TURMEL POLITICAL PRESS 1981
810107
Ottawa Citizen, Tony Cote
Gambler to ask court to subpoena mayors, police chiefs
Ottawa gambler John Turmel is heading to the Supreme Court of Ontario,
in an attempt to subpoena mayors and police chiefs of area
municipalities to testify at his trial on a number of gambling
charges. Provincial Court Judge Robert Hutton adjourned the stormy
first day of the trial so Turmel may appeal an earlier decision by
Justice of the Peace Lynn Coulter refusing him permission to subpoena
his witnesses. Turmel had asked to have subpoenas issued to about 20
people including the mayor's of Nepean, Ottawa and Hull and their
respective police chiefs. Turmel explained he wanted to call the
police chiefs and mayors to show that he was allowed to operate his
gambling games everywhere but in Ottawa. Coulter ruled the witnesses
where not material to the gambling charges and when Hutton reached the
same decision in Tuesday's trial, Turmel claimed he wants to appeal
the decision because he isn't getting a fair opportunity to defend
himself. Hutton then adjourned the trial until the end of the month.
Turmel was charged by Ottawa police last May with keeping a common
gaming house (a charge thrown out by Hutton after citing a Supreme
Court decision on another case); keeping paraphenalia for gambling;
and inducing person to hazard money on a gambling game. If convicted,
he faces a minimum of 14 days in jail, as he already has two other
gambling offence convictions.
I liked that I wanted the chiefs to show that games were allowed
everywhere but Ottawa. This evidence was ruled immaterial.
Ottawa Citizen, Editorial
Deposits would help
"One of the principals of democracy is anyone can run for office.
True, candidates have to meet certain citizenship and age requirements
but there are no real barriers to seeking election. The principal, of
course, is that no one should be barred from office simply because of
a potential candidate's lack of money or cannot round up sufficient
supporters to sign nomination papers. That's why candidates in Ontario
have an easy time of it...
The inevitable result is that Ontario become cluttered with nuisance
candidates. They were evident in the last municipal election campaign,
when anyone with an ax to grind could run for office if he or she
could inveigle 10 friends to sign nomination papers. No monetary
deposit was required. Although these types of candidates have to
chance to be elected, they gain a free soap box at all candidates'
meetings and an opportunity to complain about subsequent lack of
coverage by the media. Some are well intentioned, some have a pet
peeve to promote, some are simply glory-seekers and some are
eccentrics. Occasionally, they force taxpayers to pay the cost of an
expensive election when good candidates would otherwise be acclaimed.
The question is how to separate the pecans from the peanuts. There is
no easy way. A deposit of $200 and the requirement of 100 signatures
might deter some candidates... But anyone who is seriously running for
office will have enough supporters to provide the required dollars and
and signatures.
Serious aldermanic election campaigns require expenditures of several
hundred to several thousands of dollars. If a candidate can't come up
with $200, then he or she hasn't a hope of being elected.... Perhaps
the present of nuisances is the price of democracy. But, just because
someone meets the minimum requirements for nomination, doesn't mean he
or she is worthy of attention. Getting 10 buddies to sign a piece of
paper doesn't turn a nobody into a candidate to be taken seriously."
It opens the possibility of the error of mislabeling someone that is
not there if all are treated equally.
810227Fr
Ottawa Citizen, Lewis Seale
Federal Court has taken under advisement a new bid by John Turmel to
stop the Bank of Canada from charging interest. There was no
indication how long Justice Louis Marceau would take to give a ruling.
The bank did no bother putting up a defence. When Turmel took his case
to Ontario Supreme Court last fall, he was brought up by a ruling that
the court did not have jurisdiction. That's why he's trying his luck
in Federal Court.
810302Mo
Ottawa Citizen, Tim Harper
Debate "no shows" rile city audience, Ken McQueen
One of the meetings organizers said she only learned Cassidy wasn't
going to show late Monday afternoon.
Less than 30 minutes into the meeting, proceedings were brought
temporarily to a halt when a shouting match developed between
perpetual candidate John Turmel, running for Social Credit in Ottawa
Centre, and meeting chairman Joe Mangione.
Turmel -- vociferously backed up by younger brother Ray, Social Credit
candidate in Ottawa South -- demanded that he be allowed to answer a
question from the floor.
An angry Mangione, chairman of the Carleton Separate School Board,
ordered the police be called to take Turmel away. However, an
audience, appalled at the idea of police carting off a candidate,
voted to let each candidate respond to every question.
810303Tu
Ottawa Citizen, Lewis Seale
John Turmel loses round in Bank of Canada case
Gambler-politician John Turmel has lost yet another round in court as
he tries to stop the Bank of Canada from charging interest. "Beyond
the powers of the court," was the crisp ruling from Justice Louis
Marceau of Federal Court. He went on to label Turmel's application for
an order banning interest "frivolous" and an "abuse" of the court
process. Undaunted, Turmel says he will appeal. (final edition)
Le Droit, Michel Ouimet
John Turmel manages to disrupt a meeting
John Turmel has chosen to make his entry into the campaign in a noisy
fashion. As an independent-Creditiste was even threatened with
expulsion by the police for having disrupted the last night's debate
at Immaculata High School.
After having answered the question, the organizer asked the
Conservative David Small and the New Democrat Chris Chilton to expound
further on their answers. They did.
Then, the moderator, Mr. Joseph Mangione, invited more questions for
the candidates. There was already another person at the microphone to
ask another question when John Turmel, visibly frustrated at not
having had a second chance to answer the question, like Smart and
Chilton, rose from his seat and demanded the right to answer, accusing
the moderator of not having given him an equal chance. Then followed a
shouting match.
John's brother, Ray, who is running in Ottawa South, got involved and
the two started denouncing Mr. Mangione's actions. Several people in
the audience started booing Turmel when he said "Hey, kid, don't make
us mad," to the person at the microphone who was still trying to ask
his question.
A little more and it could have led to blows. Mangione therefore
called the police during a 5- or 6-minute "pause " Finally, the
services of the police were not necessary because the meeting voted to
permit Turmel to say what he wanted to say, and the debate proceeded
uneventfully.
810306Fr
Ottawa Citizen, Jane Taber
The longer ballots in the five Ottawa ridings can be credited to
perennial candidate and loser John Turmel, seeking the Ottawa Centre
seat in his sixth election. He's also managed to persuade his brother,
Ray, and several friends to seek seats in neighboring ridings.
Turmel, who assumed the role of interim leader of the Ontario Social
Credit Party just five days ago, says he is a serious candidate and
will be tough opposition to NDP leader Michael Cassidy.
810310Tu
Le Droit, France Pilon
Debate in Ottawa Centre: Once again, Turmel disrupts a meeting, Turmel
in his 7th campaign
Picture of me showing my sign `A vote for the NDP is a vote for a
"Week's severance pay for laid-off workers: Cassidy election vow" and
a vote for the Social Credit Engineer is a vote for jobs.
OTTAWA -- Faithful to his habits, the leader of the Ontario Social
Credit party and candidate in Ottawa Centre, Mr. John Turmel, one
again managed to disrupt a political debate.
Actually, during the debate, Mr. Turmel, who does not tolerate any
criticism, got involved in a virulent exchange with some members of
the audience, even insulting someone who was trying to call him to
order.
The noisy incident occurred when one voter decided to have Mr. Turmel
directly answer the question, on health care, without letting him use
his unique all-purpose answer, a miracle equation which would allow
for the establishment of an interest-free banking system.
Offended at being abruptly interrupted, Mr. Turmel shouted as loud as
he could allowing his opponent little chance of finishing his
intervention.
"Go take a walk, fish! You don't understand anything. Use your head,"
he told him adding to the insult several outrageous epithets which
were very disagreeable to hear.
The verbal battle that took place after the debate almost turned into
a fight when Turmel invited the angry voter to come and try to prove
what he was trying to say. But Turmel's inelegant sayings at least
served to enliven the atmosphere and keep the attention of the 400
voters present, some of whom had started getting bored and were
already starting to leave.
SOCIAL CREDIT
Now 30 years old, Turmel is in his seventh election campaign under the
Social Credit banner including 4 federal, one municipal and two
provincial campaigns, all with the same program and the same promise:
The establishment of a computerized interest-free social credit
banking system.
Owner of a business "Turmel's Social Credit Computer" and a gambling
house incorporated in Ontario, John Turmel wages his campaign armed
with a blackboard where he writes his miracle equation and his hard-
hat titled `The Engineer.'
Though he may be a fine mathematician, Mr. Turmel lacks psychology and
is aggressive with the crowd rather than courting its favor.
He doesn't hesitate if someone disagrees with his theory to proffer
insults and outrageous proposals at the objector.
Intolerant, he demands the attention of all though he never lets his
opponents finish what they have to say.
In debates, he invariably uses the same answer for all questions -- an
miracle all-purpose answer which he uses with all sauces.
