Elizabeth May was chosen to return as leader of the Green Party of Canada after running promising to share the role with Jonathan Pedneault.
Ms. May, a longtime MP from British Columbia who led the party from 2006 to 2019, won the leadership race on the sixth ballot, after other candidates were eliminated.
“It’s a bit of a ‘déjà-vu’, but it’s not the same thing because […] now it’s a totally different proposition because I’m not here alone,” Elizabeth May said in French.
She joined the leadership race by pledging to appoint Mr Pedneault as co-leader, and the two will seek to amend the party constitution to allow for a valid co-leadership model.
“Officially, we ran a separate campaign as required by Election Canada and Green Party rules. But the people who voted for me knew our platform made it clear we were a team, Ms. May explained. We cannot officially say that we are co-leader of the Green Party of Canada because that requires a change in the constitution. »
Mr. Pedneault, originally from Montreal, is a crisis expert who has investigated abuses in war zones, including Afghanistan.
“We are the party for Quebecers who are looking for a different voice in Ottawa, a voice that will represent them objectively, but that will also advance the interests of all Quebecers and of the environment and the planet,” said declared Mr. Pedneault alongside Mrs. May after the announcement of his victory.
The members of the political formation have sent during the last week their ballot to elect a new leader to succeed Annamie Paul.
Six names are on the ballot, but four of them intended to form a leadership duo.
The other tandem in the race was formed by Anna Keenan and Chad Walcott. Both have claimed the party needs new faces following the 2021 election disaster and the long series of infighting that followed.
In her speech, Ms. May said she heard “the voices calling for change”.
“It is really possible to have a change with a power on the ground with the roots very engaged in the primordial issues, particularly against the crisis of climate change”, pronounced in French Ms. May.
Sarah Gabrielle Baron and Simon Gnocchini-Messier perform solo. This was not their first experience in a Green Party leadership race.
The leadership candidates gave short speeches before the results were announced at 8 p.m., each emphasizing the importance of unity.
“We went through a bit of a tough time, but we got through it,” Ms. May said in her speech. And we can confidently say that at the end of this evening, we are united, whatever the outcome. We work together. »