'Off to the races': Green Party of Canada searches for Elizabeth May's replacement | CBC News

Green Party of Canada begins search for Elizabeth May's replacement

Greens are allowing members to vote for co-leaders

The Greens are seeking a new leader, or a pair of leaders, to head the federal party and replace Elizabeth May.

The Green Party of Canada officially launched its five-month leadership race on Thursday.

This year's race is unique because it marks the first time that candidates can officially run together as co-leaders.

The party's website says the Greens "will officially accept applications from both individual candidates and co-leadership pairs, reflecting the party’s long-standing commitment to shared leadership, grassroots democracy and collaborative politics."

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Candidates have until July 17 to enter the race and Canadians have until Oct. 14 to become a member of the party to vote.

Members will choose the new leader primarily through online ranked ballots starting Nov. 2. Results will be announced on Nov. 14.

The entrance fee is $15,000 and the party will charge a 30 per cent administrative fee. Candidates must sign up a minimum of 200 new members, including 50 youth members, to be eligible.

As was the case in the previous race, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in French and English. Exemptions are granted to Indigenous applicants or if collectively the co-leadership candidates speak both of Canada's official languages.

The party will organize at least three official debates including one in English, one in French and another by the Young Greens of Canada Council.

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The Greens endured one of their worst defeats in the April 2025 election. For the first time in 25 years, the party's national vote share dropped below two per cent, which meant it could not qualify for a 50 per cent rebate of eligible expenses from Elections Canada.

The party's co-leader, Jonathan Pedneault, failed to secure a seat and resigned. After the election, the Greens turned their attention to paying off a $750,000 loan and another $250,000 in outstanding expenses.

In January the party announced it was back in the green after paying off its $1-million campaign debt.

May, who announced last summer that she was planning to step down, said Thursday that she will remain as leader until November.

"I do so with confidence that the party's future is secure," May said in a statement. "We achieved great financial success in 2025, erasing all debt and closing last year with a solid surplus. I will continue to raise critical issues as a Green MP. And now — off to the races!"

May was first elected Green Party leader in 2006 and stepped down in 2019 after the election of Annamie Paul. May, the party's sole MP, returned to lead the party in 2022.

Senior reporter, Parliamentary Correspondent

David Thurton is a senior reporter in CBC's Parliamentary Bureau. He covers daily politics in the nation’s capital and specializes in environment and energy policy. Born in Canada but raised in Trinidad and Tobago, he’s moved around more times than he can count. He’s worked for CBC in several provinces and territories, including Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He can be reached at david.thurton@cbc.ca