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 House of Commons of Canada. He is also a prominent organizer of the Projet Ecosphere event in southeastern Quebec. Since 2012, the most important environmental fair is being held in Montreal and the first Quebec City edition was held in May 2016.

Éric Ferland
Frelighsburg City Councilor, Ward Two
In office 2005–2009
In office 1998–2002
Leader of the Green Party of Quebec
In office 1994–1996
Preceded by	Marian Lé Grant
Succeeded by	Saloua Laridhi
Personal details
Political party	New Democratic Party (2019-)
Other political affiliations	Green Party of Quebec Green Party of Canada

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 National 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 three 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.

In 2019, he joined New Democratic Party to run against former NDP member Pierre Nantel who defected to Greens.^[3]

Organizer

In 2006, Ferland was a prominent organizer of the first Projet Ecosphere, an autumn environmental fair in Brome devoted to environment and sustainability.^[4] One hundred and thirty exhibitors were featured.^[5] The second fair, held the following year, featured 170 exhibits and was attended by over seven thousand people.^[6] This event is a greenwashing event.

Electoral record

Federal

v t e 2019 Canadian federal election: Longueuil—Saint-Hubert
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Bloc Québécois	Denis Trudel	23,061	38.5	+11.23	$46,039.85
	Liberal	Réjean Hébert	20,471	34.2	+4.19	$77,307.46
	Green	Pierre Nantel	6,745	11.3	+8.81	$16,474.78
	New Democratic	Éric Ferland	5,104	8.5	–22.72	$11,119.46
	Conservative	Patrick Clune	3,779	6.3	–2.44	none listed
	People's	Ellen Comeau	467	0.8	–	$0.00
	Independent	Pierre-Luc Fillon	217	0.4	–	$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit			59,844	100.0
Total rejected ballots			1,086
Turnout			60,930	69.9
Eligible voters			87,113
	Bloc Québécois gain from New Democratic		Swing		+3.52
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]

v t e Canadian federal by-election, February 13, 1995: Brome—Missisquoi
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Denis 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
	Green	Éric 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)

v t e 2005 Frelighsburg municipal election: Councillor, Ward Two
Candidate	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. Thibedeau, Hannah. "NDP recruits former Quebec Green Party leader to take on NDPer who defected to Greens".
4. "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.
5. Stephanie Whittaker, "Ecosphere more than house of straw," Montreal Gazette, 3 October 2006, B3.
6. Maurice Crossfield, "Fair honoured for eco message; Ferland recognized," Sherbrooke Record, 28 February 2008, p. 3.
7. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
8. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2019.