DonLever Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 (edited) https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/politics/elizabeth-may-resigning-as-green-party-leader-names-jo-ann-roberts-successor/ar-AAJPmFy?ocid=spartandhp OTTAWA — Elizabeth May has stepped down as the leader of the federal Green party. May told a news conference Monday on Parliament Hill that after 13 years in the job, she's stepping down as leader effective immediately. She appointed deputy leader Jo-Ann Roberts as her interim successor. Shortly after the federal vote on Oct. 21, May hinted that she did not expect to be the Green party's leader in the next campaign. However, she did not say when she would step down. May, 65, said she promised her daughter three years ago that the 2019 election would be her last as the party leader — though not necessarily her last as an MP. She also said it's about timing — she's predicting the newly elected minority Parliament will last about two years, which means the Greens need to have a new leader in place with plenty of time to prepare for the next campaign. A leadership convention is to be held in Prince Edward Island in October 2020. "You have to look at what's in the best interest of the party," May said during a gathering that was ostensibly to introduce her new caucus in Ottawa. Including May, three Green MPs were elected last month, the most in its history but far shy of the 12 needed to gain official party status. Paul Manly was re-elected in Nanaimo-Ladysmith on Vancouver Island after winning a byelection there last spring. Jenica Atwin became the first Green MP elected outside British Columbia, upsetting the Liberal incumbent in Fredericton. The Green party went into the recent federal election running neck-and-neck with the NDP in most polls, fuelled by momentum achieved by electoral success in provincial campaigns in B.C., Ontario, New Brunswick and P.E.I. But a strong performance by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the latter half of the campaign helped resurrect his party, which lost 15 seats but came out better than many had expected with 24 MPs. Roberts is a former CBC journalist and radio host who May appointed as her second-in-command in 2018. She ran unsuccessfully for the Greens in Victoria in 2015 and in Halifax this fall. She said she is taking on the role reluctantly given May's legacy as leader, but noted she will be focused on running the leadership race. "This is not a replacement for Elizabeth May," said Roberts. "I don't think anybody would be up for that job." The fact that neither of the other two Green MPs were tapped for the interim job ensures they are eligible to seek the permanent job at next year's leadership convention. Atwin, however, said she has no such plans, given her young family and the challenges of being a rookie MP. Roberts confirmed that as the interim leader, she will not be allowed to seek the job on a permanent basis. May has led the Greens since 2006, becoming the first Green MP elected to the House of Commons in 2011. Having hinted recently that she might be interested in running to be Speaker of the House of Commons, May largely ruled out doing so in the short term, because Manly and Atwin asked her to remain in the caucus. Edited November 4, 2019 by DonLever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squamfan Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Thank god, green party back to irrelevant 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Not surprised. This was rumoured for a while. Unless they can find the right new leader, they may have already peaked as a party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopshodan Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 (edited) The time for the Green party should be now yet they under achieved in this election. With the right new leadership, hopefully they will flourish. All the best May. Edited November 4, 2019 by bishopshodan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer79 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Probably the right decision for her party. She didn't get any traction last election and got pummeled by the NDP's ground game on Vancouver Island. They are the only party in parliament that doesn't have enough MP's to be a coalition partner. She also put on a pretty tired performance at the debates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 This probably means that she'll run uncontested for speaker. Which is a great role for her for her last 2 years or so in gov't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewbieCanuckFan Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 12 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said: This probably means that she'll run uncontested for speaker. Which is a great role for her for her last 2 years or so in gov't. Might be smarter tactically for JT to get an NDPer to get that job as the NDP are in no shape financially to campaign in another election soon. I’m not sure you can say that about the Greens. Pretty much guarantees the Speaker will break any ties in your favor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 6 minutes ago, NewbieCanuckFan said: Might be smarter tactically for JT to get an NDPer to get that job as the NDP are in no shape financially to campaign in another election soon. I’m not sure you can say that about the Greens. Pretty much guarantees the Speaker will break any ties in your favor. In this session tho the math just doesn't make a tie very likely at all. The new Green leader is going to need time to get known, etc. so having May not being able to openly criticize the gov'ts moves of the day is helpful. But you never know until its done, an NDP MP might want the gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 overdue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 She's not getting any younger, good for her. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrockBoester Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Well, they just lost my vote then! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Cathode Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 This what happens when the disaster that's been predicted forever doesn't come about. The true believers just make up new excuses, and the non-believers just watch you fade into irrelevance. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelar Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 One would think in this climate of global destruction and Canada playing a huge role in GHG that the Green Party would be thriving. Go figure. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post luckylager Posted November 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted November 5, 2019 I hope some raving hippy with a giant grey afro takes the reins. Preferably a retired chemist who doesn't speak French and is secretly a stand up comic. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jester13 Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 3 hours ago, Ray_Cathode said: This what happens when the disaster that's been predicted forever doesn't come about. The true believers just make up new excuses, and the non-believers just watch you fade into irrelevance. Huh? Can you elaborate? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Ok, I gotta come clean. This last election was the first time I've ever gone off board and voted for a nonNDP canditate. (NDP still won my riding) I voted green and I did so in protest of what I perceived as Jag being a big phony. Also, I've always thought May debates well and was the only relatable canditate in the debate I watched, which also happened to be the only debate I watched AND when Jag lost me. Now with May stepping aside, I believe it's time for a mad scientist to take control and with the help of a few superheroes lead the country towards a green future where oil guys can still be rich by working for less $&!#ty companies. From Bonavista to Vancouver Island This land was made for you and ne 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaudette Celly Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 (edited) Apparently the purported "mass extinction" fear-mongering fable just wasn't enough. 17 hours ago, Jimmy McGill said: This probably means that she'll run uncontested for speaker. Which is a great role for her for her last 2 years or so in gov't. Fantastic, nothing better than a profane terrorist-loving misandrist drunk to fully embarrass and discredit the institution. As if Trudeau wasn't enough... Edited November 5, 2019 by Gaudette Celly 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackcanuck Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Does she walk over to lead the Green Party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldoescobar Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Bwahahahahahahahaha Let the hate flow!!!! sheep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 5 minutes ago, Mackcanuck said: Does she walk over to lead the Green Party interesting idea. She has no experience at all on an environmental platform so sure why not? i kid. but you might have something here on the name recognition piece of it, and it would be great to have a FNs person as a party leader, that would be moving things forward too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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