Election Hopeful Wants Canada to Recognise Bitcoin as Currency

A candidate running in Canada's upcoming federal election says he wants to give bitcoin an equal footing with the dollar.

By Grace Caffyn

Sep 3, 2015 at 11:33 a.m. UTC

Updated Dec 10, 2022 at 8:28 p.m. UTC

Join the most important conversation in crypto and Web3 taking place in Austin, Texas, April 26-28.

Secure Your Seat

Grace Caffyn

Join the most important conversation in crypto and Web3 taking place in Austin, Texas, April 26-28.

Secure Your Seat

A parliamentary hopeful running in Canada's upcoming federal election says he wants to give bitcoin an equal footing with the dollar.

Alex Millar, a former maths teacher and software engineer, claims to be an independent candidate running for Vancouver East. In a post on Straight.com yesterday, the bitcoin enthusiast said he decided to run to highlight an issue the major parties were ignoring: money creation.

"Canadians enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I’m running for for parliament because I believe we need freedom of money," he said.

The candidate, who does not currently appear in the , thinks digital currency could be a viable alternative to Canada's current monetary system, which he claimed was "eroding equality" in its opacity.

The election – which covers Canada's 338 electoral districts – will take place on 19th October. Vancouver East, where Millar is running, has been a New Democratic stronghold since 1997.

Both Millar and the Election Almanac have been contacted for further clarification on his status as a candidate.

DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.

Grace Caffyn

Learn more about Consensus 2023, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.

Grace Caffyn