2025 Green Party of Canada co-leadership election

2025 Green Party of Canada co-leadership election

February 4, 2025
Turnout29%
 
Gord4Guelph Rally Guelph 2015 029 (22333571922).jpg
Jonathan Pedneault Interview.jpg
Candidate Elizabeth May & Jonathan Pedneault Abstention
Votes 2,674 316
Percentage 89.4 10.6

Leader before election

Elizabeth May (sole)

Elected leaders

Elizabeth May & Jonathan Pedneault (co-leaders)

2025 Green Party leadership election
DateFebruary 4, 2025
Convention116 Albert Street
Suite 812
Ottawa, Ontario[1]
Won byElizabeth May & Jonathan Pedneault
Ballots1
Candidates1 (joint ticket) (+ abstention)

The Green Party of Canada held a co-leadership ratification election on February 4, 2025.

Background

On November 19, 2022, Elizabeth May was elected leader of the party once again, promising to convert the current leadership model into a co-leadership model, with Jonathan Pedneault being her co-leader.[2][3] Notably, four of the six candidates approved to run in the 2022 leadership race campaigned as part of joint tickets, promising to appoint the losing member of their ticket as a deputy or co-leader. As co-leadership was not recognized in the Green Party’s constitution at the time of the leadership election, a move to shared leadership required approval from the Green Party. Former party leader Elizabeth May campaigned with Jonathan Pedneault; he became Deputy Leader while the two sought to amend the party constitution.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

In February 2024, party members were to vote on motions which, if passed, would have amended the party's constitution to implement a co-leadership model.[11] However, Pedneault was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons through a by-election and the proposed constitutional amendment was not voted upon due to disagreement within the party.[12] On July 9, 2024, Jonathan Pedneault resigned as deputy leader, citing personal reasons.[13][14] He returned in January 2025 to serve as co-leader, pending election by party membership, which was approved on February 4, 2025, in a landslide.[15][16][17][18] However, while the vote was approved by 89.4% of the 2,990 Green Party of Canada members who voted, 71% of the total 10,301 Green Party of Canada members who were eligible to cast a ballot did not vote.[19]

Rules

To be eligible, a candidate:

  • must complete a leadership contest application;
  • must have been a member in good standing for at least three months at the end of the application period, unless their employment prohibited them from membership in a political party;
  • must be eligible for election to the House of Commons; have no debt owed to the party;
  • have no open litigation against the party;
  • must be solvent;
  • must not have participated in the writing of the campaign rules;
  • must be "confirmed to be proficient in speaking and understanding speech in both official languages, such that they can carry out their duties in both languages", unless an Indigenous applicant;
  • must have "not demonstrated a pattern, or committed a single egregious act, within reasonable recency, of evidenced and documented violations of the GPC members’ code of conduct, such as inciting or committing violence, racism or abuse";
  • has not engaged in a pattern of public advocacy of "positions contrary to the Global Green Principles".[20]

All Party members age 14 and older were eligible to vote.[21]

Results

2025 Green Party of Canada co-leadership election
Candidate Votes %
Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault 2,674 89.4
Abstention 316 10.6
Total votes 2,990 100.00

See also

References

  1. ^ "Privacy Policy". Green Party of Canada. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Elizabeth May elected Green Party leader again, plans to co-lead with Jonathan Pedneault". November 19, 2022.
  3. ^ CBC News (November 21, 2022). "Political insider breaks down Green Party of Canada co-leadership win, potential trouble ahead". CBC News. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "Elizabeth May wins Green Party of Canada leadership for second time – November 19, 2022". Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  5. ^ "Elizabeth May returns to Green Party leadership with running mate Jonathan Pedneault". thestar.com. November 19, 2022. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Elizabeth May elected Green leader again, to share burden with Jonathan Pedneault". Toronto Sun. November 19, 2022. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jonathan Pedneault resigns from Green Party, leaving Elizabeth May as sole leader". Toronto Star. July 9, 2024. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "Deputy leader stepping down from bid to co-lead federal Green Party after internal debate". Toronto Star. July 9, 2024. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "Pedneault plans return as Green Party co-leader after 6-month pause". CBC News. January 27, 2025. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "Historic Vote: Greens Choose Co-Leadership". Green Party of Canada. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  11. ^ Campbell, Ian (November 20, 2023). "One year after leadership vote, Greens yet to amend constitution, but still moving towards co-leadership". The Hill Times. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Deputy leader stepping down from bid to co-lead federal Green Party after internal debate". Toronto Star. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Green Party deputy leader Jonathan Pedneault steps down for 'personal reasons'". CBC News. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "Jonathan Pedneault resigns from Green Party, leaving Elizabeth May as sole leader". Toronto Star. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  15. ^ The Canadian Press (January 27, 2025). "Pedneault plans return as Green Party co-leader after 6-month pause". CBC News. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  16. ^ Lachance Nové, Fabrice (February 4, 2025). "Historic Vote: Greens Choose Co-Leadership". Green Party of Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  17. ^ Benson, Stuart (February 11, 2025). "Greens can tap into global network as Canada finds itself with few friends amid U.S. threats, say co-leaders". The Hill Times. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  18. ^ Thurton, David (February 18, 2025). "Green Party adopts green dot emoji 🟢 as new logo". CBC News. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  19. ^ "Green Party Finally Publishes Voter Turnout—And It's Shockingly Low". Global Green News. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  20. ^ "Leadership Contest Rules". Green Party of Canada. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  21. ^ Thurton, David (September 29, 2022). "Green party downsizes its leadership race after resignations". CBC News. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.