Wikipedia

Kevin Clarke (politician)

Kevin Mark Clarke (born March 21, 1964) is a Canadian activist, perennial candidate, and former educator, who is the founder and former leader of The People's Political Party. He is considered one of the most recognizable homeless persons in the city of Toronto,[2] campaigning on "the people's rights."

Kevin Clarke
President of The People's Political Party
In office
2021–2023
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice distablished
Leader of The People's Political Party
In office
September 3, 2011 – 2021
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byTroy Young
Personal details
BornKevin Mark Clarke
(1964-03-21) March 21, 1964 (age 62)
St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica[1]
PartyThe People's Political Party

Clarke advocates for criminal justice reform, and has proposed 'The Inmate Monitored Education System' (TIME), a program to reduce recidivism among first-time offenders. He also campaigns on the issues of poverty and homelessness.

Biography

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In the 1980s, Clarke worked as a Grade 5 teacher at Chester Le Junior Public School in Scarborough.

He worked in the automobile business during the early 1990s. He sought election as Mayor of East York in the 1994 municipal election, describing himself as an "advertising consultant, political rebel and welfare recipient". He promised to resign after three months if elected, and to form a provincial party for ordinary people.[3]

Clarke first campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1995 general election, challenging New Democratic Party Premier Bob Rae in York South. He received 170 votes, finishing seventh in a field of nine candidates. During this election, Clarke vowed to oppose the "pimps" of government who "live off the avails of the people".[4]

Clarke campaigned for York South again in 1996 after Rae retired from the legislature, and finished last in a field of six candidates with 70 votes. The winner was Gerard Kennedy of the Ontario Liberal Party.

He sought election to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1997 federal election, and finished sixth out of eight candidates in Broadview—Greenwood with 211 votes. The winner was Dennis Mills of the Liberal Party of Canada. During this election, Clarke described himself as a salesman and a businessman.

He became homeless in 1998 after his auto business failed. For the next seven years, he frequently sang and preached on the streets of Toronto.[citation needed] He was also actively involved in public affairs and was a member of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee.

Clarke ran for the Ontario legislature a third time in a by-election for Beaches—East York on September 20, 2001. He finished sixth out of eight candidates with 94 votes. The winner was Michael Prue of the New Democratic Party.

Clarke campaigned for Mayor of Toronto in the 2000, 2003 and 2006 municipal elections, and ran for Toronto City Council in by-elections held in 1998 and 2001. His primary issues were street and water safety, though he also emphasized anti-drug policies. He ran his 2001 campaign out of a homeless shelter which he used every night.[5] In the 1998 campaign, his age was listed as thirty-four.[6]

He took part in an unusual protest during the 2003 campaign, by tearing up pieces of a telephone book and scattering them to the wind during lunch hour at a busy Toronto intersection. "You care if there's paper on the street," he said to passers-by, "but you don't care if there's people on the street".[7] He also described himself as an "ex-con, ex-drug dealer and ex-teacher".[8]

Clarke found housing again in 2005,[9] and worked as an actor during this period.[10]

He was a candidate running for the 2010 Toronto mayoral election. Clarke has been known to employ eccentric tactics to reach the public during his campaign, including speeches while aboard the TTC and rollerblading whilst shouting campaign slogans on the road in Kingston Road and Lawrence Avenue East area.

In the 2011 Ontario election he ran as leader of the People's Political Party.[11]

Clarke ran for mayor in the 2018 election,[12] where he finished with 3,853 votes.

Clarke is known for attending debates and causing a commotion. He was not invited to a debate Toronto Centre By-election in 2013; however, he showed up and began yelling at the Liberal Party candidate Chrystia Freeland and New Democratic Candidate Linda McQuaig. He was subsequently arrested, and the debate was cancelled.[13] Additionally in 2019, he attended a debate on the environment and climate change ahead of the 2019 federal election in Scarborough-Guildwood, where only members of the major political parties were invited. He entered holding a large hand-painted "Vote Kevin Clarke" sign and immediately began yelling and criticizing the debate organizers as well as Liberal Party incumbent candidate John McKay. Upon discussion between the organizers and invited candidates, he was eventually allowed to participate in the debate on the condition he remained orderly.[14]

Clarke ran in the 2020 Toronto Centre federal by-election.

Clarke unsuccessfully ran for Toronto mayor in the 2022 mayoral election and the 2023 mayoral by-election.

He was a candidate in the 2023 Scarborough—Guildwood provincial by-election.

