2020 Green Party of Canada leadership election

The Green Party of Canada held a leadership election between September 26 and October 3, 2020. The election was held to replace Elizabeth May, who resigned on November 4, 2019, 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, supported a guaranteed livable income, and supported adopting some form of proportional representation in federal elections.

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. 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".

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 vote preferential 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.

The Greens originally planned to announce the election results at the party's biennial convention in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, however the convention was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the candidates gathered in Ottawa, Ontario for the results, which were announced online at 9:00 p.m. ADT on October 3.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• November 5 – David Merner announces his candidacy.

• December 2 – Julie Tremblay-Cloutier announces her candidacy.

• January 15 – Alex Tyrrell, leader of the Green Party of Quebec, announces his candidacy.

• January 23 – Judy N. Green and Constantine Kritsonis announce their candidacies.

• January 30 – Annamie Paul announces her candidacy.

• February 3 –

  • The rules for the leadership race were released, including the announcement of a $50,000 entrance fee requirement for candidates.
  • Constantine Kritsonis withdraws his candidacy as a result of the rules.

• February 4 – Nomination period opens.

• February 14 – Julie Tremblay-Cloutier withdraws her candidacy.

• February 24 – Don Elzer announces his candidacy.

• March 9 – Amita Kuttner announces their candidacy.

• March 11 – Dimitri Lascaris announces his candidacy.

• March 17 – Dylan Perceval-Maxwell announces his candidacy.

• March 24 – The candidacy of Annamie Paul is approved.

• April 4 – The candidacy of David Merner is approved.

• April 22 – The candidacy of Amita Kuttner is approved.

• April 29 – Glen Murray, former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister, former MPP for Toronto Centre and former Mayor of Winnipeg, declares his candidacy.

• May 6 – The party reduced the entrance fee from $50,000 to $30,000, citing difficulty fundraising due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

• May 11 – The candidacy of Glen Murray is approved.

• May 15 – Andrew West announces his candidacy.

• May 22 – Meryam Haddad announces her candidacy.

• May 26 – The candidacy of Dimitri Lascaris is rejected by the party, pending appeal.

• May 29 – The candidacy of Dylan Perceval-Maxwell is approved.

• June 2 –

  • The candidacy of Dimitri Lascaris is reinstated and approved following the appeal of his disqualification.
  • The candidacy of Judy N. Green is rejected by the party, pending appeal.

• June 3 –

  • The candidacy of Meryam Haddad is approved.
  • Alex Tyrrell withdraws his candidacy.
  • Don Elzer withdraws his candidacy.
  • 6 p.m. PDT – Nomination period closes. Initial entrance fee of $10,000 due.

• June 10 – The candidacy of Judy N. Green is reinstated and approved following the appeal of her disqualification.

• June 11 –

  • The candidacy of Andrew West is approved.
  • Courtney Howard announces her candidacy.

• June 12 – The candidacy of Courtney Howard is approved.

• June 21 – A debate hosted by Fair Vote Canada is held.

• June 23–24 – A two-part debate hosted by The Agenda with Steve Paikin is held, with both parts broadcast on TVO and online.

• July 8 – Dylan Perceval-Maxwell is removed from the leadership contest following inappropriate remarks during and following the June 23–24 debates.

• August 30 – Judy N. Green withdraws her candidacy and endorses David Merner.

• 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.

• 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).

• September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PDT – Deadline to become a member of the Green Party and be eligible to vote.

• 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.

• September 24 – Haddad successfully appeals her disqualification and is restored to the ballot.

• September 25 – Deadline for receipt of mail-in ballots.

• September 26 – Online voting begins.

• October 3 –

  • 3:30 p.m. PDT – Online voting ends.
  • 5 p.m. PDT – Results announced.

Source Archived September 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine

Meryam Haddad

Background

Meryam Haddad, 32, 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.

Candidacy announced: May 22, 2020 Candidacy approved: June 3, 2020 Disqualified: September 22, 2020 Reinstated: September 24, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: meryam2020.ca Notes: 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.

Policies

• Running as an eco-socialist.
• Restructure the party to emphasize on inclusivity and diversity.
• Implement a Green New Deal.
• Calls for key positions within the party to be bilingual.
• Abolition of the police.
• De-colonizing Canada and promoting Canadian republicanism.

Courtney Howard

Background

Courtney Howard, 41, is an emergency room physician residing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She holds degrees from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University. She is the President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

Candidacy announced: June 11, 2020 Candidacy approved: June 12, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: drcourtneyhoward.ca

Policies

• Redefine the Green Party as the party of "a healthy planet for healthy people".
• Supports a stronger social safety net and guaranteed minimum income.
• Legislate a Community Care Act (universal childcare, pharmacare, psychological care, and dental care).
• Fund community-centered agriculture plans.
• Prioritize the construction of a national electrical grid relying on 100 per cent clean energy.
• Ensure a 1:1 lobbyist to NGO ratio for meetings with lawmakers.
• Establish compassionate crisis-response teams for RCMP units.
• Lower the voting age to 16 and prioritize electoral reform.
• Develop a national strategy on broadband and connectivity for rural and Indigenous communities.

