The 2020 Green Party of Canada leadership election took place between September 26 and October 3, 2020,[4] to elect a leader to replace
Elizabeth May, who resigned on November 4, 2019,[5][6][7] after leading the party for more than a decade and achieving a record three seats in
Parliament in the
2019 federal election. Eight candidates ran to replace her. While these candidates offered different visions for the future of the party and made various policy proposals, they all agreed that
climate change is a serious issue, opposed the construction of new
pipelines,[8] supported a
guaranteed livable income,[9] and supported adopting some form of
proportional representation in federal elections.[10]
No polling for the leadership race was released during the contest, and so frontrunner status was largely determined in the media on the basis of candidate fundraising. In that sense, the two frontrunners were
Annamie Paul and Dimitri Lascaris.[11] Paul, an activist and lawyer from
Toronto, won the election on the eighth round of voting. Her win was described as a win for "the more
centrist camp".[12]
Election format
The vote was held
online between September 26 and October 3, as well as by
mail-in ballot. All party members as of 11:59 p.m.
PDT on September 3, 2020, who were 14 years of age or older were eligible to vote. The vote was conducted through a
one member, one votepreferential ballot with a
none of the above option. The candidate with a majority of votes after a minimum of one ballot would win the leadership.[13]
The Greens originally planned to announce the election results at the party's biennial convention in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island,[14] however the convention was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[15] Instead, the candidates gathered in
Ottawa, Ontario for the results, which were announced online at 9:00 p.m.
ADT on October 3.[13]
Timeline
2019
October 24 – Elizabeth May announced that she would step down as leader within the next four years, but intended to continue for "the near term", as an early election could complicate the transition.[16]
November 3 – A group of party members launched a petition calling for an open leadership race to ensure the "long-term prosperity of the party"; among those members was
Green Party of Quebec leader
Alex Tyrrell, who later became a candidate for the leadership himself.[17]
November 4 – May announced she was stepping down as leader effective immediately.
Jo-Ann Roberts was named
interim leader. May stayed on as the parliamentary leader in the House.[6]
July 8 – Dylan Perceval-Maxwell is removed from the leadership contest following inappropriate remarks during and following the June 23–24 debates.[61]
August 30 – Judy N. Green withdraws her candidacy and endorses David Merner.[62]
August 1 – September 1 – Leadership candidates must supply signatures of 150 party members, at least 20 of which must be from each of six regions. Signatures are in addition to 100 signatures provided with leadership application.[26]
September 1 – Deadline for receipt of secondary non-refundable fee of $20,000 (in addition to $1,000 at time of filing application to run and $9,000 ten days after application received).[26][2]
September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PDT – Deadline to become a member of the Green Party and be eligible to vote.[26]
September 22 – The party announces that Meryam Haddad has been removed from the contest, due to violations of the party's code of conduct. Haddad plans to appeal.[63]
September 24 – Haddad successfully appeals her disqualification and is restored to the ballot.[64]
September 25 – Deadline for receipt of mail-in ballots.[26]
Meryam Haddad, 32,[85] is an immigration lawyer residing in
Montreal, Quebec. Haddad immigrated from Syria at the age of 5 and has been a resident of Montreal since. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the
University of Ottawa and was the candidate for
Châteauguay—Lacolle in 2019. She is openly
lesbian.[43][86]
In the lead-up to the
2020 British Columbia general election, Haddad criticized the
Green Party of British Columbia over leader
Sonia Furstenau's positions on defunding the police and Indigenous land rights, saying she would endorse the
BC Ecosocialists over the Greens' provincial wing. She was disqualified from the election by the Green Party on September 22 for "intentionally undertaking an action that would bring the Green Party of Canada into disrepute." Haddad appealed and was reinstated two days later.[63][64]
Commit to protecting 30 per cent of aquatic habitat and 30 per cent of terrestrial habitat in Canada by 2030 along with increasing funding to develop recovery plans and protections for endangered species.[116]
Guaranteed livable income, development of unions in sectors where they are absent, better legislation for workers’ rights.[117]
Cancel the Saudi arms deal and impose a ban on trading in arms with all states that do not comply with UN Human Rights protocols and any states whose governments are engaged in violations of such human rights.[132]
Expand public health coverage to include dentistry, pharmacare, eldercare and mental health care.[134]
Notes
Lascaris' candidacy was initially rejected by the party's vetting committee, which was appealed.[44] The appeal was accepted on June 2, and his candidacy was reinstated and approved.[135]
Laurie Arron (Former party executive director)[197]
Jordy Gold (Former deputy campaign manager for Saanich--Gulf Islands, 2011)[198]
Organizations:
Media:
Total endorsements: 17
Annamie Paul
Background
Annamie Paul, 47,[199] is a human rights lawyer residing in
Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the
University of Ottawa and a Master of Public Administration degree from
Princeton University.[200] She was the Green Party Critic for Global Affairs (2019–2020) and the federal candidate in
Toronto Centre in 2019.[201] Paul is also the Green Party nominee for
Toronto Centre in the October 26, 2020 federal by-election, having received permission from the Federal Council to do so as a leadership candidate.[202]
Make bailouts for sectors or private corporations, such as fossil fuels, contingent on meeting agreed emission reduction targets and not investing further in the industry.[203]
Withdraw from the
Safe Third Country Agreement, which redirects asylum seekers to the United States, and continue allowing access for refugees to enter Canada.[203]
Universal pharmacare, dental care, and the recognition of mental health as an important pillar of health funded accordingly.[203]
Develop a realistic timeline for balancing the federal budget.[220]
Candidates who withdrew or failed to qualify
Don Elzer
Background
Don Elzer is an environmental activist, businessman, and former journalist from
Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the founder and owner of Wildcraft Forest, a natural health company. He currently resides just outside of
Lumby with his family.
