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Annamie Paul

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Federal Green Party Leader Steps Down

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Annamie Paul has stepped down as leader of the Green Party of Canada.

Speaking Monday morning in Toronto, Paul told reporters that with a leadership review looming she won’t spend any more time playing politics.

“I just will not spend any more time focused on political games as opposed to public policy,” says Paul, “Which is what I entered politics for in the first place, particularly at a time when it is so needed.”

She says that with what she calls a struggle for the soul of the party going on, she just doesn’t have the heart to continue.

“I just asked myself whether this is something I wanted to continue. Whether I was willing to continue to put up with the attacks I knew would be coming, whether to continue having to fight and struggle just to fulfil my democratically-elected role as leader of this party.”

Paul tells us that she knew it would be an uphill battle as leader from the moment she took on the role.

“When I was elected and put in this role I was breaking a glass ceiling. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was breaking a glass ceiling that was going to fall on my head and leave a lot of shards of glass that I was going to have to crawl over throughout my time as leader.”

She explains that she knew the pressure was there on Election Day even hours before the polls closed.

“On the day of the election itself, in the morning, the only email that I received from our council…the president of our council…was an email calling for an emergency meeting to launch a leadership review.”

On election night Paul finished third in her riding of Toronto Centre.

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Federal Leaders Make Pitches As Advance Voting Begins

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We are entering the final ten days of the federal election campaign as advance polls open across Canada.

In Ottawa before heading home to his British Columbia riding to vote, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh believes his party offers the best option for voters.

“We’re saying we’re not going to cut the help you need. We’re not going to put the burden back on you. We’re going to offer a third option which is to make the billionaires pay their fair share.”

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau made another pitch for his party’s $10 per day child care plan in Hamilton, Ontario.

“To save families across the country, thousands and thousands of dollars per year.”

During a stop in Mississauga, Erin O’Toole says the Conservatives have the only viable pandemic recovery plan.

“To recover a million jobs… to tackle Canada’s mental health crisis with a new mental health action plan… to protect the health of Canadians.”

During a rare campaign stop outside of her Toronto area riding, Green Party leader Annamie Paul was in Ottawa where she told supporters her party will not forget about Canadians who were thrown into financial crisis when the pandemic began.

People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier is campaigning in the West with a public rally and a meet and greet planned in Edmonton on Saturday.

Meantime, the advance polls will be open this weekend and on Monday.

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Five Party Leaders Debate In English Tonight

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Canada’s five party leaders will debate affordability, reconciliation, climate, leadership and accountability during the English language television debate on Thursday night.

University of New Brunswick political science professor J.P. Lewis said seeing political violence in the United States, it’s not surprising to see it creep into the Canadian political landscape.

With violence impacting campaign stops by the Liberal party recently, Lewis said there is nothing new in seeing anger for the incumbent government.

“What changes the dynamics of this sort of thing is obviously social media in terms of individuals’ ability to share messages and organize with like-minded individuals,” Lewis said.

A lot may be riding on the debate for some party leaders.

Lewis said for many Canadians the debate will be an introduction to Conservative leader Erin O’Toole even though he’s been an MP since 2012 and served as a cabinet minister under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“If you are not following things daily, this may be a new politician to you. Because the Tories have been up in the polls for a couple of weeks now, I’d say the spotlight may be on him and we’ll see how the other leaders react,” Lewis said.

Lewis thinks this will be a very close election.

Joining O’Toole will be Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, The Green party’s Annamie Paul, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet.

The two-hour debate begins at 8 p.m. Central.

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Leaders Forge On With September Vote

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Let the campaign for your vote begin on September 20.

Newly installed Governor General Mary Simon granted Justin Trudeau’s request Sunday to dissolve Parliament and trigger the 44th federal election.

Opposition leaders are questioning the timing of an election with Canada in the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole launches his party’s election campaign, August 15, 2021. (CPAC)

“Mr. Trudeau is launching an election in the fourth wave of a pandemic, not securing the health and economic well-being of Canadians after he let in the Delta variant into this country,” remarked Conservative leader Erin O’Toole. “This is a time for us to work together for the well-being of all Canadians.”