Clarke found himself homeless again on March 30, 2025, due to a fire in his apartment.[15] Clarke was charged with arson, which he disputed, and instead blamed faulty electrical work by Toronto Community Housing, and the homeless roommate he was temporarily housing, of whom left the room minutes before the fire was discovered by Clarke.[16] His charges were withdrawn on November 28th 2025. On December 5th 2025, Clarke returned to his apartment after its repairs were completed.[17]

Clarke does not identify as black, and instead identifies himself as a person to be judged by the content of his character.[18]

Electoral record

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Toronto mayoral elections
Year Votes Vote % Place
2000 4,147 0.68 7th
2003 804 0.12 12th
2006 2,081 0.36 12th
2010 1,411 0.173 14th
2014 547 0.06 18th
2018 3,853 0.51 7th
2022 4,333 0.79 9th
2023 265 0.04 34th
Ontario provincial by-election, 27 July 2023: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAndrea Hazell5,64036.37-9.94$85,245
Progressive ConservativeGary Crawford4,56229.42-2.09$57,878
New DemocraticThadsha Navaneethan4,04126.06+9.40$80,598
Stop the New Sex-Ed AgendaTony Walton5083.28$26,608
New BlueDanielle Height1510.97-0.29$10,691
GreenTara McMahon1460.94-1.89$0
No AffiliationReginald Tull1390.90$8,266
Canadians' ChoicePaul Fromm660.43$0
IndependentKevin Clarke570.37-0.14$7,002
IndependentHabiba Desai520.34$0
IndependentAbu Alam480.31$395
IndependentJohn Turmel200.13$0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 15,43099.49+0.37
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 790.51-0.37
Turnout 15,50921.84-19.79
Eligible voters 70,655
Liberal hold Swing -3.90
2022 Ontario general election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalMitzie Hunter13,40546.31+12.96$87,259
Progressive ConservativeAlicia Vianga9,12331.51−1.62$78,144
New DemocraticVeronica Javier4,82416.66−10.96$42,008
GreenDean Boulding8182.83+0.38$381
New BlueOpa Hope Day3661.26 $1,980
Ontario PartyWilliam Moore2650.92 $0
People's Political PartyKevin Clarke1480.51+0.09$0
Total valid votes/expense limit 28,94999.12+0.32$98,214
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 2560.88-0.32
Turnout 29,20541.63-11.55
Eligible voters 69,754
Liberal hold Swing +7.29
Source(s)
2021 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn McKay22,94461.1±0.0
ConservativeCarmen Wilson7,99821.3-1.1
New DemocraticMichelle Spencer5,09113.6+2.4
People'sJames Bountrogiannis1,0962.9+1.4
IndependentKevin Clarke1550.4+0.1
CentristAslam Khan1290.3N/A
IndependentOpa Day850.2N/A
Canadian NationalistGus Stefanis520.1-0.1
Total valid votes 37,55098.6
Total rejected ballots 5481.4
Turnout 38,09858.0
Eligible voters 65,711
Liberal hold Swing +0.6
Source: Elections Canada[19]
Canadian federal by-election, October 26, 2020: Toronto Centre
Resignation of Bill Morneau
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalMarci Ien10,58142.0-15.4$116,839[citation needed]
GreenAnnamie Paul8,25032.7+25.6$100,008[citation needed]
New DemocraticBrian Chang4,28017.0-5.3$71,222[citation needed]
ConservativeBenjamin Gauri Sharma1,4355.7-6.4$0[citation needed]
People'sBaljit Bawa2691.1–$22,752[citation needed]
LibertarianKeith Komar1350.5–
IndependentKevin Clarke1230.5–
FreeDwayne Cappelletti760.3–$1,570[citation needed]
No affiliationAbove Znoneofthe560.2–$0[citation needed]
Total valid votes 25,205100.0–
Total rejected ballots 1180.5-0.2
Turnout 25,32330.9-35.2
Electors on lists 81,861
Liberal hold Swing -20.5
Elections Canada[20][21]
2019 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJohn McKay26,12361.12+1.08$79,793.87
ConservativeQuintus Thuraisingham9,55322.35-4.15$57,402.46
New DemocraticMichelle Spencer4,80611.24-0.02none listed
GreenTara McMahon1,2202.85+1.41none listed
People'sJigna Jani6481.52-none listed
IndependentKevin Clarke1120.26-0.16none listed
Canadian NationalistGus Stefanis850.20–none listed
IndependentStephen Abara700.16-none listed
IndependentKathleen Marie Holding700.16-none listed
Canada's Fourth FrontFarhan Alvi550.13-$791.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,74298.66
Total rejected ballots 5801.34+0.87
Turnout 43,32262.89-1.69
Eligible voters 68,886
Liberal hold Swing +2.61
Source: Elections Canada[22][23]
2018 Ontario general election: Toronto Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticSuze Morrison23,68853.66+37.87
LiberalDavid Morris11,98627.15-31.07
Progressive ConservativeMeredith Cartwright6,23414.12-4.43
GreenAdam Sommerfeld1,3773.12-1.30
LibertarianJudi Falardeau3710.84-0.23
Special NeedsDan King1170.27-0.12
New People's ChoiceCameron James1100.25
Stop the New Sex-Ed AgendaTheresa Snell1020.23
The PeopleKevin Clarke980.22+0.06
Canadian EconomicWanda Marie Fountain650.15
Total valid votes 44,148100.0  
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 4040.92
Turnout 44,55254.30
Eligible voters 82,044
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +34.47
Source: Elections Ontario[24]
2015 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Guildwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJohn McKay25,16760.04+24.25$77,572.69
ConservativeChuck Konkel11,10826.50-8.19$80,342.41
New DemocraticLaura Casselman4,72011.26-15.44$14,956.71
GreenKathleen Holding6061.45-0.78–
IndependentKevin Clarke1750.42––
MarijuanaPaul Coulbeck1410.34-0.26–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 41,91799.53 $198,726.79
Total rejected ballots 1980.47
Turnout 42,11564.58
Eligible voters 65,217
Liberal hold Swing +16.22
Source: Elections Canada[25][26]
2014 Ontario general election: Scarborough—Agincourt
