Elizabeth May named green leader again, sharing burden with Jonathan Pennault

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OTTAWA — The Federal Green Party nominated a familiar face as its leader on Saturday night as the result of a disappointing federal election has exposed infighting and dwindling funding.

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Elizabeth May, a longtime BC MP who led the party from 2006 to 2019, won the leadership race with 4,666 votes, ranking sixth and last. She held the lead from the start, but Anna Keenan held her second spot much stronger.

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May campaigned on a joint ticket with Jonathan Pedno, 32, a crisis expert who has been investigating human rights abuses in war zones, including Afghanistan, from Montreal.

They ran separate campaigns, as required by current regulations, but Pedneau would be the deputy leader. He said he was trying to amend the party’s constitution.

In her Saturday night victory speech, May insisted that not only Pedneau, but all other candidates, would be on her stage, before saying, “It’s a different kind of leadership, emphasizing that the Greens do things differently.” I mean the model.”

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“We don’t have top-down leaders or bosses telling people what to say, where to go, how to vote,” she said.

May, 68, highlighted her experience throughout the leadership campaign by claiming she left things in great shape when she stepped down after the 2019 federal election.

In that election, three MPs were elected to Parliament, with the green candidate winning 6.5% of the popular vote, still not enough to reach official party status in the House of Representatives.

The 2021 election, held at a time when former party leader Anamie Paul’s turbulent tenure had already reached new depths, saw her approval ratings plummet to 2.3% of the popular vote. Morris was elected in Ontario. Paul took his fourth place in the Toronto Center’s bid.

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In her victory speech, May said, “Three years ago, I resigned as party leader. I was confident that the party was strong, had three elected members, and was ready to see change.

“I think we need change. I definitely hear people calling for change, wanting to see young leaders who want to look differently as the party moves forward.”

May entered the race, wanting to rebuild the party. Many expect her to try to expand her support, including by recruiting NDP voters disillusioned with Jagmeet Singh’s leadership.

“It was a bit of a rough patch, but we’re getting out of it now,” May said in remarks before the results. I can tell you, we work together.”

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May and Pedneault attempt to argue that the Green Party is more credible than other environmental parties.

“Baby boomers like me will be more radical than they are now. We are fighting for our grandchildren. ‘ she said.

Greens began voting on November 12, and the results began to trickle in to about 50 party members who gathered at a hotel in downtown Ottawa just after 8pm.

About 22,000 members were eligible to vote, but only just over 8,000 voted in the first ballot. When asked by reporters on Saturday, he may have admitted he was “disappointed” with the turnout.

“But given the environment in which this campaign was fought, I have to say that all the candidates felt the headwinds. It’s a manifestation,” May added.

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During the six-month election period, leadership candidates were quick to acknowledge the party’s struggles, offering different visions of how to heal wounds, excite supporters, and attract new support in the polls.

Paul, who became the first black woman to lead the Federalist Party in Canada in 2020, stepped down as leader of the Greens shortly after last year’s election. There were widespread accusations describing him as a “sexist” and “sexist”.

Paul describes her time as a leader as “the worst period” of her life.

Astrophysicist Amita Kuttner, who was named Interim Green Leader after Paul left his job, became the first transgender leader of a major federal political party in Canada.

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Kuttner, who also identifies as non-binary, did not seek a permanent leader, but spoke of the need for party unity during his term.

Several of the candidates, including Keenan and her running mate Chad Walcott, spoke of the need to reduce division during the leadership campaign.

Other co-leader pairs argued that their fresh faces were just what the party needed in “moments of success or failure.”

Keenan told reporters he was proud of the votes he got and said he had until May to decide his future within the party.

“There is a large portion of the Green party base that is seeking new energy and vision,” she said, adding that members need to bridge the divide between old and new members by building “intergenerational solidarity.” Added.

Simon Gnocchini Messier and Sarah Gabriel Baron, who lost out in previous elections, rounded out the ballot.