O’Toole also unveiled some details on Canada’s Recovery Plan, which includes a promise to balance the budget by 2031.

“We will get the budget back to balance over the course of the next decade,” O’Toole pledged. “Because our first pillar of the plan is to get people back to work in all sectors of the economy and in all regions of Canada. We’re the only party that supports getting people back to work.”

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters in Montreal, August 15th, 2021. (CPAC)

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stressed that the pandemic has been more difficult on some than others, adding, “We’ve been in the same storm for sure, but some people have ridden out this storm in luxury yachts while others have been in leaky lifeboats. Instead of calling an election, Justin Trudeau should be focused on these crises. On getting people the help they need and walking the path towards recovery instead of walking away from these commitments.”

Singh went onto say, “Justin Trudeau wants to grab power, wants a majority but why does he want it? It’s certainly not that he wants to help people, but that he wants to help people less, and you’ll ultimately pay the price.”

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul, who will also be campaigning for a seat in the House of Commons in the Toronto-Centre riding, had a message to those who might think things are back to post-pandemic normal.

Federal Green Party Leader Annamie Paul speaks to media in Toronto, August 15th, 2021. (CPAC)

“We are officially into the fourth wave of this pandemic,” Paul says. “And for anyone who wants to tell me or those behind me that we are out of it or that things are different, they are wrong.”

Paul added, “Having an election during forest fire evacuations, heat domes, fourth waves, losing the legacy of our troops in Afghanistan… well I guess that’s just the price that (the Liberals) feel we’re going to have to pay.

Election Day is Monday, September 20.

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Green Party Slams Vaccine “Stockpiling”

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The federal Green Party is calling out the Liberals’ decision to use the COVAX vaccine-sharing program meant for poorer countries.

Canada has donated to the international program, but is also accepting almost 1.9-million doses from it.

Green Leader Annamie Paul says it isn’t the right thing to do.

“We know that for many poor countries, this is the only source of vaccines, the only supply of vaccines available to them. And despite this, Canada continues to insist that it will take its 1.9-million doses, that yes, we are entitled to, but of course we should not be taking,” she says.

Paul points out the World Health Organization says actions like Canada’s are compromising the COVAX vaccine supply for other nations.

She adds that will come back to hurt Canada, along with countries that rely on the sharing program.

If we do not bring the pandemic under control globally, then people in Canada will not be safe,” Paul claims.

In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the decision by pointing out the country has the legal right to access COVAX.

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Canadian Politicians React To U.S. Election

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Politicians from all stripes across Canada are reacting to the election results south of the border.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he looks forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Trudeau said Canada and the United States enjoy an “extraordinary relationship” that is unique on the world stage.

“Our shared geography, common interests, deep personal connections, and strong economic ties make us close friends, partners, and allies,” wrote Trudeau in a statement Saturday.

“We will further build on this foundation as we continue to keep our people safe and healthy from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and work to advance peace and inclusion, economic prosperity, and climate action around the world.”

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, in a statement on Twitter, said Canada and the U.S. have a historic alliance.

“Canada’s Conservatives will always work with the U.S. to advance our common values and close economic ties,” said O’Toole.

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the federal New Democratic Party, also took to Twitter to congratulate Biden and Harris.

Singh said Harris has made history as the first woman and person of colour to be elected vice-president.

“More importantly, you’ve sparked the imagination for generations of young women to come,” he said.

Annamie Paul, the new leader of the Green Party of Canada, also paid tribute to Harris on her historic victory.

Paul said the election is a chance to “usher in a new chapter in the vital U.S.-Canada relationship.”

“We should expect to see enhanced climate commitments across North American,” she said.

Paul said she shares Biden’s commitment to impose Carbon Border Tariffs on carbon-intensive goods from jurisdictions which fail to meet their climate obligations.