Ambrose Bierce defined politics in 1911 in The Devil’s Dictionary as, “A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.”
But someone took this concept a step further.
Suit Filed in Federal Court
On Aug. 7, 2007, a $50 million suit was filled in Montreal against Her Majesty The Queen.
The plaintiff, legally identified as Sa Tan (sic), filed on behalf of the Rhinoceros Party for election reforms that have stripped them of their party status.
The Rhino Party
The Parti Rhinocéros was founded in 1963 by Jacques Ferron and a group of comics and entertainers.
The premise of the party was a humourous parody for Canadians disenfranchised with the mainstream political process.
The Rhino Party platform was the “one they were standing on,” in reference to the stage. They also supported such outlandish propositions as a promise to repeal the Law of Gravity.
1993 Election Act
The PC Kim Campbell government was concerned about the rise of the Reform party and increasing strength of grassroots movements.
In an attempt to undermine these competitors, an amendment was passed in 1993 to the Canada Elections Act which required each party to run a candidate in at least 50 ridings, at a cost of $1,000 for each candidate.
The Party Revived
In the 2001 provincial elections in British Columbia, a Brian Salmi resurrected the Rhino Party, bringing two candidates to the ballot.
The party attracted some media attention for their various antics. One of their unregistered candidates, former Green Party member Geoff Berner, promised “cocaine and whores to potential investors.”
According to a recent Globe article, Salmi commented on the Election Act reforms,
It’s a de facto economic means test that discriminates against the poor.
In a trial questioning the constitutionality of the reforms the judge dismissed the case, calling Salmi a clown. But that’s because Salmi was actually dressed, yes, as a clown.
The basis of Salmi’s claim was that the changes violated Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
…every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein.
Salmi proposes a fund to assist the deregistered parties of 1993 by drawing $50 million from the pensions of Members of Parliament as a,
punishment for voting for this malicious attack on the most sacred right a Canadian citizen has and from the salaries of all members of Parliament, present and future (as a deterrent against ever again attempting to violate the most sacred right a Canadian citizen has).
Trouble in Yukon
Salmi has since petitioned the Yukon Human Rights Commission in 2005. He alleges defamation and discrimination for not receiving a job.
The basis for the refusal was that he failed to disclose his legal name.
You see, Brian Salmi’s legal name is Sa Tan. The email in question stated,
Although negotiations with a view to concluding a contract of employment with you had been commenced, no such contract was ever concluded. Unfortunately, it turned out that you had not disclosed in either the application or the interview process that you were using an assumed name and that your legal name is in fact Sa tan. Your fax yesterday however confirmed your earlier verbal advice that although you call yourself Brian Salmi you are “legally known as Sa tanâ€.
This lack of candour in dealing with a future employer in itself makes you unsuitable for a position in the public service, and particularly unsuitable for this position.
Although Salmi was successful in demonstrating in a separate case of Tan v. Yukon that he was indigent, the judge ruled against the plaintiff, stating there was no indication of malice.
Recent Headlines in Outremont
Salmi (or Sa Tan) made recent headlines this past week because he announced his candidacy in the by-election in Outremont, the contested riding that recent voted for an NDP representative.
His case against the Queen appears to be pending (not yet available on CanLII).
Resources
Sa Tan v. Government of the Yukon Territory, et al., 2006 YKSC 45
Tan v. Yukon (Government of) 2005 YKSC 19
wow! how did you manage to get so much wrong from so little information? you sure you’re not in journalism school?
Welcome Mr. Salmi, or rather Sa Tan. We’re honoured to have you stop by. We would be more than willing to share your side as well, as long as you can corroborate with third party sources. Yes, for now we are stuck with using the media and journalists as authoratative sources of information.