Confidently, he defies anyone to show one flaw in his system. During
the debate, he even offered NDP leader Michael Cassidy, a $3,000 to $1
bet. "There is no flaw in my banking system. I have the science," he
declared during a telephone interview.
Indignant at having to pay interest on mortgage loans, Mr. Turmel has
already tried pursue actions against the bank of Canada so that it
would restrict itself to the service charges and abolish the interest
charges. Since the, his case is going from one court to the other and
will soon be heard in the Supreme Court of Ontario.
Ottawa Citizen, Kerry Lockhart
Turmel said "Don't bug me and I won't bug you."
810312Th
Ottawa Citizen
Turmel and plank back
Turmel, claiming the interim leadership of the Ontario Social Credit
Party, continues to flog his one-plank platform: the elimination of
all interest rates and a computerized financial system.
The elimination of interest rates would wipe out inflation immediately
and an computer hookup in every home would render banks useless and
allow immediate easy access to necessary credit, he says.
Carleton Charlatan
Another journey to the promised land
John "The Engineer" Turmel makes no bones about the fact that he is a
one-issue candidate.
The professional gambler and perpetual office-seeker, recently-
returned from a two-week engagement at the Ottawa jail, says that
interest rates are the problem and their elimination is the solution.
For all his flamboyant talk of "no interest computer mortgages",
"genocidal functions", and future Nobel prizes for economics, Turmel's
message is a simple one.
The only way to get zero inflation and zero unemployment is to set the
interest rate at zero. People are afraid it's too simple, but they've
been conned."
The 30 year old former Carleton student says that there is a
fundamental difference between Social Credit and the three major
parties. Gesturing wildly, Turmel explains that, "Liberal,
Conservatives and New Democratic are adjectives, but Social Credit is
both and adjective and a noun. It is a method. It is the solution to
the genocide perpetrated by monopoly capitalism."
Turmel talks excitedly of a society that seems to be drawn straight
from the pages of Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano.
He argues that, "It's only a matter of time until the scientists and
engineers gain political control anyway."
Asked whether he has difficulty explaining his algebraic inflation and
unemployment equations to the voters of Ottawa-Centre, Turmel
explained that he uses biblical quotations as proof of the humanity of
the Social Credit solution.
Quoting from Paul to the Corinthians and Luke, Turmel noted that his
proposals are not only mathematically irrefutable, "but Christian to
boot!"
Predicting the abolition of banks within a decade, Turmel foresees
that insurance companies will likewise go the way of the Dodo. "Under
the Social Credit system," says Turmel, "we'll pay as we burn, but
never again up front."
Turmel's dilemma is one of visibility versus respectability.
Charging the Bank of Canada with genocide and keeping a common gaming
house ensures media coverage for himself and his ideas. Unfortunately
for Turmel, such antics also cause people to dismiss him a a
publicity-hungry crank.
Picture of Ray Turmel
This is the Ontario Social Credit party which is out to prove it is
not a prehistoric creature from Canada's political past.
Its candidate is Ray Turmel together with his brother, the notorious
John Turmel (Ottawa Centre candidate and interim leader of the Ontario
Social Credit), Raymond is running a very low budget campaign.
The political "Laurel and Hardy" of Ottawa have received little
attention from the media Turmel said The Citizen, CJOH and CFGO have
all refused equal political time for the Social Credit movement.
To questions posed on any issue, Ray Turmel will declare "It's just a
matter of funding" Turmel's grandiose schemes for solving the woes of
society include such gems as an "education credit card, interest free"
for students.
His views are indeed unique in this campaign.
810313Fr
Toronto Sun, Ted Welsh
Fates have it in for Mike
It should be obvious by now that God is not a New Democrat.
But having accepted that, why does he continue playing practical jokes
on NDP Leader Mike Cassidy? We all have our cross to bear, but why is
Cassidy's so heavy?
Take yesterday for example, Cassidy was flogged every step of the way
by John "The Engineer" Turmel, his 30 year old Social Credit opponent
from back home in Ottawa Centre.
It was expected the day would be a lengthy, serious discussion of the
desperate need for more day care in metro, highlighted by a position
paper, a visit with some kids and a news conference.
Instead, it turned into a bizarre attempt by Turmel to preach his
gospel according to the Bank of Canada and generally give the
impression he's just landed on Earth via the Mars milk run.
People joke on the NDP bus that Mike from Ork wasn't really born in
Victoria and actually hails from Mars. It's not such a joke with
Turmel.
The loud, wise-cracking Turmel beamed himself into Cassidy's first
event at the Immigrant Womens' job Placement Centre on Spadina Ave.
where the plan was to talk about women's problems getting affordable
day care.
But first, Cassidy had to get past the sign-waving Turmel, dubbed "The
Spaceman," decked out in his white hard hat with "The Engineer"
printed on it.
"He's afraid of me," shouted Turmel, "It's a question of winners and
he's a loser. A Vote for Cassidy is a vote for severance pay (whatever
that means)."
"He's not getting away from me," Turmel muttered as Cassidy moved off
into the offices.
It was at that point that the weird factor was cranked up another
notch as Turmel began snarling at NDP aide Robin Sears "don't get in
my way, don't push me ever again."
Then Turmel stomped on a radio reporter's toe and the newsman began
waving his microphone in the man's face. Sears meanwhile was
protesting his innocence, while the serious-face Cassidy ignored the
insanity across the room and calmly lent his ear to the litany of woe
from the women.
Sears said later Turmel had given him a kidney punch. At one point,
press aide Warren Caragata then entered the fray, telling Turmel in a
terse voice "you're a guest here. Don't push it."
When Cassidy arrived at the St. Stephen's Daycare Centre, Turmel had
already arrived and was busy telling a three-year girl that the leader
"won't give you a job. He's for severance pay." She didn't appear
impressed.
"Where's my opponent hiding?" Turmel roared as party workers grimaced.
After Cassidy toured the centre to meet all the pre-schoolers, he then
came out into the playground where - standing amid a tangle of
tricycles, climbing bars and swings - he talked about how his party
would make universal day care for all a right and not a privilege
Across the street, Turmel sat on the hood of his car shouting insults
at Cassidy and waving a wad of money stuck in his fist.
"Chicken", he screamed, making a cluckcluck sound as the TV camera
whirred. "Do you want to vote for a chicken?"
And finally, Turmel showed up to sit with the media to monitor
Cassidy's 15 minute interview at MTV where he had to be told a couple
of times to "shut up" when he began blathering on during the show.
He mentioned spending nine days in jail a few weeks ago after being
convicted of what he called "possession of a deck of cards." Turns out
Turmel bills himself as a professional gambler. "Have game, will
travel. "Yes."
Ah yes, covering the NDP space shuttle does indeed have its wackier
moments.
Oh, almost forgot. The entire MTV interview was done in Italian and
the NDP had to call in a party interpreter.
Just another one of those out space days.
London Free Press, Cheryl Hamilton
It just wasn't Cassidy's day
Toronto- Just about everywhere Michael Cassidy went Thursday, someone
was there to give him a hard time.
Leaders of the opposition parties don't usually have to face head-to-
head criticism on the campaign trail -it's the premier who gets most
of that kind of heat.
But the NDP leader was dogged for most of the day by a tenacious,
fast-talking, sign-waving, Social Credit opponent from his home riding
of Ottawa Centre.
When Cassidy arrived at the Immigrant Women's job Placement Centre
where he was to talk to some women about day-care problems, John
Turmel, a 30-year-old electrical engineer who says he makes his living
as a professional gambler, was waiting.
Turmel, who is president of the Ontario Social Credit party and is
running for the Socreds in Cassidy's riding, claimed Cassidy was
avoiding all-candidates debates in Ottawa. But Cassidy has
participated in three such debates this week, two in Ottawa on Monday
and one radio session by telephone hook-up from London on Wednesday,
Turmel said Cassidy has missed some others.
Inside the women's centre, Turmel complained in a loud voice that
Cassidy's staffers were "pushing me around" and trying to block his
way. The Cassidy people said they weren't, and advised Turmel to calm
down.
Turmel eventually left, but showed up at the next stop - a Toronto day
care centre -bringing his sign criticizing Cassidy for supporting
severance pay for workers. Turmel was still wearing a white hard hat
identifying him as "The Engineer."
As Cassidy delivered his message on day care in the centre's
playground, Turmel sat on a car roof shouting "chicken" and waving a
wad of bills. The money represented a bet he tried to make with
Cassidy at an all-candidates meeting Monday. The odds he gave were
3,000 to 1 that the NDP leader couldn't find a flaw in Turmel's
economic platform. Cassidy declined the bet.
Turmel, who has run several times in the past for other public offices
in Ottawa and lost, claims he has found the answer to unemployment and
inflation; give everyone a no-interest line of credit at the bank. He
said he offers "no-interest mortgages by computer."
Cassidy and his aides managed to keep smiling most of the time while
Turmel kept yelling. Turmel said he'd keep after Cassidy until the
leader agreed to attend another meeting in Ottawa early next week.
"He ain't getting away from me."
