The Rhinoceros Party of Canada: Where Satire and Democracy Intersect

Sara Santos-Vigneault
May 20
3 min read

Canadian looking flag, red and beige stripes with a rhino figure in the center — https://www.facebook.com/BCRhinoParty/

The Rhinoceros Party of Canada (Parti Rhinocéros) stands apart in the federal political arena not by policy proposals or electoral victories, but by parody. Since its founding in 1963, the party has offered a tongue-in-cheek critique of Canadian politics—using absurdity to highlight the perceived limitations of traditional political discourse and to engage voters through humor. Though satirical in nature, the party functions as a registered political entity under Canadian law and continues to participate in elections to this day.

Origins and Philosophy

The party was established by Jacques Ferron, a Montreal physician, writer, and public intellectual, who saw political satire as a legitimate form of civic engagement. The Rhinoceros Party's guiding principle was straightforward—and ironic: a promise to keep none of our promises. This motto reflected the party’s mission to lampoon the often empty rhetoric of political campaigning.

Its emblem, the rhinoceros, was inspired by Cacareco, a Brazilian zoo animal humorously “elected” to São Paulo’s city council in 1958. At one point, the party even named a real Quebec rhinoceros, Cornelius the First, as its symbolic leader, reinforcing its commitment to parody as political commentary.

Activities and Electoral Participation

Despite its nontraditional aims, the Rhinoceros Party has a substantial electoral history. Notably, in the 1980 federal election, the party fielded 121 candidates and received over 110,000 votes, accounting for approximately 1.01% of the national popular vote.

Its platforms have often included surreal and humorous pledges, such as:

Repealing the law of gravity
Paving Manitoba to build the world's largest parking lot
Improving higher education by making schools taller

These exaggerated promises were never meant to be enacted; rather, they served to draw attention to the promises made by more conventional parties and to invite voters to think critically about political platforms.

Deregistration and Revival

In 1993, the Rhinoceros Party lost its registered status after failing to nominate the required 50 candidates, as mandated by the Canada Elections Act at the time.

However, it was revived in 2006 under the name neorhino.ca by François "Yo" Gourd, a former party member and performer. The party regained its official status the following year and later returned to its original name, continuing its legacy of satirical participation in federal politics.

Recent Campaigns and Figures

The Rhinoceros Party remains active, fielding candidates across Canada.

In the 2025 federal election, notable candidates included:

Gordon Jeffrey, who ran in West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky
Mitchell, who contested in Sarnia–Lambton–Bkejwanong

One example of the party’s enduring comedic flair: a pledge to reduce hospital wait times by making all hospital clocks run slower than every other clock in the country.

Key Personalities:

François "Yo" Gourd: Central to the party’s revival, Gourd has run in numerous elections and remains a figurehead of political satire in Canada.
Sébastien CoRhino: Served as party leader from 2014 to 2024, actively promoting the party’s philosophy through public appearances and media engagement.

Legal Status and Protections

Although the Rhinoceros Party operates outside the realm of traditional policy-making, it remains a legally recognized political party under Elections Canada. It meets all regulatory requirements for federal parties, including candidate registration, compliance with financial reporting, and adherence to campaign finance rules.

Its right to participate in elections—and to do so through satire—is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of association. This legal foundation ensures that even nontraditional political voices, including those rooted in parody, have a place in the democratic process.

The Rhinoceros Party of Canada occupies a unique space in the nation's political narrative. By using satire as a form of civic engagement, it invites citizens to reflect on political institutions and campaign rhetoric through the lens of humor. Though it does not seek to govern, the party serves a democratic function by challenging conventions and encouraging public participation in unexpected ways.