Judy N. Green is a computer scientist, veteran and small business owner residing in
Nova Scotia.[221] She holds a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) from
Acadia University and a Master of Computer Science from
Carleton University. She was the candidate for
West Nova in 2019.[222]
Green's candidacy was rejected by the party's vetting committee on June 2, which was appealed.[47] The appeal was accepted and her candidacy was reinstated on June 10.[51] She withdrew on August 30 and endorsed David Merner.[62]
Constantine Kritsonis
Background
Constantine Kritsonis, 62, is a former Ontario representative on the Green Party Council. He stood as the Green Party of Canada candidate for
York Centre in 2015, 2011, 2006, 2004 and 1997, and the
Green Party of Ontario candidate in
Oakwood in 1995.[223]
Withdrew following announcement of the election rules, citing the entrance fee at the time of announcement, $50,000, being too high.[25] Later endorsed Dimitri Lascaris.[151]
Dylan Perceval-Maxwell
Background
Dylan Perceval-Maxwell is a
Montreal activist and businessman. He was the Green Party candidate in
Laurier—Sainte-Marie five times from 1997 to 2008 and the candidate in
Alfred-Pellan in 2011.[224] His 2006 campaign is the subject of the
NFB documentary Democracy 4 Dummies.[225]
Disqualified by the party after inappropriate statements going against the Greens' core values.[61]
Julie Tremblay-Cloutier
Background
Julie Tremblay-Cloutier is a businesswoman from
Oka who was the Green Party candidate for
Mirabel in 2019, and a candidate for Oka City Council in 2017. Prior to entering politics, Tremblay-Cloutier was the head of a local pool and spa inspection company.[20]
Withdrew citing the leadership election rules, her lack of experience and resources to do fundraisers, and her concern that ideas and debates would become secondary to raising funds.[27]
Luc Joli-Coeur, candidate for
Québec in 2019, government manager for the Quebec Department of Finance and former political advisor under the Marois and Parizeau governments.[233]
Former leader
Elizabeth May was the subject of criticism over perceived implicit endorsements.
Alex Tyrrell contended that May appeared with candidates at fundraisers to push them towards the lead.
David Merner said it would be wiser for May to stay out of the contest completely.[243][244] May responded that she was remaining neutral, but would help candidates from equity-seeking groups in fundraising efforts.[243]
Racism
Candidate
Meryam Haddad accused fellow candidate
Dylan Perceval-Maxwell of racism for comments he made during a
TVOntario debate. When asked about calls to
defund the police, Perceval-Maxwell suggested having police officers "give $20 to every person of colour they stop". Haddad called the suggestion racist, and said it would not further the goal of ending systemic racism.[245][246] Perceval-Maxwell suggested that Haddad was "angry that a white person came up with an idea."[247] On July 8, the party announced that Perceval-Maxwell was no longer a candidate for the leadership, citing statements "not aligned with the party's values."[61]
^
abGawley, Kevin (March 9, 2020).
"Non-binary astrophysicist joins Green Party of Canada leadership race". News 1130.
Archived from the original on March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020. Furstenau's leadership co-campaign manager said the MLA was "providing a soft endorsement of Amita's candidacy and is also supportive of Annamie Paul's candidacy."
^"Amita Kuttner". Facebook. August 31, 2020.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"Amita Kuttner". Facebook. August 27, 2020.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"Amita Kuttner". Facebook. August 28, 2020.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"Amita Kuttner". Instagram. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
^Spurling, Nicola (March 9, 2020).
"Nicola Spurling – Post". Facebook.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2020. I wholeheartedly endorse Amita Kuttner in their bid to be leader of the Green Party of Canada.