Later, at the taping of an interview in Italian at a multilingual
television station, Turmel was on hand again, giving out his
"certificates of economic intelligence" which say that credit with
interest amounts to usury.
Turmel, who told reporters he had been sent to jail recently for his
gambling activities - for "possession of a deck of cards" -sat with
newsmen while an NDP worker translated the gist of the Cassidy
interview into English. Turmel brought along a woman he identified as
one of blackjack dealers, as well as two other Socred candidates.
Toronto Star, Rick Haliechuk
Cassidy is shadowed by "fringe" candidate
It was a touch unwordly on the Mike Cassidy tour yesterday, like a
trip to the nether regions of outer space. When the NDP leader arrived
at the Immigrant Women's Job Placement Centre, there to greet him was
John Turmel, reputed to be the leader of the Ontario Social Credit
party and a candidate against Cassidy in Ottawa Centre.
Sporting a white hard-hat with the word "engineer" written on it,
Turmel cheerfully accused Cassidy of refusing to debate with him. "You
ducked me in Ottawa, so I had to come to Toronto to get ya'," he said.
MISSED MEETING
Cassidy couldn't make an all-candidates debate in his riding the other
night, but he has taken part in three of them so far this week.
Turmel, who calls himself a professional gambler ("have Game, Will
Travel"), decided to dog the Cassidy tour all day. He was there
sitting on the roof of his car cackling, "you're chicken, you're
chicken," as Cassidy made his pitch to reporters for more daycare
spaces outside a daycare centre on Bellevue Ave. He was there,
waiting, when Cassidy arrived at the channel 47 studios to tape a TV
interview, in Italian.
Picture this scene: First, Turmel babbles away to reporters about
Socred policy ("no-interest mortgages by computer") and then tells
them he was recently arrested in Ottawa for "possession of a deck of
cards."
"Have you got a full deck, John?" shouts Robin Sears, the national
secretary of the federal NDP, who joined the tour this week.
In walks Carmela Laurignano of the NDP caucus office, who's there to
translate the interview for the press. She softly advises Turmel to
"shut up" when she's doing the talking. Then, after Cassidy gives an
answer in Italian about rent controls, she informs reporters it was
"pretty well the standard answer you've heard before." Oh thank you.
The Turmel episode again raises the question of the so-called
"nuisance" candidates, those people who run in elections only to get
publicity. Ontario election law no longer requires candidates to put
down deposits when they enter a campaign. In the past, a candidate
forfeited the money if he didn't get at least 15 percent of the vote
cast.
HAD EQUAL TIME
Turmel, who might be more comfortable as a comedian, got equal time
with Cassidy and the Liberal and Tory candidates during all three
debates in Ottawa this week. The question of how much attention should
be paid to "fringe" candidates has never been properly answered and
likely never will be. To their credit, Sears and other Cassidy aides
(aside from the tough-talking Laurignano) treated Turmel courteously
yesterday, although the temptation to drop him under the wheels of the
bus must have been enormous.
Ottawa Citizen, Nora McCabe
Turmel "shadow" haunts Cassidy
Perennial political hopeful John Turmel has moved his Ottawa Centre
election campaign to Toronto. The Social Credit candidate and a small
entourage including a lady described as "Cindy" the blackjack dealer,
spent Thursday shadowing NDP leader Michael Cassidy around the city,
to the annoyance of Cassidy's staff.
At one point, Turmel sat on his car roof yelling "chicken, chicken,
chicken," at Cassidy who was touring a local daycare centre. Turmel
says he's angry that Cassidy has not appeared at several all-
candidates debates in his riding and does not plan to appear on a
televised debate next Monday. "I told him I'm coming to get him,"
Turmel told reporters. "If he's not there, I'll beat him up."
After observing this display in silence for a few minutes, a couple of
pre-schoolers toddled over to Turmel's perch and observed "boy, are
you ever dumb."
I don't know where she got the idea I'd say I was going to beat him
up. It doesn't make any sense.
Globe & Mail, Rosemary Spiers
Knocking on doors is a lost cause for John Turmel, the Social Credit
candidate in Michael Cassidy's riding. So he spent yesterday in
Toronto tagging after the NDP leader, baiting him.
Claiming to be an engineer who has designed a "no interest' system of
mortgages for home financing, Mr. Turmel, and his brother Ray (who's a
candidate in Ottawa South), first tried to crash a session on day-care
problems. They lost a shoving match with Cassidy aide Robin Sears.
Later, the Turmel brothers sat in their car outside another day=care
centre, shouting that Mr. Cassidy was "chicken."
They tried to get the children to chant along, but the kids had their
number. "No, no, no," they shouted "You're stupid."
800330Sa
London Free Press, John Hamilton
Ontario Social Credit chief gambling on London West
The interim leader of the Social Credit party in Ontario announced
Friday he will run as an Independent candidate in the April 13 federal
by-election in London West. Electrical engineer John Turmel, who
describes himself as a professional gambler said: "I'm holding the
winning hand" in the London West race.
Turmel, 30, of Ottawa said he was "really optimistic" he could end a
losing streak during which he has been defeated in attempts to win
four federal, two provincial and one municipal seat in the last three
years.
Turmel believes party doctrine. He also believes a one-issue campaign
of "no-interest mortgage by computer" can win him thee London West
seat. He said he feels his frequent confrontations with Ottawa police
in the past three years over his promotion of floating casinos in the
city won't hurt his chances.
"Gambling, like banking, is based on the laws of probabilities. If
banks can offer 15 percent mortgages by computer, they can give you
zero percent mortgage."
Turmel also hopes to persuade governments and the public he has the
answer to unemployment woes in Canada. "The answer is based on an
algebraic solution that could end the economic war being fought over
unemployment. The proposed solution will probably win me a Nobel prize
in economics, science and peace."
810330
London Free Press
But John Turmel, a 30-year-old electrical engineer and professional
gambler from Ottawa found out about the meeting and showed up.
Turmel, interim leader of the Ontario Social Credit party, got a lot
of attention for his economic theories. He said he can cue inflation
and unemployment by eliminating interest from the money system.
810331Tu
London Free Press
Lack of an invitation infuriated independent candidate John Turmel who
arrived at the second-floor meeting hall about 11:35a.m. When
organizers said he couldn't participate, Turmel demanded an
explanation and the noon meeting was delayed about 15 minutes. He was
finally allowed to speak, provided he adhered to rules of procedure.
Turmel criticized meeting organizers saying it was the first time in
seven years he'd attended a candidates' meeting where all participants
weren't allowed to respond to audience questions.
London Free Press
Independent John Turmel said he has the solution for inflation and
unemployment -- interest-free credit. He said people are being
"conned" by the Bank of Canada.
On the issue of capital punishment, Turmel's answer was to solve the
money system problem.
Turmel said "if I had the answer to all your problems, what difference
does it make where a candidate lives?"
810422We
Ottawa Citizen, Regina Hickl-Szabo
Gambler unlucky with key witness
Professional gambler John Turmel, charged with running a gambling
house, told a Hull judge Tuesday the Governor of the Bank of Canada
runs a gaming house too. Turmel, a fast talking gambler-politician who
claims that Canada's banking system is ruining the country, was
accused last May of operating a gambling house on a boat on the Ottawa
River. Dice in hand, Turmel, who was defending himself, appeared
before Judge Gerard Charron, ready to prove that his gambling casino
is legal but that Gerald Bouey's Bank of Canada is not. The court case
quickly snagged, however, when none of Turmel witnesses turned up.
Turmel had called on Bouey to appear, but the Governor didn't show
because his subpoena was missing a Quebec Superior judge's signature.
A subpoena was also served to Jean Paul Laurin, Secretary of the
Canadian Police Chiefs' Association, but Laurin wrote to the court
saying he never had anything to do with Turmel and didn't see his
relevance to the case. Judge Charron told Turmel he was free to recall
both witnesses but any testimony Bouey would give would likely be
considered irrelevant to charge.
Turmel flabbergasted Charron when he compared the Bank of Canada's
charge of interest on loans to a gambling house which charges gamblers
a fee to buy chips. "It's an illegal rake off. The Bank of Canada is
in direct violation of the criminal code" Turmel said.
Charron told Turmel he would probably have better luck bringing down
the Bank of Canada before the House of Commons. He said he has no
authority to pass judgment on the Bank of Canada because it hasn't
been charged with anything. "One thing is for sure -- this is an
economic or political question, not a judicial one."
Turmel will present his defence June 2. He says he will continue
defending himself because he can't afford a lawyer.
Le Droit, Andre Archambault
Turmel accused of having a gaming house
John Turmel, professional gambler, politician, and self-styled
Engineer of Social Credit, lost his try to subpoena the Governor of
the Bank of Canada Gerald Bouey before the court. Turmel was
undergoing his trial in Provincial Court under the accusation of
holding a gaming house on a boat at Hull Pier on the 24 and 28 of May
1980.
