Jean-Serge Brisson
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Jean-Serge Brisson (born in 1954 in Embrun, Ontario is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is the current leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada, which he joined in 1986.
Brisson was raised in the francophone region of eastern Ontario, and still lives in Embrun. Since 1974, he has been the owner of Independent Radiators, a small welding business.
Brisson has conducted a personal campaign of civil disobedience against Canada's seatbelt laws since 1988. In 1974, he was involved in an automobile accident while driving a Chevy Vega, and was catapulted into the back seat as the car's roof was crushed. He is convinced that his decision not to wear a seatbelt on this occasion saved his life. As a libertarian, he also opposes seatbelt laws on the grounds of personal discretion.
He spent twenty days in jail in 2000 after being convicted of three seatbelt-related charges, and was placed in solitary confinement after starting a hunger strike. At the time of his incarceration, his unpaid fines relating to seatbelt violations totaled over $9,000.
In addition, Brisson has not submitted an income tax return since 1991, and has neither collected nor paid federal or provincial sales tax since this time. He also opposes Canada's laws mandating usage of the metric system.
Brisson was elected Libertarian leader on May 22, 2000. He had previously served as interim leader since about 1998, and had been the party's de facto leader since 1997, when the previous leader moved to Mexico for a job position. He is also an executive member of the Libertarian Party of Ontario. Interestingly, he has not campaigned for the Canadian House of Commons since becoming leader of the federal party.
Following three unsuccessful attempts (including a narrow miss in 2000), Brisson was elected to the municipal council of Russell, Ontario in November 2003 with 1,639 votes. He has recently opposed municipal legislation requiring all employees of local government to be proficient in both French and English.
Electoral Record (provincial and federal):
- Canadian federal election, 1988, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, 335 votes (winner: Don Boudria, Liberal)
- Ontario general election, 1990, Prescott and Russell, 618 votes (winner: Jean Poirier, Liberal)
- Canadian federal election, 1993, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, 244 votes (winner: Don Boudria, Liberal)
- Ontario general election, 1995, Prescott and Russell, 626 votes (winner: Jean Poirier, Liberal)
| Preceded by: Robert Morse | Libertarian Party of Canada leaders 1997-present | Succeeded by: incumbent |