The 2020 Green Party of Canada leadership election took place between September 26 and October 3, 2020,[4] to elect a leader to replace
Elizabeth May, who resigned on November 4, 2019,[5][6][7] after leading the party for more than a decade and achieving a record three seats in
Parliament in the
2019 federal election. Eight candidates ran to replace her. While these candidates offered different visions for the future of the party and made various policy proposals, they all agreed that
climate change is a serious issue, opposed the construction of new
pipelines,[8] supported a
guaranteed livable income,[9] and supported adopting some form of
proportional representation in federal elections.[10]
No polling for the leadership race was released during the contest, and so frontrunner status was largely determined in the media on the basis of candidate fundraising. In that sense, the two frontrunners were
Annamie Paul and Dimitri Lascaris.[11] Paul, an activist and lawyer from
Toronto, won the election on the eighth round of voting. Her win was described as a win for "the more
centrist camp".[12]
Election format
The vote was held
online between September 26 and October 3, as well as by
mail-in ballot. All party members as of 11:59 p.m.
PDT on September 3, 2020, who were 14 years of age or older were eligible to vote. The vote was conducted through a
one member, one votepreferential ballot with a
none of the above option. The candidate with a majority of votes after a minimum of one ballot would win the leadership.[13]
The Greens originally planned to announce the election results at the party's biennial convention in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island,[14] however the convention was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[15] Instead, the candidates gathered in
Ottawa, Ontario for the results, which were announced online at 9:00 p.m.
ADT on October 3.[13]
Timeline
2019
October 24 – Elizabeth May announced that she would step down as leader within the next four years, but intended to continue for "the near term", as an early election could complicate the transition.[16]
November 3 – A group of party members launched a petition calling for an open leadership race to ensure the "long-term prosperity of the party"; among those members was
Green Party of Quebec leader
Alex Tyrrell, who later became a candidate for the leadership himself.[17]
November 4 – May announced she was stepping down as leader effective immediately.
Jo-Ann Roberts was named
interim leader. May stayed on as the parliamentary leader in the House.[6]
July 8 – Dylan Perceval-Maxwell is removed from the leadership contest following inappropriate remarks during and following the June 23–24 debates.[61]
August 30 – Judy N. Green withdraws her candidacy and endorses David Merner.[62]
August 1 – September 1 – Leadership candidates must supply signatures of 150 party members, at least 20 of which must be from each of six regions. Signatures are in addition to 100 signatures provided with leadership application.[26]
September 1 – Deadline for receipt of secondary non-refundable fee of $20,000 (in addition to $1,000 at time of filing application to run and $9,000 ten days after application received).[26][2]
September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PDT – Deadline to become a member of the Green Party and be eligible to vote.[26]
September 22 – The party announces that Meryam Haddad has been removed from the contest, due to violations of the party's code of conduct. Haddad plans to appeal.[63]
September 24 – Haddad successfully appeals her disqualification and is restored to the ballot.[64]
September 25 – Deadline for receipt of mail-in ballots.[26]
Meryam Haddad, 32,[85] is an immigration lawyer residing in
Montreal, Quebec. Haddad immigrated from Syria at the age of 5 and has been a resident of Montreal since. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the
University of Ottawa and was the candidate for
Châteauguay—Lacolle in 2019. She is openly
lesbian.[43][86]
In the lead-up to the
2020 British Columbia general election, Haddad criticized the
Green Party of British Columbia over leader
Sonia Furstenau's positions on defunding the police and Indigenous land rights, saying she would endorse the
BC Ecosocialists over the Greens' provincial wing. She was disqualified from the election by the Green Party on September 22 for "intentionally undertaking an action that would bring the Green Party of Canada into disrepute." Haddad appealed and was reinstated two days later.[63][64]
Commit to protecting 30 per cent of aquatic habitat and 30 per cent of terrestrial habitat in Canada by 2030 along with increasing funding to develop recovery plans and protections for endangered species.[116]
Guaranteed livable income, development of unions in sectors where they are absent, better legislation for workers’ rights.[117]
Cancel the Saudi arms deal and impose a ban on trading in arms with all states that do not comply with UN Human Rights protocols and any states whose governments are engaged in violations of such human rights.[132]
Expand public health coverage to include dentistry, pharmacare, eldercare and mental health care.[134]
Notes
Lascaris' candidacy was initially rejected by the party's vetting committee, which was appealed.[44] The appeal was accepted on June 2, and his candidacy was reinstated and approved.[135]
Laurie Arron (Former party executive director)[197]
Jordy Gold (Former deputy campaign manager for Saanich--Gulf Islands, 2011)[198]
Organizations:
Media:
Total endorsements: 17
Annamie Paul
Background
Annamie Paul, 47,[199] is a human rights lawyer residing in
Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the
University of Ottawa and a Master of Public Administration degree from
Princeton University.[200] She was the Green Party Critic for Global Affairs (2019–2020) and the federal candidate in
Toronto Centre in 2019.[201] Paul is also the Green Party nominee for
Toronto Centre in the October 26, 2020 federal by-election, having received permission from the Federal Council to do so as a leadership candidate.[202]
Make bailouts for sectors or private corporations, such as fossil fuels, contingent on meeting agreed emission reduction targets and not investing further in the industry.[203]
Withdraw from the
Safe Third Country Agreement, which redirects asylum seekers to the United States, and continue allowing access for refugees to enter Canada.[203]
Universal pharmacare, dental care, and the recognition of mental health as an important pillar of health funded accordingly.[203]
Develop a realistic timeline for balancing the federal budget.[220]
Candidates who withdrew or failed to qualify
Don Elzer
Background
Don Elzer is an environmental activist, businessman, and former journalist from
Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the founder and owner of Wildcraft Forest, a natural health company. He currently resides just outside of
Lumby with his family.
