Robert Toupin

Robert Toupin (born January 20, 1949) is a former Canadian politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons for the riding of Terrebonne from 1984 to 1988.

Toupin had been a worker for the Quebec Liberal Party when he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada following Brian Mulroney's election as party leader. Toupin was a successful Tory candidate in Terrebonne riding in the 1984 federal election.

He was critical of the new government's policies crossed the floor in May 1986 to sit as an independent. He attempted to join the Liberal Party of Canada but the Liberal riding association for the constituency he represented rejected him. He ultimately joined the New Democratic Party (NDP), becoming the first NDP MP from a Quebec riding. However, in October 1987, he left the party after ten months to again sit as an independent, after claiming that the party was dominated by the extreme left. He was then invited to join the Rhinoceros Party of Canada.

Toupin was defeated as an independent candidate in the 1988 federal election. Provided by Wikipedia