Amita Kuttner

Background

Amita Kuttner, 30, is an astrophysicist residing on Lasqueti Island, British Columbia. They hold a doctorate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. During the 2019 federal election, Kuttner was the candidate for Burnaby North—Seymour. Following the election, they served as the Green Party's Science and Innovation Critic. They are also the co-founder and director of the Moonlight Institute. Kuttner is openly non-binary and pansexual, and uses they/them pronouns. They have refused to hold fundraising events with former leader Elizabeth May, saying the offer of assistance with fundraising does not address other systemic inequities in the race.

Candidacy announced: March 9, 2020 Candidacy approved: April 22, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: amitakuttner.ca

Policies

• Universal pharmacare, dental care, vision care, mental care, and preventive health measures.
• Free post-secondary tuition.
• Introduce new policy regarding artificial intelligence, such as a robot tax, to protect Canadian workers.
• 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.
• Guaranteed livable income, development of unions in sectors where they are absent, better legislation for workers’ rights.
• Housing as a human right, including investment in social housing and federal funding of non-market solutions.
• Lower the voting age to 16.
• Implement a proportional representation electoral system.
• Work with firearm owners and public safety experts to develop and maintain an evidence-based class of prohibited firearms.
• Decriminalize drug use and sex work.

Dimitri Lascaris

Background

Dimitri Lascaris, 56, is a lawyer and pro-Russian activist who was born in London, Ontario, and resides in Montreal, Quebec. He holds a law degree from the University of Toronto. He was the federal candidate for London West in 2015 and the Justice Critic in the Green Party's shadow cabinet in 2016, and is a former member of the Quebec Greens' National Executive.

Candidacy announced: March 11, 2020 Disqualified: May 26, 2020 Reinstated and approved: June 2, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: www.teamdimitri.ca

Policies

• Institute labour reforms to increase union membership.
• Prevent the use of replacement workers during strikes.
• Raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour.
• Increase income tax on wealthy Canadians and institute a cap on wealth.
• Make housing a human right.
• Dramatically reduce military spending.
• Support BDS movement.
• 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.
• Support a mixed-member proportional representation electoral system.
• Expand public health coverage to include dentistry, pharmacare, eldercare and mental health care.

Notes

Lascaris' candidacy was initially rejected by the party's vetting committee, which was appealed. The appeal was accepted on June 2, and his candidacy was reinstated and approved.

David Merner

Background

David Merner, 58, is a retired lawyer residing on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He holds degrees from Harvard College, University of Alberta, Oxford University, and University of Toronto. Prior to his university studies, David was largely educated in French pre-schools and primary schools. He was the former Green Party Critic for Justice (2018–2020), and was the Green Party candidate for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke in 2019. From 2012 to 2013, he was the president of the Liberal Party of Canada's British Columbia wing and was their candidate for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke in 2015. Prior to entering politics, Merner was a lawyer at the Department of Justice and for the Privy Council Office as well as the Ministry of Attorney General of British Columbia. He was also the recipient of the Head of the Public Service Award from the Government of Canada.

Candidacy announced: November 5, 2019 Candidacy approved: April 8, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: davidmerner.com

Policies

• Invest in the development of public transportation at the local level, including railways.
• Free tuition.
• Universal pharmacare.
• Decriminalize drugs and provide a safe drug supply.
• Implement 20-point plan to address the climate crisis and shift to a green economy.
• Adopt a system of proportional representation.

Glen Murray

Background

Glen Murray, 62, is a politician residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He holds a degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University. He is the former Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre (2010–2017) and a former cabinet minister under Premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne, most notably as the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (2014–2017). He was a candidate in the 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election but withdrew from that contest midrace. Murray previously ran for the Liberals in Charleswood—St. James in 2004. In addition, he has also served as city councillor (1989–1998) and Mayor of Winnipeg (1998–2004). He has also been the CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute (2007–2010), and executive director of the Pembina Institute (2017–2018). He is openly gay.

Candidacy announced: April 29, 2020 Candidacy approved: May 11, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: www.glenmurray.ca

Policies

• Work to incrementally develop a zero-waste, carbon-neutral economy and smart cities.
• Transition workers from old industries to new ones.
• Use revenue from carbon pricing to help lower and modest income communities and households cut costs and pollution through financing and grants.
• Supports guaranteed livable income and funding pharmacare.
• Supports UNDRIP.
• Supports changing electoral system to proportional representation.

Annamie Paul

Background

Annamie Paul, 47, 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. She was the Green Party Critic for Global Affairs (2019–2020) and the federal candidate in Toronto Centre in 2019. 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.