Mr. Turmel has admitted all the proof presented by the Crown Attorney,
Guy Pinsonneault, to the effect that his company "JCT Casinos Inc."
rented the boat at $1000 a month and they were playing for money and
playing blackjack in particular. But he wasn't able to present his
defence because two witnesses he had subpoenaed, Mr. Bouey and Mr.
Jean Paul Laurin, didn't show up.
Mr. Turmel, who was defending himself and who didn't forget to invite
the journalists to his trial, wanted to demonstrate by Bouey's
testimony Bouey was running the most important gaming house in the
country and that the Bank Act was itself in violation of the Criminal
Code by permitting a charge of interest on money. As to Laurin, he had
been subpoenaed to recall that at a convention of police chiefs, they
had been of the opinion that the law concerning gaming houses had been
weakened.
Judge Charron, who presided over the process had asked about the
pertinence of these two witnesses. "This subject that you want to
raise about the Bank Act, isn't it more political or economic? It's to
the House of Commons you should go with your suggestions, said Judge
Charron talking about the testimony the Governor of Bank Of Canada
could have given in this case. As to the testimony of Mr. Laurin,
judge Charron estimated that his role is to apply to law and there are
no lessons in law that he is going to learn from the chiefs of police
who, like everyone else, have their right to their opinion.
It is not over yet because Turmel is going to make a motion in the
Superior Court in Hull where they are going to debate the pertinence
of Mr. Bouey and Mr. Laurin in his process which is adjourned until
June 2. Let's remember that Turmel ran in electoral campaigns nine
times since 1979, on the municipal scene for Mayor of Ottawa and
Provincial and Federal and he's been beaten each time. His electoral
program is always the same and consists of one promise: establishing
in Canada a banking system of Social Credit without interest by
computer and for a service charge fixed on the money borrowed.
Professional gambler, he does not have the intention of stopping his
activities and believes they are legal.
In 1977 John Turmel was accused and found guilty of running a gaming
house and fined $500. He had that decision overturned for the fine at
the Supreme Court of Ontario.
In 1979 while he was incorporated under JCT Casinos Inc. "We keep
books and we pay our taxes," he outlined that he paid a $200 fine for
running an illegal game.
Finally, having been found guilty of a similar charge last February,
he spent nine days in prison at Ottawa.
810525Mo
Ottawa Citizen Letter, R. W. Lawson, Bank Of Canada
I have read with fascination the thoughts of your columnists
Christopher Young on interest rates and inflation. Common sense tells
him, he says, that the way to reduce inflation, is to reduce interest
rates. If Mr. Young trusts his common sense, why does he not launch a
Christopher Young Crusade for Near-Zero Interest Rates? Is it possible
that Mr. Young's common sense is telling him some other things -- that
there would be a problem of finding the enormous amounts of money that
people want to borrow at low interest rates and that in present
circumstances, a campaign for low interest rates is really a campaign
for the unlimited printing of money?
Perhaps Mr. Young's common sense boggles at the idea the way to
preserve the purchasing power of money is to create it without limit.
On May 28, I sent a letter to the Citizen which never got published:
Citizen editor:
It's sad to realize that Mr. Lawson is not gifted with a little of the
common sense which tells Mr. Christopher Young that "the way to reduce
inflation is to reduce interest rates." In his letter dated May 25, he
miscontrues that statement to mean that "the way to preserve
purchasing power of money is to create it without limit." Actually, it
sounded more like Mr. Young had suggested that the way to preserve
purchasing power is to create it without so much interest attached.
I would point out that the equation shows that Mr. Young's common
sense is scientifically correct and that the way to actually preserve
the purchasing power of money is to create it without interest.
A casino bank creates its money (chips) without an interest charge and
exhibits no inflation, as predicted by the equation. Mr. Lawson's
conclusion that "a campaign for low interest rates is really a
campaign for the unlimited printing of money" is unfounded since a
casino bank which issues chips (money) at zero interest has a natural
limit placed on the creation of those chips by the natural amount of
collateral backing up those chips.
Since both Mr. Lawson's Bank of Canada and a casino bank use identical
hardware (money and chips of different colors and denominations)
inflation is therefore a software problem with the bank's computer
program that can be fixed instantaneously with a program change.
I can understand why Mr. Young has not started a Crusade for Near-Zero
Interest Rates as suggested by Mr. Lawson since there already exists a
VAST crusade for Zero Interest Rates on credit, called Social Credit.
I think Mr. Young is smart enough not to settle for Mr. Lawson's HALF-
VAST suggestion. Hoping to have settled the issue, I am,
The Engineer
810612Fr
Regina Leader Post
Regina Leader Post Front Page from June 12, 1981 had a picture of me
in my box in front of the Bank of Canada in Ottawa with a caption:
"High Noon" While the Bank of Canada rate dipped fractionally Thursday
and Statistics Canada was saying consumer prices in May were 12.3%
higher than a year earlier, John Turmel held a "high-noon"
demonstration on Parliament Hill to protest interest rates (CP) Stores
on Page A2.
810623
Ottawa Citizen, Don Butler
Slash interest rates to shape new order, government urged
"The Canadian government should begin immediately to reduce interest
rates as a first step towards building a new world monetary order."
Senator Maurice Lamontagne.
At least he's a first stepper in the right direction. He's right that
reducing interest, his first step means less restriction but instead
of aiming at less restrictive, why not aim at free?
Monetarism, the current tight money gospel of the Bank of Canada "is
fundamentally as simplistic as Social Credit.
True except that the gospel of monetarism is fundamentally
simplistically wrong and the gospel of Social Credit is fundamentally
simplistically right. Monetarism states that inflation is inversely
related to interest. Social Credit states that inflation is directly
related to interest. One gospel or the other is ass-backwards. Any
engineer can see by the equation inflation is directly, not inversely,
related to the interest rate. Though the Social Credit solution where
i=0 is undoubtedly simple, engineers and scientists would consider
this a strength, not a weakness. Monetarism and Social Credit are two
sides of a coin. One is a winner, one a loser.
Lamontagne criticized Bank of Canada Governor Gerald Bouey for "making
the wrong diagnosis" of the causes of the country's inflation by
ascribing inflation to an overheated economy.
Lamontagne noted that "with no increase in money supply, we can still
have inflation." He must therefore concur that inflation is not
necessarily an increase in money chasing goods but a decrease in the
goods being chased by the same money.
"As the bank continues to apply the wrong remedy, it is danger of
losing its credibility." The equation shows it has no real credibility
though many are conned.
Unfortunately, we live in a complex world where powerful factions of
supplies of goods and services are fighting against each other to get
a larger slice of a shrinking pie."
I decided to write a letter to the editor on July 18 which never got
printed. It included the A and B shifts [graph]
Ottawa Citizen editor:
In Don Butler's article, Senator Lamontagne states that Monetarism,
the tight credit gospel of the Bank of Canada is "fundamentally as
simplistic as Social Credit."
Tight credit, Monetarism, is credit for which the debt grows beyond
the capacity to repay. Social Credit is credit for which the debt
remains stable because the interest charge has been replaced by a
simple service charge.
A casino banking system or a coat-check system expanded to accept all
collateral are Social Credit models because they charge no interest
for the use of the liquidity and suffer no inflation. Since they use
identical hardware as the Canadian banking system, chips, checks or
money of different colors or denominations, scientists must conclude
that inflation is a software problem that can be corrected by a
program change at the computer of the central bank.
Though it is true that tight credit and social credit are like two
sides of the same coin, one is the winner and the other is the loser.
In the case where 10 dollars buys 10 potatoes today,
a) tight credit believes that tomorrow's inflation is the shift A in
the purchasing power, shown in the diagram, caused by an increase in
the money chasing the potatoes. It believes that inflation is the
inverse function of the interest rate and raising the rate to tighten
credit will result in less inflation.
b) Social Credit believes that tomorrow's inflation is the shift B
caused by a decrease in the potatoes being chased by the dollars. It
occurs when producers must raise their prices to recuperate both the
principle and the interest and fail to repay both because the interest
was never put into circulation. That ratio of producers have their
potatoes confiscated resulting in Shift B. Shift B has been measured
with the theory of games to be i/1+i where "i" is the interest rate.
As Social Credit believes, both equations show that inflation is the
direct function of the interest rate and reducing the interest rate
will reduce inflation.
Senator Lamontagne is therefore correct when he notes that "even with
no increase in the money supply (shift A), there can still be
inflation (shift B). Gerald Bouey is making the wrong diagnosis of the
causes of the country's inflation. As the bank continues to apply the
wrong remedy, it is in serious danger of completely losing its
credibility." The equation shows that we must accept that Monetarism
has no credibility before Mr. Bouey's wrong remedy also kills the
patient, our industrial capacity.
I would ask that since the Senator urges an immediate reduction of the
interest rate as a first step in the right direction of a less
restrictive credit, why not go all the way in the right direction of a
totally free, non-restrictive social (i=0) credit? I am,
The Engineer
810710Fr
Toronto Sun, Peter Young
Gambler takes a shot at spadina
Picture of me at my upside down blackboard captioned "John Turmel,
independent candidate in the Spadina by-election explains how he'll
run the banking system along the lines of a casino."
