Canada’s Green Party Postpones its Disputed National Convention

The national convention of the Green party that was expected to take place on August 21st 2021 has now been postponed. No new date has been announced yet, but it will only be scheduled after the federal election in 2021. Rosie Emery, the Green Party press secretary, confirmed in an email that the national convention will likely take place in mid-November 2021.

The convention would have been a major distraction for Green Party leader, Annamie Paul, and her campaign. The early Federal election will take place on September 20th, just five weeks away. The postponement of the national convention cancels any chance that Paul could have been voted out during the federal election campaign. The only way she could now be ousted is if officials renew the review of her Green membership.

At an emergency party meeting in mid-July, the Federal council of the Green Party decided to delay its general meeting. This allowed for a much-needed pause in the internal disputes the Green Party has been experiencing since May 2021.

According to CBC News, Green senior officials have been more helpful to Pauls campaign since the announcement of the snap election. Some of Paul’s staff members have been rehired. The party has also posted openings for a number of election-related positions. The start dates are marked “as soon as possible,” according to the website. However, the Greens still do not have a campaign manager and will rely heavily on volunteers.

When asked about where the Party will be campaigning, Paul told reporters:

Annamie Paul opened her campaign office in Toronto Centre on July 22nd. It is unclear whether or not the Greens have a budget big enough to canvass outside of the city of Toronto.