Outgoing Green Party leader Elizabeth May gives message to Saanich—Gulf Islands voters

Elizabeth May, outgoing leader of the Green Party of Canada, has provided a message to voters as she prepares to step down. 

She has represented the Saanich—Gulf Islands riding since 2011 and has been the leader of the party since 2006 with a brief hiatus between 2019 and 2022. 

As the Green Party prepares to elect its next leader on Saturday, November 14th, May has been reflecting on her tenure as party leader and has provided Green voters with a message for the future.

“In 2006, when I first became Leader of the Green Party of Canada, no Green had ever been elected to the House of Commons or to any provincial legislature,” said May. 

“Five years later, I had the extraordinary honour of becoming Canada’s first elected Green. It was a breakthrough the media never saw coming. I defeated a sitting member of the Harper Cabinet to become Parliament’s first Green MP.”

She noted that within a few years, Greens were elected to the provincial legislatures of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Prince Edward Island and she has enjoyed working with them. 

“I am immensely proud of our record of accomplishment,” noted May. 

“Despite the perverse first-past-the-post voting system, Greens do get elected across Canada. We work hard and deliver for our constituents.”

May added that her priorities as leader of the Green Party of Canada have been climate action, environmental protection, social justice and democratic accountability.

She has publicly opposed pipeline projects, defended Indigenous rights and pushed for a healthier democracy.

On these issues, she feels that for every two steps taken forward, the larger parties take three steps back. 

“We have made important progress, passing three private members’ bills into law—from creating a federal Lyme disease strategy to advancing animal rights and enacting landmark legislation on environmental justice,” continued May. 

“And we have never hesitated to speak truth to power when governments undermine that progress.”

May noted she is especially grateful to the constituents in her riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands, who have trusted her to represent them since 2011. 

“I never thought anything could be a greater honour than being named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005, but becoming the MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands has proved to be an even greater honour,” said May. 

“As I prepare to pass the leadership to a new generation, I do so with confidence in the future of the Green Party and in the determination of Canadians to build a better country.”

As her time as party leader comes to an end, May says she remains committed to the causes that impact her and those in her riding. 

“I will continue serving my constituents in Saanich—Gulf Islands, holding governments to account and working across party lines to advance the changes Canadians want and deserve,” she said. 

“My primary responsibility is to my two-year-old granddaughter. Her future is being stolen. This theft is taking place in broad daylight.”

She concluded her statement by stating that her generation has a moral responsibility to fight for their children and grandchildren.

The only candidate running to be the next leader of the party is Mike Morrice, a former MP for Kitchener Centre and current federal deputy leader. He was up against Nira Dookeran, an Ottawa-based activist and former Ontario Green candidate, but she withdrew from the contest in early September due to personal reasons.