Judy N. Green is a computer scientist, veteran and small business owner residing in
Nova Scotia.[221] She holds a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) from
Acadia University and a Master of Computer Science from
Carleton University. She was the candidate for
West Nova in 2019.[222]
Green's candidacy was rejected by the party's vetting committee on June 2, which was appealed.[47] The appeal was accepted and her candidacy was reinstated on June 10.[51] She withdrew on August 30 and endorsed David Merner.[62]
Constantine Kritsonis
Background
Constantine Kritsonis, 62, is a former Ontario representative on the Green Party Council. He stood as the Green Party of Canada candidate for
York Centre in 2015, 2011, 2006, 2004 and 1997, and the
Green Party of Ontario candidate in
Oakwood in 1995.[223]
Withdrew following announcement of the election rules, citing the entrance fee at the time of announcement, $50,000, being too high.[25] Later endorsed Dimitri Lascaris.[151]
Dylan Perceval-Maxwell
Background
Dylan Perceval-Maxwell is a
Montreal activist and businessman. He was the Green Party candidate in
Laurier—Sainte-Marie five times from 1997 to 2008 and the candidate in
Alfred-Pellan in 2011.[224] His 2006 campaign is the subject of the
NFB documentary Democracy 4 Dummies.[225]
Disqualified by the party after inappropriate statements going against the Greens' core values.[61]
Julie Tremblay-Cloutier
Background
Julie Tremblay-Cloutier is a businesswoman from
Oka who was the Green Party candidate for
Mirabel in 2019, and a candidate for Oka City Council in 2017. Prior to entering politics, Tremblay-Cloutier was the head of a local pool and spa inspection company.[20]
Withdrew citing the leadership election rules, her lack of experience and resources to do fundraisers, and her concern that ideas and debates would become secondary to raising funds.[27]
Luc Joli-Coeur, candidate for
Québec in 2019, government manager for the Quebec Department of Finance and former political advisor under the Marois and Parizeau governments.[233]
Former leader
Elizabeth May was the subject of criticism over perceived implicit endorsements.
Alex Tyrrell contended that May appeared with candidates at fundraisers to push them towards the lead.
David Merner said it would be wiser for May to stay out of the contest completely.[243][244] May responded that she was remaining neutral, but would help candidates from equity-seeking groups in fundraising efforts.[243]
Racism
Candidate
Meryam Haddad accused fellow candidate
Dylan Perceval-Maxwell of racism for comments he made during a
TVOntario debate. When asked about calls to
defund the police, Perceval-Maxwell suggested having police officers "give $20 to every person of colour they stop". Haddad called the suggestion racist, and said it would not further the goal of ending systemic racism.[245][246] Perceval-Maxwell suggested that Haddad was "angry that a white person came up with an idea."[247] On July 8, the party announced that Perceval-Maxwell was no longer a candidate for the leadership, citing statements "not aligned with the party's values."[61]
^
abGawley, Kevin (March 9, 2020).
"Non-binary astrophysicist joins Green Party of Canada leadership race". News 1130.
Archived from the original on March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020. Furstenau's leadership co-campaign manager said the MLA was "providing a soft endorsement of Amita's candidacy and is also supportive of Annamie Paul's candidacy."
^"Amita Kuttner". Facebook. August 31, 2020.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"Amita Kuttner". Facebook. August 27, 2020.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"Amita Kuttner". Facebook. August 28, 2020.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
^"Amita Kuttner". Instagram. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
^Spurling, Nicola (March 9, 2020).
"Nicola Spurling – Post". Facebook.
Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2020. I wholeheartedly endorse Amita Kuttner in their bid to be leader of the Green Party of Canada.