John Turmel, a self-styled professional gambler can't seem to beat the
system when it comes to politics. The Ottawa man cheerfully admits'
he's lost nine election since 1979 in various parts of the country.
Turmel became the first Independent to jump into the Spadina federal
by-election race against back-room baron Jim Coutts -- which makes him
a good bet to run his losing streak to 10.
Turmel's campaign strategy consists of promising to beat inflation by
re-arranging the banking system along the lines of a gambling casino.
"That'll solve the interest rate problem, he claims. "After all, when
was the last time you heard of casinos charging interest on their
chips? It will also end inflation. If a casino's chips inflate, the
casino banker gets beat up," he points out. Turmel, who is facing 2
gambling charges in Ottawa, shrugs off suggestions that voters may
resist his logic "I can't help it if people are too ignorant to vote
for a man of science," he told a Toronto press conference yesterday.
"History will prove they're the jerks, not me. You've got to admit 99%
of the people are pretty stupid."
Ottawa Citizen Letter, Peter Bishop
Kill the patient
Gerald Bouey, governor of the Bank of Canada, is like a doctor who,
acting on the theory that a patient's persistent headaches are being
caused by an excess of flow of blood to the head decided that the most
effective treatment is to apply a tourniquet around the patient's neck
and to keep tightening until the headaches go away. The question is,
which will go first, the headaches or the patient himself?
810727Mo
Ottawa Citizen
On the Hill
Helmut Schmidt, Francois Mitterand and Pierre Trudeau weren't the only
people lobbying for lower interest rates during the summit. John
Turmel was there too. Mind you, Turmel, erstwhile Ottawa mayoralty
candidate and interim leader of the Social Credit Party of Ontario,
didn't get the chance to make his pitch directly to U.S. president
Ronald Reagan. So he did the next best thing. Wearing his trademark
white hard hat and a broad smile, Turmel crashed the white house press
centre temporarily established in the Skyline Hotel and distributed
literature. Despite his earnest manner, Turmel missionary work won few
converts among the American correspondents. ABC news anchorman,
attracted by Turmel's noisy sales pitch, turned and regarded this
apparition in a hard hat with distaste "Who's that?" he demanded.
Informed of Turmel's identity, he asked: "How did he get in here?" We
can only hope Pierre and the boys were more persuasive with Ronnie.
810731
Toronto Star, Jim Lewis
Socreds at odds in hopes for Spadina outcome
There won't be a Socred running against Liberal Jim Coutts in the
Spadina by-election, says national party president Carl O'Malley. But
there will be a Socred in there as one of the seven nominated
candidates trying to topple Trudeau's personal choice. Social Credit
provincial president John Turmel says he'll be running as an
independent. "When I catch Coutts in public, I'll make him rue the day
he met O'Malley." O'Malley says Coutts is a friend of his. Canadian
Press reported yesterday that he personally favors the election of
Coutts. "He is a personal friend. I have known him for 10 years and he
would make a fine external affairs minister." He said the party had
lined a candidate of Italian descent for the largely ethnic riding but
decided against entering the race because "it would have split the
vote." O'Malley is the Socred candidate in the other by-election in
Joliette. Turmel said the Socreds are not running candidates because
"O'Malley ran up big debts in the last federal election. "I'm used to
running without their permission," says Turmel, a systems engineer who
says he has a formula that proves the Socred belief that with no
interest, there is no inflation. O'Malley was not available to reply.
810804
La Presse, Florian Bertrand
?
Picture of Ray in front of the Bank of Canada
Ray Turmel is the brother of John Turmel, creditiste candidate in
Spadina. The two brothers have announced at a press conference that
they are disassociating themselves from the official creditistes
because they supported the Liberals and helped defeat Joe Clark. They
deliberately held a creditiste casino to try to drag into the court
the Bank of Canada.
O'Malley says the Socreds couldn't deal in the back-rooms with Clark
and Jim had helped Carl when he was being sued years ago. They were
looking for back-room power while I was looking for front-room power,
the scientific inquiry into the banking system.
Ray started some political terrorism in Carl O'Malley's campaign
headquarters in the Auberge du Gouverneur in Joliette. Carl has even
suggested that Ray is a Tory agent if he was a Liberal agent. It seems
Mom and Ray worked on 2 reporters right at the Auberge.
Le Droit
Carl O'Malley is the official Socred candidate. Ray Turmel is the
Independent but calls himself the real Socred. O'Malley surprised
everyone by wishing Jim Coutts good luck in the Spadina election. This
provoked the candidacy of Mr. Turmel who didn't appreciate this
affirmation. Mr. Turmel declared that his brother John is running as
creditiste in Spadina.
810805
Joliette Journal, Louis Pelletier
Carl O'Malley says that this is a more important and costly campaign
than his predecessor's. The survival of the party is at stake. He says
that it is by decision of the national executive that the Social
Credit not present a candidate in Ontario.
An Ottawa resident has surged forward as a Socred Independent which is
a real ripple in O'Malley's pond. At the last moment, a Socred
Independent Ray Turmel jumped into Joliette to be a nuisance to
O'Malley. "He's not even a registered Socred. He won't even campaign
in the riding," said O'Malley, truly depressed that that candidacy was
accepted. After being suspected of being a Liberal agent, he's asking
himself if this Ontarian is a gift from the Tories.
810806
GLOBAL, Claude Adams
"Candidate John Turmel, a professional gambler from Ottawa who has
visited Spadina but once, his campaign slogan is a mysterious
algebraic equation for beating inflation. Turmel feels he should win
the Nobel Prize but like the other fringe candidates in this election,
he'll probably be happy with a few dozen votes."
810810
Globe & Mail, Tom Walcom
Social Credit
Picture of C.H. Douglas
Every afternoon, as the Bank of Canada is pondering how much to push
up interest rates, the latest brother combination of Canadian politics
pickets the bank's palatial headquarters across from Parliament Hill.
John Turmel, the interim leader of the Ontario Social Credit Party
says that if he were allowed 5 minutes alone with with the central
bank's computer, he could wipe out inflation. And in the tradition of
Socred founder Major C.H. Douglas, he has devised a system of
equations that he ways show that interest rates cause inflation. He is
bringing the word -- P = 1/(1+i) and U=i/(1+i) -- to the voters of
Toronto's Spadina by-election as an independent candidate while at the
same time passing out his literature on the Sparks St. Mall.
Meanwhile, his brother Ray, an Ottawa taxi dispatcher, is running as
an Independent Social Credit candidate against Socred president Carl
O'Malley in Quebec's Joliette by-election. The brothers say they are
challenging the Socred establishment because it is soft on interest
rates. John, who describes himself as a professional gambler and
control systems engineer, says the government should establish a
commission of control systems engineers to investigate the banks.
"Everyone else has had a chance to run the economy. Why not control
systems engineer?"
The equation finally made it into a newspaper! Unfortunately, there
was no explanation of how to use it and what the variables are.
810811
Toronto Star, Rick Brennan
FIGHT ENDS SPADINA ALL-CANDIDATES' MEETING
A fight on stage put a sudden end to the first Spadina all-candidates'
meeting last night at the University of Toronto convocation hall. A
push'em, knock'em down style brawl broke out shortly after 9p.m.
between 58 U. of T. history professor Bill Nelson, chairing the
meeting, and fringe candidate John Turmel, 30, of Ottawa. The crowd of
about 500 looked on amazed as the two mixed it up both physically and
verbally. It all started when Turmel, who says he's a professional
gambler, grabbed the microphone from the lanky professor and demanded
the chance to speak to a question on university funding posed to only
the Liberal, New Democrat and Conservative candidates.
KNOCKED TO FLOOR
Nelson then grabbed Turmel, who was wearing a construction hard hat
and threw him off the stage with Turmel nearly falling to the floor.
Turmel pushed his way back on stage knocking the professor to the
floor. Just before the scuffle, questions from the floor were about to
begin. University officials, seeing they were losing control of the
meeting, quickly announced that the "meeting is adjourned." Nelson
told reporters later that "I didn't resort to physical means... I was
simply trying to recover the microphone," and that he pushed Turmel
only "after he pushed me." "He wasn't asked to respond to the
question... he had no business grabbing the mike," said the professor
who was visibly shaken. Turmel, who had been arguing his rights
throughout the circus-like meeting said he is contemplating laying
charges against Nelson.
