At a recent Green Party of Canada press conference, proposed co-leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault were asked who would represent the party in the federal election leaders’ debates. While the party’s federal council is proposing a co-leadership model, May strongly suggested that she should be the one to take the center stage, pointing out that in certain contexts, only one leader can be officially recognized.
Her response has further fueled concerns that the supposed structural shift to co-leadership is more about appearances than real change. With May continuing to dominate the party’s public presence into her 70s after having lead the party for 18 of the last 20 years, the co-leadership model has been framed as a modernization effort to bring more voices into leadership, including Pednault’s, who is 34 years old. May’s repeated comments on the matter at the press conference suggest that when it comes to the most high-profile event of the election campaign—the leaders’ debate—she still expects to be the party’s primary spokesperson.

Adding to the controversy, Pedneault’s appointment as co-leader is being pushed through a fast-tracked ratification vote rather than an open leadership race. Instead of allowing members to choose from multiple candidates, the party has put forward a yes-or-no vote on Pedneault’s appointment. Critics argue this process undermines party democracy and ensures that leadership remains in the hands of existing power structures rather than allowing fresh voices to emerge. The party’s federal council has dismissed these criticisms.
May’s dominance was on full display throughout the press conference announcing Pednault’s return as co-leader. She spoke for the vast majority of the event, frequently cutting in front of Pedneault to reach the podium and offering her perspective on nearly every question journalists directed at him. Even when questions were posed to Pedneault, May often stepped in to add her own take, sometimes both before and after Pedneault’s responses making it clear that she intended to have the final word.
Pedneault did not assert that he should be in the leaders debate, while May’s statements made it clear that she continues to hold a firm grip on internal power as well as external visibility and that she does not intend to share the spotlight—especially the one on the leaders’ debate stage.
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