Greens consider reduced ranks
by James CowanTORONTO - The Green Party may abandon its efforts to field candidates in every riding so it can target certain areas, leader Elizabeth May said Sunday.
May attended a nomination meeting in the uptown Toronto riding of St. Paul’s Sunday night. Despite the party’s rise in both polls and prominence, the event was a spartan affair, held in a cavernous church hall filled with twice the chairs needed to accommodate the crowd. As music from a religious revival meeting next door seeped through the walls, approximately 50 people listened as May boasted of their party’s 100-page election platform, ready to go for whenever the next vote is called.
“The Green Party will be better prepared than we ever have before for a federal election campaign,” she said.
She told potential candidates that there are new problems these days with running for the party. “I have to warn you that there is a serious risk that you will be elected,” May said.
In an interview before her speech, May said the party is still deciding its election strategy. The Greens fielded candidates in all 308 ridings across Canada during the 2004 and 2006 votes. Their tactics might change next time, May said.
“It’s possible we won’t have people in every riding, that will be up to my federal campaign chair,” she said, adding that there was a general feeling in the party that fielding candidates in as many riding as possible was important.
There is little doubt that May has heightened her party’s profile since she was elected its leader last spring. However, there are questions about whether the party has the campaign machinery in place to capitalize on its mounting popularity. Currently, the Green Party has only 177 active associations in the country’s 308 ridings, placing it at an organizational disadvantage if a snap election is called.
May said she still believes her party will be ready, regardless of when an election is called.
“We’re organizing well. We’re forming riding associations by the day,” she said.
The past six months have been turbulent for the Green party. Last November, May surprised many observers by placing second to Liberal Glen Pearson in a byelection for the riding of London North Centre. Her strong showing, combined with voters’ mounting concern for environmental issues, have many party members hoping they will claim their first House of Commons seat during the next election. According to an Ipsos Reid poll released last week, the Green party currently has the support of 9 per cent of voters, compared with 40 per cent for the Conservatives, 29 per cent for the Liberals and 14 per cent for the NDP.
May also garnered considerable attention by announcing plans to compete against Foreign Affair Minister Peter MacKay in his Nova Scotia riding. She also drew headlines by suggesting the Liberals might be willing to stay out of the Central Nova race. Negotiations continue with the Liberal party and May hopes to also engage the NDP, she said Sunday.
There are also allegations that May has become too friendly with Liberal leader Stephane Dion. B.C. environmentalist Briony Penn left the party this month for the Liberals, saying her departure was partly inspired by May’s many kind words for Dion.