DEMANDS EQUAL TIME
"The point is, I wasn't about to leave until I got a chance to speak,"
Turmel told reporters. "The Federal Court of Appeal says I have the
right to equal time. The law says there is no such thing as a major
candidate." Turmel earlier in the meeting boasted that the by-election
in Spadina is his 10th election in 2 years. He has run for everything
from mayor to M.P. calling himself a Social Credit Independent
candidate. The meeting got off to a bad start with the university
unprepared for the fringe candidates -- four of whom showed up -- and
the capacity crowd. The meeting had to move from a small steamy
debates room the Hart House to Convocation Hall. From the start, a
circus-like atmosphere with Turmel and his white hard had yelling he
had a secret equation to end inflation and how the economy should be
run like a gambling casino. He also carried a sign `Vote John the
Engineer Turmel for M.P., M.P.P. or Mayor.' Originally, the meeting
was organized by the university faculty for just the three main
candidates. University officials including president James Ham and
Nelson tried to ignore the fringe candidates. Led by Turmel, they
protested saying "What we have got here is not going to be
democratic." Turmel demanded he be allowed to sit with the three main
candidates but was pushed aside by an unidentified university
official. In the end, they got their way and they drew lots to see who
would speak first.
STUDENTS SCREAM
While the bickering went on, tempers flared in the crowd as more and
more people pressed in. After the three main candidates responded to a
question by a spokesman for U. of T. student administrative council
that Turmel demanded his say.
Toronto Star, Slinger
Spadina slugfest had it all
The all-candidates' meeting for the Spadina by-election was a
schemozzle. But it was a spectacular schemozzle. It was the root'-est,
tootin'-est, rip-roarin'-est, rudest and most rambunctious election
meeting held in these parts in ages. It was the meeting against which
all other all candidates meetings will have to be measured. It was
noisy, hot, edgy and half the time it was drowned out by hecklers; it
was vulgar, angry, funny and obscene; and it ended in a brawl. What
could be finer than that? I have always maintained that politics in
the best spectator sport in the country. If the meeting had been a
hockey game, there would be editorials today demanding that something
be done about the violence.
NOT LIKE SHEEP
It was grand for a couple of other reasons. If the by-election is
nothing more than the elevation of Jim Coutts, then the dignity of the
voters demands that it proceed with as little dignity as possible. The
sight of a professor of history ("In this corner ..") who was
moderator of the meeting grappling with a proponent of one of
history's greatest exercises in hokum, the independent social credit
candidate, and of them flinging one another bodily, literally bodily,
off the platform and otherwise carrying on like Haystack Calhoun and
Killer Kowalski, was a sight that will forever represent to me a
brilliant paradigm of the free interplay of ideas. The synthesis of
intellectual solemnity and hysterical mumbo-jumbo produces first-rate
buffoonery. Should Coutts ever become overly pretentious, let him
never forget that his election was one of the great burlesques of the
political process.
Globe & Mail, Paul Palango
TUSSLE ENDS SPADINA CANDIDATES' MEETING
The first all candidates' meeting in the Spadina by-election ended
abruptly last night when the meeting's moderator got into a wrestling
match with one of the candidates. William Nelson, a U. of T. history
professor, adjourned the meeting after he was thrown over the shoulder
of Independent candidate John Turmel and off the stage at U. of T.'s
Convocation Hall. The incident occurred shortly after Mr. Nelson
refused to allow Rhinoceros party candidate John Douglas to answer the
first question from the audience of 450. He ruled that only those who
were asked a question could answer it. The first question was directed
to and answered by the major candidates. Each was given one minute to
answer. Mr. Turmel took issue with Mr. Nelson's ruling and seized the
microphone. As he tried to answer, he was booed. When a second
question was addressed to Mr. Coutts, Mr. Turmel, with a white hard
hat with the words The Engineer (on its front) for M.P. (on its back)
tried to address the audience. Mr. Nelson moved forward and appeared
to speak to Mr. Turmel who turned away from him. Mr. Nelson grabbed
for the microphone and got turned around so that he had Mr. Turmel
from behind. They scuffled for a few seconds and then Mr. Turmel bent
over and threw Mr. Nelson over his shoulder onto the steps leading up
to the stage.
"I didn't resort to physical means, I was just trying to recover the
microphone," Mr. Nelson told reporters afterward. "He pushed me
first." He said he thought only the three main contenders were going
to show up. "I didn't arrange for the other candidates to have equal
time." Mr. Turmel, who in his opening address said the Bank of Canada
should be run like a gambling casino, told reporters he would not
press charges although a few people were urging him to do so. "All I
wanted was the right to speak and he pushed me. I stood there and he
interrupted my intention to speak. All he had to do was allow each one
of us one minute to rebut each question."
Toronto Sun, Dick Chapman
John Turmel, an engineer, got the most laughs. Turmel warned about
nuclear mosquitoes and called for a "zero interest banking system."
Ottawa Citizen, CP
Turmel in real election fight
The fight for the seat in the Spadina riding was taken too literally
by at least one candidate. The first all candidates' meeting came to
an abrupt end when moderator John Nelson got into a wrestling match
with John Turmel of Ottawa. Nelson adjourned the meeting after he was
thrown over Turmel's shoulder and off the stage. The incident occurred
after Nelson ruled only candidates to whom a question was directed
could answer. After a question to the three main candidates, Turmel
took issue with Nelson's ruling and grabbed the microphone. As Turmel
tried to answer, he was booed by the audience of 450. When Turmel
tried to answer the second question directed to Coutts, Nelson moved
forward and tried to grab the microphone but ended up holding Turmel
from behind. The two scuffled for a few seconds, then Turmel bent over
and flipped Nelson over his shoulder on to the steps of the stage.
Neither side is pressing the issue.
810812We
Toronto Star, Bruce Ward
Punchlines take place of punch-up
Picture of me demanding my 1 minute from John Bossons captioned
"Making a point: Wearing his hard-hat trademark, independent candidate
John Turmel emphasizes a point in heated discussion with John Bossons,
chairman of last night's all-candidates' meeting.
There were plenty of belly laughs but no punch-ups at the Spadina all-
candidates' meeting last night, and everybody had fun except the
politicians. Two police officers stood guard near the entrance of the
Bloor St. United Church Hall to prevent a recurrence of the push-and-
shove match that marred the first all-candidates' meeting Monday.
RULES IGNORED
The politicians' performance last night was great theater -- a sort of
Punch-and-Judy version of participatory democracy. The candidates
jeered each other and hecklers jeered candidates. The meeting was
chaired by John Bossons, vice-chairman of the Annex Ratepayers
Association. He began by setting out several "ground rules" that
everybody ignored. The electronic media's "feeds" drained so much
power from the public address system the candidates had to shout to be
heard. Hecklers shouted back.
ON THE FRINGE
But it was the fringe candidates who copped most of the laughs and the
groans. John Turmel, who bills himself as a professional gambler and
engineer, fanned out 10 $100 bills and dared Coutts to bet $1 that
Turmel's "secret equation" cold not cure inflation. Coutts declined
the bet. Turmel started the trouble at Monday's meeting when he
wrestled the microphone from chairman Bill Nelson. Turmel and Nelson
scuffled and both ended on the floor. That incident resulted in Turmel
saying he will lay charges against Nelson who he says forced him from
the stage when Turmel tried to speak without permission.
Toronto Sun, Dick Chapman
In a lighter moment, Coutts also accepted a 100-to-1 bet against
independent candidate John Turmel, on finding a flaw in Turmel's
"zero-interest" banking proposal.
810903
Winnipeg Sun Front Page
Picking on wrong pickets
The Winnipeg Sun had a front page story about our demonstration and
this old guy attacking us. It had picture of the guy pushing Ray and
me holding on to his arm and a second picture of the guy down on the
ground and the title said "Picking on wrong pickets." The sub-title
said "Dis;-`credit'-ed".
This passer-by appeared to take offence at the protest of Social
Credit Party interim leader John Turmel (in the hat) and his brother
Ray (far left above). The man attacked both sign-bearing pickets --
who were in front of the Bank Of Canada protesting the high interest
rate -- but was quickly tossed to the ground by the younger men.
810909
Calgary Sun, Kate Dunn
Down with usury
Calgary drivers horned in on a protest against high interest rates
yesterday. As 6 adults and 4 children waved placards condemning Bank
of Canada governor's interest rate policy, drivers of cars and trucks
passing them in front of the bank's Calgary office tooted their horns
in support of the protest. "Down with 21% usury" and "Bouey is a
crook" were messages on some of the signs. "If this protest can save
one person from making a mistake in dealing with a bank, it's worth
it," said Anne Drabick. Her husband Ted is now in jail for taking
hostages when two bailiffs tried to repossess his home.
John Turmel and two members of his family travelled from Ottawa to
stage the protest and promote Turmel's ideas on bank lending policies.
They hold a similar protest each Thursday in front of the bank's
Ottawa headquarters when the prime lending rate is announced. Labeling
himself a "banking systems engineer", Turmel said banks should be paid
a set service charge rather than interest rates for lending money.
