The new interim leader of the Green Party of Canada promises to “defend the French language” and reaches out to the Quebec wing of his party, which has waged a long-term fight behind the scenes against his predecessor, Annamie Paul.
“We had a meeting a few days ago with the Quebec wing. I look forward to working with them. Quebec and Quebec issues are very important to me and also [pour] the party, including defending the French language, ”said Amita Kuttner, on her first day in Ottawa as interim leader of the Green Party, Wednesday.
In crystal clear French, he said he was ready to lead a green election campaign if new elections were called quickly. Unlike the previous leader, who stayed in his own riding for most of the campaign, he promises to travel across the country, including Quebec.
The new temporary leader succeeded Annamie Paul on November 24, after a chaotic transition period of almost two months during which Ms. Paul remained in place as leader of the Green Party despite the public announcement of her resignation. Before this saga, the Quebec wing of the Greens had participated in a sling against Ms. Paul, the first black and Jewish woman to lead a federal political party.
His temporary replacement, Amita Kuttner, says he does not know the outcome of the ensuing court clash between his party and Annamie Paul.
“I am very satisfied with our new leader’s openness to issues specific to Quebec,” commented Luc Joli-Coeur, president of the Quebec wing of the Green Party of Canada, in a message to To have to.
Chef and trans
An astrophysicist by training, Amita Kuttner tried her luck in the party’s last leadership race and was a Green candidate in British Columbia in the last election. He is also the first transgender person to become leader of a federal political party, identifying himself in English with the pronoun “they” (“they”), but in French with “il”.
“I know I sound like a teenager, even though I’m actually 30 years old. It’s because I’m going through a small transition, ”joked Amita Kuttner, sitting down in front of the microphone, alongside the two elected members of the party, Elizabeth May and Mike Morrice.
The priorities of the fifth formation in the House of Commons are, he says, climate, social justice, well-being, and “real” reconciliation with indigenous peoples. “And I would go as far as saying decolonization […] understand Canada as a colonial and genocidal state. “
He sees believes that his role is to “solidify” his party with all, to make it “grow” and to ensure that it is “cured” in order to organize a good leadership race, which must be launched at the end of the day. spring 2022.