The Green Party, the sixth-largest party in Canada, was included for the first time in the Canadian Party Leaders’ Debates. For those of you unfamiliar with Canadian politics, the Leaders’ Debates are the Canadian equivalent to the US Presidential Debates, where the leaders of all the parties in Parliament debate one another prior to a national election. In Canada, the leader of the largest party in Parliament after an election becomes the Prime Minister. Thus, inclusion in the debates is a key step in being recognized as a national contender for votes.
Elizabeth May addressing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the 2008 French Leaders' Debate
Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party, became the third female included in the Canadian Leaders’ Debate. She is currently the only female leader of a major Canadian political party.
The Canadian Election was held on Tuesday, October 14th. The Green Party received 6.8% of the vote nationally, doubling their previous percentage of the vote, but won no seats.
American-born Elizabeth May became the leader of the Green Party in 2006 after serving as the leader of the Sierra Club of Canada. She was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005 and has served as the Senior Policy Advisor to a former Environment Minister.
