fenelon Township home recently, bringing his message of less government and individual rights to about 40 interested people.

Mr. Metz looked comfortable in his role as leader of one of the smaller parties in the province, soft-spoken and articulate as he outlined his party's goals and beliefs to the crowd.

He rejected from the outset any right wing-left wing labels, but his party's policies of minimal government interference makes his platform attractive to supporters of Reform or the Progressive Conservatives.

"We don't have a name for our perspective of thinking," said Mr. Metz.

London based, the Freedom party fielded candidates in 12 ridings in the last provincial election, and is always on the lookout to expand its base.

On only his second official trip north of Toronto for the party, Mr. Metz seemed intrigued upon hearing that Victoria County is a traditional right wing stronghold.

He said clearly the main challenge, then, is "to let people know about us."

"Every place has potential," Mr. Metz said.

The Freedom party accents individual rights over collective rights. Mr. Metz said the constitution makes group rights enshrined ahead of individuals, and said this is "not a recipe for unity."

The party president singled out unions, human rights boards, distinct society status for Quebec and other collective power bases as the main reason for the problems facing the country.

In 1987, the City of London was in the middle of a garbage pick-up strike "for reasons that shouldn't have required not working," said Mr. Metz.

He used this as an example of the problems with group rights in the form of unions.

The Freedom party sent a pamphlet around during the strike with their platform and policies, along with a note saying leave two bags of garbage out on the curb and Freedom party people would collect it.

"We wanted to demonstrate, positively, that this (strike) was not needed," he said.

"It's group warfare out there against everyone else's expense," said Mr. Metz.

Mr. Metz said he looks forward to organizing the party north of Toronto where "the growth is."




Contact FP
Freedom Flyer Newsletter

e-mail

Page last updated on April 28, 2002

FP logo (small)