Leonard Schmidt

Leonard Sebastian Schmidt (08 September 1971 - ) is a German-Canadian doctor, author and politician of the Green Party of Canada. Working in the hospital of New York State for five years, he was a member of the Progressive Party eversince he turned 14 years old. After becoming increasingly more annoyed with national politics Schmidt ran for office on the Progressive Party's list in New York, winning his seat in parliament. After a disagreement with the majoritty of his party under the leadership of John Mason Schmidt changed sides in the House of Commons to join the Greens.

Background, family, early life and education
Leonard Schmidt was born in Iqaluit, Nunavut the eldest of three kids of the Nunavut-native Elaine Laroissière and German immigrant Hans Schmidt. Growing up, he and his family suffered severe poverty throughout both their times on a plantation in northern Nunavut and in Brooklyn. Schmidt was a model student throughout his school-time, graduating with 17 and attending New York State University, earning his M.D degree at the age of 21.

Political career
Schmidt was a long-time member of the Progressive Party, always being a very political child. At the age of 14 he joined the New York CIty chapter of the Progressive Party, becoming it's chair at the age of 17. After working in a hospital for four years, Schmidt grew less and less satisfied with the state of national politics. He launched his campaign for MP at the early age of 21, winning a seat in New York and moving to Ottawa.

He made headlines early by proclaiming himself a marxist in a public statement, enraging all parties in parliament, even making the Conservative Party consider an expulsion bill against him, which however should never come to last.

During a debate about a bill that would call for a referendum on reforming Canada into a republic, Schmidt, enraged by his party overwhelmingly opposing it, crossed the floor, asking the speaker of the house for permission to join the Green Party. He would later openly attack his old colleagues, branding them as "The Revisionist Party" and "Doomed to follow the United States into nothingness".

Schmidt caused some raised eyebrows by revealing that he was dating Conservative backbencher Nicole Randomcon, which is the case to this day.

In 1997, he announced a run for leader of the Green Party against the more moderate leader Laurel Collins and Deputy-Leader Jill Stein. After forcing Stein into a run-off, he would how ever loose decisively to her.