Keith Komar is a Barrie resident representing the Libertarian Party for the York-Simcoe riding in this election.
Originally from British Columbia, Komar is a bricklayer by trade, travelling in between BC and Ontario, depending on where the work may be.
“There’s two places where I call home and this is one of them,” he explained.
He has been back in Ontario for just over a year now and is hoping for change in this federal election.
His start in activism started in the early '90s, fighting for gay rights. His brother was gay and one of the first men to be married in Ontario.
Since then, he has become an advocate for equality and human rights and joined the BC Libertarian party in 2016.
He believes it’s time for the government to look at the root cause of the problems in our country.
“That’s the problem with politics today, no one talks about the root problems. We’re talking about these surface issues,” he said.
He is aware that his party may not have the numbers to win the election, but his goal if for their message to be heard among the politicians in power.
“I don’t have the money to back a campaign or crowd support, so I have no delusions about winning,” he explained. “I don't have to win the election, as long as I’m winning in the hearts and minds of the politicians and they see that people are responding to what im saying.”
In terms of voting, he says there is a lot of information circulating on social media that makes it difficult for people to sift through and investigate the real issues.
“Because there is so much thrown at you, and most people don’t have the time to do hardcore investigations, they have to accept what they hear as truth which is unfortunate. Which I think is done by design,” he said.
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1973. The ideal role of federal government for the Libertarian Party would be a small one.
“We believe the federal government is upside down,” he explained.
“There is no reason to have that extra layer of bureaucracy, we would shrink them down to be the referee.”
The party’s platform focuses on eliminating the need for government control, and balancing it back into the people.
“I’ve often said the difference between what I do and what the other parties are doing is they want to take power and I want to hold the public trust,” he said.
“Prioritizing it (power) in the proper way,” he added.
Military, currency and trading within the provinces are the only issues the Libertarians believe the federal government is needed for, with everyhing else being handled on a provincial and municipal level.
In terms of the economy, Komar says there are too many layers of government that need to be taken out in order to give people more control over their money.
“We are lacking accountability and responsibility. We have to find responsibility and accountability in our own lives,” he said.
“We have less and less buying power with our money. It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “We can do better for ourselves. And the direction we’re heading for our children is the wrong direction. I want my kids to be able to buy a home.”
“The family unit has been smashed. There was a time when you didn't have to ( work so hard to have the basics) and it’s not that far in the past.”
Komar says Canada’s reputation is not what it used to be.
“We’re peacekeepers but we’re not anymore, when did we start selling weapons and why? We have that world image of being the peacekeepers but we’re losing that,” he said.
If elected, the Libertarian Party would withdraw Canadian armed forces from international wars and refocus them on maintaining Canada’s defence and eliminate all forms of government foreign aid.
“If we stop attacking countries like Syria and Afghanistan, we wouldn't have a big flow of refugees coming here.”
The Libertarian Party would also re-evaluate victimless crimes and in the federal criminal code: sex work and the war on drugs.
Their plan would be to repeal the cannabis act.
“It makes it more illegal now than it was when it was illegal,” he explained.
Privacy rights are another pillar of the Libertarian platform. They believe the government has no right to be in the bedrooms of Canadian citizens.
They would put an end to warrantless searches and repeal Bill C-51, which gives the government authority to share private information about individuals in order to protect them from harm.
“Everyone has their rights. If you aren’t willing to stand up for your rights, they’re privileges. And the minute someone decides to take them from you, you’re not willing to stand up for it then it’s no longer a right,” he said.
Regulatory agencies are also a point of contention with the Libertarian Party. They would like to repeal the powers of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and reduce the restrictions from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to encourage more tourism.
In their platform, the Libertarians would make responsible gun possession legal for hunting, self defence and recreation.
“I’m all for gun rights,” said Komar.
“The criminal doesn’t care. He’s going to get the gun anyway.”
“Why are we being restricted on defending ourselves?”
Healthcare is an issue on all party platforms and the Libertarians believe it is something that should be handled on a provincial level.
Komar says having privatized healthcare in addition to public health care would help to alleviate wait times and help those who need urgent care.
“I understand people here are Conservative because they want that basic freedom but they (the Conservatives) don’t provide it anymore, they’re basically what the Liberal party was eight years ago,” he said.
Environmental issues are also a major concern for the Libertarians. They would enforce property rights so owners would be made responsible for all the land and natural resources on and below it. And any damage done to property through pollution would be dealt with in the judicial system.
Aborigianl rights for the First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples are important to the Libertarian Party.
They would like to end all restrictions and obligations on indigenous territories and replace the Indian Act with a guarantee of sovereignty for all indigenous people.
“I believe that we as people can look after ourselves. We don’t need that government layer. Strip it all done, put it back to its base and put the power back in the hands of the people throughout the municipality.”
Komar is confident that he will be the leader of the Libertarian Party of Ontario. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the provincial party and is running against two other candidates for the title. The vote takes place on Nov. 2, 2019.
“Our concern is opening minds and getting people to understand a different way.”
To learn more about the Libertarian Party, check out their website here.