Calgary Herald, Lindsay Taylor
Interest pickets attract honking
A half dozen protesters demanding a cut in high interest rates drew
horn honking as the paraded in front of the downtown Bank of Canada
offices. Signs reading "Honk if you hate high interest rates" and
"Jail bankers, not Drabick" were held by protesters including the wife
and family of convicted hostage-taker Ted Drabick. The protesters were
led by John Turmel as part of his continuing nation-wide fight against
"usury" and interest rates. Turmel says he offers a standing $1000:1
bet his complicated mathematical showing the cause of inflation and
unemployment is correct "but the politicians are afraid of me. Every
time they see me coming, they run." Turmel has run for office 10 times
on his "sort of social credit" platform and is currently fighting his
expulsion from the federal wing of the Social Credit Party. However,
one of his most adamant supporters is Anne Drabick who joined him on
the protest line. While the protesters attracted a lot of support from
motorists, they were less than successful with passing pedestrians.
Most, when confronted by the fast-talking Turmel, shook their heads in
bemused confusion and quickly scurried away. He will lecture on the
Engineering Solution to Inflation and Unemployment Tuesday Sept. 15 in
room 201 of the Engineering Building of the University of Calgary.
810911
Vancouver Sun
Front page picture,
Vancouver Sun had a 7"x9" picture captioned "High interest protest on
streets outside Bank of Canada at 900 West Hastings reverberated
through financial district Thursday as motorists heeded John Turmel's
signs. Turmel, right in white hard-hat, is a leadership candidate for
national Social Credit party.
The signs had Ray with "Honk if interest is criminal, S. 179.1.b.iii"
and me holding my "interest=0" sign.
810916
Calgary Sun
Drabick's wife joins crusade & Stiff the bank
Picture of Anne, Mom, Michel Brisson et al picketing with a caption
"Ann Drabick (foreground) marches outside the Bank of Canada building
yesterday."
The wife of hostage-taker Ted Drabick joined an Ottawa gambler in
downtown Calgary yesterday to strike a blow against high interest
rates. Ann Drabick and John Turmel marched outside the Bank and urged
passers-by to "stiff the bank" by refusing to pay interest charges.
Turmel is a well-known Ottawa figure calling for the abolition of
interest. He says Canada should be run on a barter system. Turmel says
interest amounts to illegal loan-sharking and says he'll use that
argument to take the Bank of Canada to court over interest rates which
are now running at more than 21%. Drabick says "interest rates just
aren't right and we're urging people to pressure the politicians for
legislation outlawing interest rates." Turmel and Drabick say they'll
picket downtown banks for at least the rest of the week. "I might make
a full-time career out of picketing," Drabick says.
810919Sa
Winnipeg Free Press, Greg Shilliday
Bouey runs big game
Front page blurb `NEW COIN TOSS' A gambler has the answer to Canada's
economic woes -- he wants to take the governor of the Bank of Canada
to court of operating a gaming house. Page 3
Picture of Ray with "Stiff the Bank" captioned "John Turmel's brother
Raymond gets supportive honk from passing truck in lonely protest."
John Turmel, professional gambler and inveterate politician figures he
has the answers to Canada's economic woes -- take the Bank of Canada
to court. In response to his latest gambling conviction, the interim
leader of the Ontario Social Credit party has filed an appeal in the
Federal Court of Canada charging Gerald Bouey, governor of the bank,
with operating a gaming house: "I'm trying to get him charged with the
same thing that they charged me with." Turmel said yesterday outside
the Portage and Main branch of the Bank of Canada. "Bouey runs a lot
bigger game than I ever did and he's doing it with our money." Turmel,
along with his mother and brother, was picketing the bank yesterday
afternoon as part of his lonely economic guerrilla war against the
Canadian banking system. Judging from the number of motorists honking
in response to his placards "Honk if interest is criminal",
Winnipeggers are ready to listen to any kind of solution to high
interest rates.
Turmel has run in 10 Ontario elections in the last two years; federal,
provincial and municipal. He has lost them all, but he says he's not
discouraged. As a gambler, he figures the odds will come around
eventually. "Stiff the bank." Several motorists honked their horns in
support. "I took a gambling course when I was in engineering at
Carleton University in Ottawa. I know all about it. People are
beginning to listen." Turmel, who has already served a short jail
sentence for gambling, said he finances his political career through
gambling. He won't say how much he earns each year, but he does allow
that he doesn't have to work much.
BIGGEST WIN
"I do remember taking $19,000 off this millionaire once. I guess that
was my biggest win." Turmel said he was taking his message across
western Canada in an attempt to gain the nomination as leader of the
federal Social Credit party. He said response, especially in Alberta,
has been very encouraging. "The people of Canada are tired of being
cheated. They want economic policies that make sense." Turmel
"sensible" policy essentially is this: replace the chartered banking
system with a barter system where interest rates abolished. Utilizing
computer systems, Turmel says "Electronic exchanges" will make paper
exchange and the resulting interest rates unnecessary. "My social
credit computer provides the very best kind of labour exchange through
a work based barter system. It provides interest-free liquidity for
goods and services and real estate offered for trade through
electronic and paper mediums of exchange where one credit is worth one
dollar. "When we do our banking right in the stores from point-of-sale
terminals, the chartered banks, with only terminals and no products,
will be made redundant.
Turmel says a first step to undermining the banks' "strangle-hold on
the economy", he was encouraging Canadians to "stiff their banks" or
refuse to pay loans. "My brother stiffed his bank on a $4000 loan.
Sure a contract was signed. But if something is physically impossible
like paying 20% interest rates, then a contract can't be binding."
Turmel, enfant terrible of our current economic mess, grinned wickedly
as another passing motorist leaned long and hard on his horn. As we're
all beginning to find out in this country, you just can't pay
something that isn't there.
Ottawa Citizen, CP
Popular message
Winnipeg -- John Turmel, interim leader of the Ontario Social Credit
Party and a convicted professional gambler, says he wants to take the
Bank of Canada to court. Turmel says he has filed an appeal at the
Federal Court of Canada charging Gerald Bouey, governor of the Bank of
Canada, with operating a gaming house: "I'm trying to get him charged
with the same thing they charged me with." Turmel was picketing the
Bank of Canada's Winnipeg bank with his mother and brother with signs
saying "Stiff the bank." Several motorists honed their horns in
support.
810922Tu
Canadian Press
Incident
TORONTO -- John Turmel, an unsuccessful independent candidate in the
Aug. 17 Spadina federal by-election, is worried that his involvement
in a fight at an all-candidates meeting last month may ruin his
chances to become the leader of the national Progressive party.
Turmel, who says he now is running for the leadership of the party,
said Tuesday he has been mistakenly as the one who started the fight.
He doesn't want it know he beats people up, he said. "I can beat them
up intellectually."
Turmel said that moderator William Nelson pushed him off the stage a
one point during the meeting. Turmel said he got back up on stage and
when Nelson pushed from behind, he extended his leg so that Nelson's
own force caused him to fall off the stage.
Nelson, a University of Toronto history professor, said Tuesday that
the incident began when Turmel grabbed a microphone. "So far as
pushing first, I think he (Turmel) is right," Nelson said. "But I
think it could be argued that grabbing the microphone was at fault
under the law."
Nelson added that "both of use may be wrong" saying that he has heard
varying accounts of the incident from people at the meeting.
810923We
Toronto Star
Turmel seeks PC leadership after his Spadina defeat
Picture & caption: John Turmel: His new goal is leadership of Canada's
Progressive Conservatives
There's a lot of push-and-shove during election campaigns. Just ask
John Turmel. You remember, he ran against Jim Coutts and Dan Heap in
the Spadina federal election Aug. 17 ultimately won by Dan Heap.
Turmel was the fellow with the construction hat that somehow landed on
(or under, no one's quite sure) the moderator during an all-
candidates' meeting. He doesn't want it thought he beats up people, he
said. "I can beat them up intellectually." His goal now is the
national leadership of the Progressive Conservative party from which
he'd like to give Joe Clark the quick heave.
810929Tu
Ottawa Citizen
Economic Intervention
C.P. photo of Ray tailing Chretien with the `Bouey, King of White
Collar Crime' sign.
Justice Minister Jean Chretien talks to reporters Monday after the
Supreme Court ruled on the constitution, but a protester's sign
indicates he would prefer to talk about the economy. It's a barb
against the Bank of Canada's policy of setting high interest rates to
protect the dollar.`
811005Mo
Globe & Mail, Brian Laghi
11 Faithful show up to pick new leader of Ontario Socreds
Eleven party members showed up for an Ontario Social Credit party
convention on the weekend and elected a new leader, but the party's
former head has charged his fellow members with calling a crooked
meeting. "It was crooked meeting ... They called it and invited all of
their own people so I wouldn't get re-elected," said former leader
John Turmel. The eleven members who represent about 100 party members
throughout the province, elected former Toronto mayoral candidate Anne
McBride as their new leader in a vote of 7 to 1. The ballots of Mr.
Turmel, his brother Ray and his mother were spoiled. The three
scrawled "unconstitutional" across them. "They're supposed to give 4
months notice before they can call a leadership convention. That's the
law of the land and that's why I think it's unconstitutional," Mr.
Turmel said. However, Bruce Arnold, party vice-president said "The
week-end vote was called only to elect an interim leader until the
party can organize the convention next April. Mr. Arnold was the only
other candidate to run for the leadership, gaining 1 vote.