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalSoo Wong17,33249.84+2.82
Progressive ConservativeLiang Chen12,04134.63+2.64
New DemocraticAlex Wilson4,10511.81-3.94
GreenPauline Thompson9072.61+0.34
The PeopleKevin Clarke3871.11
Total valid votes 34,772100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +0.09
Source: Elections Ontario[27]
Ontario provincial by-election, February 13, 2014: Thornhill
Resignation of Peter Shurman
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGila Martow13,43847.89+1.18
LiberalSandra Yeung Racco11,67141.60+0.68
New DemocraticCindy Hackelberg1,9056.79-2.17
GreenTeresa Pun4041.44-0.24
LibertarianGene Balfour2961.05-0.34
FreedomErin Goodwin1530.55+0.22
People's Political PartyKevin Clarke1440.51
PauperJohn Turmel470.17
Total valid votes 28,058100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 1260.45
Turnout 28,18427.36
Eligible voters 103,021
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +0.25
Source: Elections Ontario[28]
Canadian federal by-election, November 25, 2013: Toronto Centre (federal electoral district)
Resignation of Bob Rae (July 31, 2013)
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalChrystia Freeland17,19449.38+8.37$ 97,609.64
New DemocraticLinda McQuaig12,64036.30+6.0999,230.30
ConservativeGeoff Pollock3,0048.63−14.0175,557.39
GreenJohn Deverell1,0342.97−2.0521,521.10
Progressive CanadianDorian Baxter4531.30 –    
LibertarianJudi Falardeau2360.68+0.18–    
IndependentKevin Clarke840.24 560.00
IndependentJohn "The Engineer" Turmel560.16 –    
IndependentLeslie Bory510.15 633.30
OnlineMichael Nicula430.12 200.00
IndependentBahman Yazdanfar260.07−0.121,134.60
Total valid votes/expense limit 34,82199.49–  $ 101,793.06
Total rejected ballots 1770.51+0.12
Turnout 34,99837.72−25.21
Eligible voters 92,780  
Liberal hold Swing +1.14
Source(s)
"November 25, 2013 By-elections Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
"November 25, 2013 By-election – Financial Reports". Retrieved May 9, 2014.
Ontario provincial by-election, September 6, 2012: Kitchener—Waterloo
Resignation of Elizabeth Witmer
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticCatherine Fife18,59939.87+23.20
Progressive ConservativeTracey Weiler14,85131.83-11.94
LiberalEric Davis11,19423.99-12.05
GreenStacey Danckert1,5253.27+0.63
LibertarianAllan Dettweiler1560.33
FreedomDavid Driver950.20-0.05
CommunistElizabeth Rowley850.18
IndependentGarnet Bruce770.17
People's Political PartyKevin Clarke480.10
PauperJohn Turmel230.05
Total valid votes 46,653100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 1280.27
Turnout 46,78147.00
Eligible voters 99,544
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +17.57
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2012). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Kitchener—Waterloo by-election" (PDF). Retrieved 2 June 2014.
2011 Ontario general election: Toronto—Danforth
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticPeter Tabuns20,06254.01+8.16
LiberalMarisa Sterling11,36930.60+1.40
Progressive ConservativeRita Jethi3,4889.39-1.89
GreenTim Whalley1,3543.64-7.51
LibertarianJohn Recker4401.18+0.01
People's Political PartyKevin Clarke1430.38 
IndependentNeil Mercer1100.30 
FreedomStéphane Vera1070.29 
IndependentJohn Richardson750.20 
Total valid votes 37,148100.00
Rejected 1570.42
Unmarked 450.12
Declined 240.06
Turnout 37,37449.30
Eligible voters 75,815
New Democratic hold Swing +3.38
Source: Elections Ontario[29]
Ontario provincial by-election, September 20, 2001: Beaches—East York
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticMichael Prue14,02449.83+4.26
LiberalRobert Hunter10,28936.56+14.98
Progressive ConservativeMac Penney2,82110.02-19.53
GreenPeter Elgie6942.47+1.47
Family CoalitionRay Scott2060.73+0.12
IndependentKevin Clarke940.35–
IndependentVince Corriere590.21–
IndependentDon King510.18–
Total valid votes 28,144100.0–
Elections Ontario:[30]
1997 Canadian federal election: Broadview—Greenwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalDennis Mills21,10849.76-11.31
New DemocraticJack Layton13,90332.77+18.82
ReformBrian Higgins3,2477.65-3.64
Progressive ConservativeDianne Garrels3,2387.63-1.71
GreenKaren McCarthy4261.00–
IndependentKevin Clarke2110.50–
Natural LawBob Hyman2050.48-0.53
Marxist–LeninistGurdev Singh850.20-0.04
Total valid votes 42,423100.00–
Ontario provincial by-election, May 23, 1996: York South
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalGerard Kennedy7,77439.22
New DemocraticDavid Miller6,65633.58
Progressive ConservativeRob Davis5,09325.69
IndependentDavid Milne1510.76
LibertarianGeorge Dance770.39
IndependentKevin Clarke700.35
Total valid votes 19,821 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 264
Turnout 20,085 51.38
Electors on the lists 39,092
Source: Elections Ontario[31]
1995 Ontario general election: York South
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticBob Rae10,44241.24$39,100.07
Progressive ConservativeLarry Edwards7,72630.51$28,482.21
LiberalHagood Hardy6,02523.79$42,578.22
Family CoalitionDon Pennell3051.20$4,210.68
GreenDavid James Cooper2190.86$1,046.57
Natural LawBob Hyman1760.70$0.00
IndependentKevin Clarke1700.67$1,164.66
LibertarianRoma Kelembet1530.60$819.58
CommunistDarrell Rankin1050.41$59.00
Total valid votes 25,321 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 388
Turnout 25,709 69.13
Electors on the lists 37,192
1994 East York municipal election — Mayor
CandidateVotes%
Michael Prue 15,620 63.10
Bob Willis 6,295 25.43
Anne Sinclair 1,403 5.67
Kevin Clarke 788 3.18
June French 648 2.62
Total valid votes 24,754 100%

