In this federal election, the Green Party is represented by Jesse Pauley in the riding of Lanark-Frontenac (LF). His name will be on the ballot, however, he will not be actively campaigning.
“Why?” you might ask.
Jesse is considered to be a “paper” candidate. The Green Party of Canada is running candidates in all 343 ridings. Political parties need to have candidates registered in at least 90% of the ridings in order for their leader to participate in the leaders’ debates. By becoming the candidate in Lanark-Frontenac, Jesse is helping our Co-leader, Jonathan Pedneault, to participate in the leaders’ debates.
There are voters who strongly feel that they will only vote if there is a Green candidate on the ballot. Jesse is facilitating their democratic right to vote with their heart. Unfortunately, our first-past-the-post electoral system makes it difficult for small or new parties to elect MPs, even when there is widespread national support for the party. Regional parties, like the Bloc Quebecois, have concentrated support which allows them to elect more MPs than they would have under a fairer proportional representation system. Check out Fair Vote Canada (https://www.fairvote.ca/).
While several prominent LF Greens have endorsed the Liberal candidate, I have not, nor has the LF riding association. However, if a progressive candidate does have the opportunity to win in this riding, we do not want to stand in their way. Also our volunteer support is very limited as most of our active members from the past 3 decades are aging or have passed.
Greens are often accused of splitting the progressive vote. However, every time a Green candidate has won in Canada, the voter turnout has increased. People come out to vote Green when they otherwise wouldn’t bother voting. If voters see that a Green has a chance to win in their riding, they will more likely vote Green, rather than resort to strategic voting.
The idea of cooperation, for one election, among the progressive parties arises from time to time. There would be a plan to run only one candidate from the Liberals, Greens and NDP in each riding (or in certain ridings). Likely more MPs would be elected from these parties and fewer Conservatives. After the election, the progressive parties would work together to introduce some form of proportional representation for future elections.
Cooperation, needless to say, takes cooperation. Elizabeth May, Co-leader of the Green Party of Canada, reached out to the Liberal and New Democratic Parties prior to the current election, but they did not respond. Thus, the Green Party is running candidates in every riding, although some are “paper” candidates. If Liberal and NDP candidates want less competition, then they should work with their party to ensure that happens in the next election.
Sincerely,
Anita Payne,
Lanark-Frontenac Green Party of Canada CEO