Mr. Turmel calls himself a professional gambler and banking systems
engineer and has run in 10 elections in the past 2 years losing them
all. He ran in Spadina and got into the news with the scuffle. Mr.
Turmel said that if he had been elected leader, he would have lobbied
Ottawa and the Bank of Canada to remove interest rates. Last
September, Mr. Turmel took the Bank of Canada to court, charging that
its governor, Gerald Bouey, was keeping a common gaming house. Mr.
Turmel said he has been challenging the Socred establishment because
it is soft on interest rates.
But, Mrs. McBride said the reason for Mr. Turmel's ouster was that
party members were upset with his economic policies. "We wish to turn
the Ontario Social Credit into a party based on Christian principles."
In last year's provincial election, the Socreds ran 3 candidates who,
combined, received about 3,000 votes. So far, Mr. Turmel is the only
party member to announce his candidacy for next spring's leadership
convention.
Those 3,000 votes were for our boys in Ottawa. I didn't see any of
those who resented my leadership putting a team on the ice. The guys
on the sidelines are now in charge.
As if the party was not based on Christian principles
811006Tu
London Free Press, John Hamilton
Candidate still hasn't filed return
Unrepentant gambler John Turmel is hoping to avoid a losing streak
after he missed an extended deadline Monday for filing an expenses
report for the April 12 federal by-election in London West. Turmel,
30, faces a fine of up to $1,000 or a year's imprisonment or both if
prosecuted and convicted under the Canada Elections Act. Turmel, who
placed last out of 6 candidates won by Jack Burghart, is the only
candidate not to have filed a report of election expenses. The
returning officer says Turmel likely faces prosecution after failing
to meet the deadline which had been extended. But, Turmel, interim
leader of the Social Credit party of Ontario and who describes himself
as a professional gambler, said from Ottawa he is confident his luck
has not run out. He said his release Friday from a regional detention
center in Ottawa pending an appeal of a conviction on a gambling
charge is a sign that the cards are falling my way.
Convicted in provincial court last Tuesday of operating a gaming
house, Turmel opted for 21 days in jail and a $500 fine rather than a
3 year probation and promise not to be involved in illegal gambling
offered him by the judge. "I'm not going to stop gambling when there's
mental arithmetic involved. The gambling I know and like is a science,
not a game of chance." What about his expense report due Monday? "I
really blew that one but I just got out on Friday and had been
delayed, so I will have to go and apply for another extension. I will
ask for it to be retroactive. I think you can do that." Turmel said
his return still lacks one statement from his bank and he believes he
can file a return in London within 2 weeks -- "that's if I'm still
free." He faces another charge on Oct. 13 in Hull provincial court of
operating a gaming house. But, Turmel, who admits to at least 4
illegal gambling convictions and numerous confrontations with Ottawa
police (?) he promotes casinos in the city, said "It's no in the cards
for me to go to jail again."
811010Sa
London Free Press, John Hamilton
Socred given further time
The interim leader of the Social Credit party of Ontario has been
allowed two more weeks to fine an expenses report. He was given the
extended deadline when he appeared before Judge Gordon Killeen in
London on Friday. Turmel faced a fine of up to $1000 or a year's
imprisonment or both if prosecuted and convicted when he missed the
first extended deadline.
811019Mo
St. Catherines Standard, Ed McKenzie
Socred protester ejected
Three tables of dinner guests sat quietly and patiently Saturday night
-- all except one man -- awaiting the start of what was to them an
occasion of considerable dignity and importance. Martin Hattersley had
come to St. Catherines. The Hattersley name might not be on
everybody's lips but Social Credit party members know the Edmonton
lawyer and former British army officer as their interim leader.
Judging from the enthusiastic reception he got from about 75
supporters, Mr. Hattersley is a popular leader. But that didn't seem
to make any difference to the dissenter who marched with a picket sign
outside the Fairview Mall banquet hall. The sign said "Hail to the
Cheat." The protester was John Turmel of Ottawa. He told the Standard
he was upset because Mr. Hattersley was an unelected interim leader
since there was no 1981 Socred convention to pass on his stewardship.
Mr. Turmel was brushed off by most of those attending but he took his
protest inside the hall, having purchased a $10 ticket in advance. He
sat at one of the tables, where he promptly began to make his opinions
known in a loud voice, much to the displeasure of the event's
organizers. They asked him to leave several times but Mr. Turmel
refused. "Call the cops. Go ahead and call them" and eventually that's
what was done. A burly Niagara regional police sergeant and a more
slender but still sizable constable escorted the man from the hall. A
few minutes later, the sergeant came back to pick up Mr. Turmel's
white hard-hat which proclaimed him to be "The Engineer." A pamphlet
he was passing out claimed he is "the only electrical engineer in
Canada specialized in gambling and banking systems."
With a dignity which befits the interim leader of a national political
party, Mr. Hattersley ignored "The Engineer." The leader did reveal
later in his speech that there has indeed not been a 1981 convention
but this was a matter of economics, not a bid to give short shrift to
the democratic process. "The party didn't have the spare $5000 cash to
pay for the expenses of a convention," the interim leader said. Asked
if he thought the actions of Mr. Turmel might hurt the struggling
party perhaps giving people the impression that it's made up of people
that should not be trusted with office, Mr. Hattersley admitted there
was some danger of that happening. But he felt Canada's current
economic problems are so great that far from shunning the Socreds, the
voters might finally start paying serious attention to what they have
to say. Social Credit calls for a major change in the way this
nation's monetary business is handled, he explained. Mr. Hattersley
told his audience that if things carry on as they are now going, there
is a very real danger that we will see violent social protest, perhaps
as early as this Christmas. Recalling with regret that the voters at
the last federal election chose not to elect a single Social Credit
M.P., Mr. Hattersley quoted one of the party's champions, William
Aberhart (known as Bible Bill Aberhart when he was premier of Alberta
from 1935 to 1943) who said that in not electing the Socreds federally
in his day, "the people of Canada have the right to choose to suffer a
little longer." Everyone can see that suffering now, the speaker
maintained. Thanks to the way in which the parties which do have seats
in the House of Commons have mishandled the economy. If Social Credit
were elected, he stated, our present "debt system" would be ended so
people wouldn't have to worry about high mortgage rates, inflation and
other economic problems. Social Credit would stop banks from making
fat profits in the form of interest. It would bring an end to the
system under which people dig themselves out of debt by using credit
cards. It would arrange things so that people would own their homes
and their cars outright, not make crushing monthly payments. Mr.
Hattersley concluded that while times might be bad for many Canadians
today, they're potentially good for Social Credit because people will
be receptive to its ideas at last. Now that the party is on the brink
of a potential breakthrough with the voters, it's essential that the
public see Social Crediters as "reliable, honest people." The audience
soundly applauded that wind-up, and by that point, most seemed to have
forgotten about John Turmel.
811026Mo
My letter to the editor:
Toronto Star Editor:
In your Sept. 23 article, it stated "his new goal is the leadership of
Canada's Progressive Conservatives from which he'd like to give Joe
Clark the quick heave."
This is incorrect. I was in fact the interim leader of the Ontario
Social Credit party seeking the leadership of the federal party.
Notice that social credit is comprised of an adjective and a noun
putting it a full intellectual plane above the Liberal, Progressive
Conservative and New Democratic parties whose names are comprised of
only adjectives which are abstract and undefined.
As an electrical engineer from one of the world's most advanced
technological countries, Canada, I consider it a defamation of my
intellect to suggest that I would seek the leadership of a party whose
name has no meaning.
Another reason that the article was so unfortunate was that I was
attacked by both Anne McBride (new interim leader) and Bruce Arnold
for being a closet Tory. They were the two candidates for the interim
leader position after I had been ousted. I cannot say that your
article was the sole reason, though. The meeting had been fixed, with
some members not having been invited, including five of the six
candidates who presented themselves at the last provincial election.
The party is not back in the hands of the back room gang. I wasn't
allowed to speak to the charge and so you can see that a correction
would go a long way towards dispelling the notion that I would slip to
a lower intellectual level.
The news may have also upset Mr. Clark. You may assure him that I am
not after his job.
If I'm elected interim leader of the Social Credit Party of Canada,
I'll raid every other party just as Joe Clark raided the Social Credit
party. Surely there are some MPs ready to bet on the scientific
solution when they're backed against the wall. I am,
The Social Credit Engineer
Toronto Star, CP
Tories not my party: candidate
John Turmel, an unsuccessful independent candidate in the Spadina by-
election has denied saying he would seek the leadership of the
national Progressive Conservative party.
Turmel, an Ottawa resident, said that he told a Canadian Press
reporter last month he was running for the leadership of the Social
Credit party.
Barbara Wickens, the CP reporter, said her notes show that Turmel
referred to the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party.
Ottawa Citizen
Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed arrives at the conference centre this
morning. Front page picture of me in hard hat with picket sign behind
him.
Send a comment to John Turmel
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