References

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  1. ↑ Cole, Desmond (17 May 2023). "On debate, disruption, and hostage takings". Yes, Everything!. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Fringe Candidate For Mayor Holds Up Debate At U Of T". CityNews. October 24, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  3. ↑ Toronto Star, 10 November 1994
  4. ↑ Toronto Star, 5 June 1995
  5. ↑ Mark Atkinson (November 30, 2001). "KEVIN CLARKE:He's concerned about the quality of drinking water". Toronto Observer. Archived from the original on 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  6. ↑ Toronto Star, 29 October 1998
  7. ↑ National Post, 11 November 2003
  8. ↑ Toronto Star, 6 November 2003
  9. ↑ http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_05.26.05/city/clarke.html November 4, 2005[dead link]
  10. ↑ Toronto Star, 4 April 2005
  11. ↑ "Registered Political Parties". Elections Ontario. Archived from the original on 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
  12. ↑ "Elections - City of Toronto - List of Candidates". toronto.ca. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ "Canadian Politician Kevin Clarke Disorderly at Debate". YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Scarborough-Guildwood debate on environment 2019". YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Electrical Fire burned Mr Kevin Clarke home, killed cats, nearly killed him, due to TCHC Negligence". YouTube.
  16. ↑ "September 6th 2025 - Kevin Clarke Homelessness Update". YouTube.
  17. ↑ "#kevinclarkemayor". YouTube.
  18. ↑ "#kevinclarkemayor". YouTube.
  19. ↑ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Toronto Centre: October 26, 2020, by-elections — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  21. ↑ "October 26, 2020, By-elections: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  22. ↑ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 11. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  25. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Scarborough—Guildwood, 30 September 2015
  26. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  27. ↑ "Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate - 2014 General Election.pdf" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  28. ↑ "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Thornhill by-election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Toronto—Danforth" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2014.[permanent dead link]
  30. ↑ Elections Ontario. "Elections Ontario, By-election 2001, Summary of valid ballots for each candidate: Beaches-East York". Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  31. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate". By-election 1996 York South. Elections Ontario. April 14, 2011. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
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