Candidacy announced: January 30, 2020 Candidacy approved: March 24, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: www.annamiepaul.ca

Policies

• Improve social security nets, particularly for times of crisis.
• Free post-secondary tuition and forgiveness of federal loan debt.
• Supports a guaranteed livable income.
• 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.
• Withdraw from the Safe Third Country Agreement, which redirects asylum seekers to the United States, and continue allowing access for refugees to enter Canada.
• Universal pharmacare, dental care, and the recognition of mental health as an important pillar of health funded accordingly.

Andrew West

Andrew West, 45, is a lawyer residing in Ottawa, Ontario. He holds a degree in Environmental Law from University of Ottawa. He is the Green Party of Ontario critic for the Attorney General. He stood as the provincial candidate in Carleton—Mississippi Mills in 2014, the federal candidate in Kanata—Carleton in 2015 and provincially in 2018, and as the provincial candidate in the 2020 Orléans by-election.

Candidacy announced: May 15, 2020 Candidacy approved: June 11, 2020 Date registered with Elections Canada: Campaign website: andrewwest.ca

Policies

• Running as a moderate.
• Court environmentalist Conservative voters.
• Switch the electoral system to proportional representation.
• Institute moratorium on oil sands development and redirect subsidies to renewable energy.
• Supports a guaranteed livable income.
• Develop a realistic timeline for balancing the federal budget.

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.

Candidacy announced: February 24, 2020 Withdrew: June 3, 2020 Campaign website: donelzer.com Notes: Withdrew via email.

Judy N. Green

Background

Judy N. Green is a computer scientist, veteran and small business owner residing in Nova Scotia. 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.

Candidacy announced: January 23, 2020 Disqualified: June 2, 2020 Reinstated and approved: June 10, 2020 Withdrew: August 30, 2020 Endorsed: David Merner Campaign website: judyngreen.com Notes: Green's candidacy was rejected by the party's vetting committee on June 2, which was appealed. The appeal was accepted and her candidacy was reinstated on June 10. She withdrew on August 30 and endorsed David Merner.

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.

Candidacy announced: January 23, 2020 Withdrew: February 3, 2020 Endorsed: Dimitri Lascaris Notes: Withdrew following announcement of the election rules, citing the entrance fee at the time of announcement, $50,000, being too high. Later endorsed Dimitri Lascaris.

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. His 2006 campaign is the subject of the NFB documentary Democracy 4 Dummies.

Candidacy announced: March 17, 2020 Candidacy approved: May 29, 2020 Disqualified: July 8, 2020 Campaign website: dylanperceval-maxwell.ca Notes: Disqualified by the party after inappropriate statements going against the Greens' core values.

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.

Candidacy announced: December 2, 2019 Withdrew: February 14, 2020 Notes: 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.

Alex Tyrrell

Background

Alex Tyrrell, 32, is the leader of the Green Party of Quebec (2013–present), and was the provincial candidate for Verdun in 2018, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in 2014, and Jacques-Cartier in 2012. He was also the candidate in the Outremont, Chicoutimi, Gouin, Louis-Hébert, and Roberval by-elections in 2013, 2016, May 2017, October 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Candidacy announced: January 15, 2020 Withdrew: June 3, 2020 Endorsed: Dimitri Lascaris Campaign website: alextyrrell.ca Notes: Withdrew citing "Elizabeth May and her associates meddling in the election".

• Jenica Atwin, MP for Fredericton (2019–2025)
• Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Opposition in Prince Edward Island (2019–2023), Leader of the Green Party of Prince Edward Island (2012–2023), MLA for New Haven-Rocky Point (2019–present), MLA for Kellys Cross-Cumberland (2015–2019)
• David Coon, Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick (2012–present), MLA for Fredericton South (2014–present)
• Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada (2014–2019), candidate for Outremont in 2019, Saint–Laurent in 2017 and Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs in 2015.
• 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.
• Paul Manly, MP for Nanaimo—Ladysmith (2019–2021)
• Pierre Nantel, Green Party candidate for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert in 2019, former New Democratic MP for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert (2015–2019), Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher (2011–2015)
• Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario (2009–present), MPP for Guelph (2018–present)
• Shawn Setyo, Leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party (2016–2020)
• Andrew Weaver, Leader of the Green Party of British Columbia (2015–2020), MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head (2013–2020)
• Jody Wilson-Raybould, former Liberal cabinet minister and Independent MP for Vancouver Granville (2015–2021)
• Richard Zurawski, Halifax City Councillor for District 12, Green Party candidate for Halifax West in 2015 and 2019

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. May responded that she was remaining neutral, but would help candidates from equity-seeking groups in fundraising efforts.

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. Perceval-Maxwell suggested that Haddad was "angry that a white person came up with an idea." 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."

• Green Party of Canada leadership elections

• 2020 Green Party of British Columbia leadership election

• 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election

• Green Party of Canada's official page for the 2020 leadership election