According to multiple Green Party sources, party officials are discussing how to hold a leadership contest now that four committee members have resigned. The sources, who are not authorized to speak publicly, tell CBC News the party may hold fewer formal leadership events and is considering condensing two rounds of voting into one. The party was expected to announce the leadership finalists after the first round of voting on October 14 and then unveil its new leader on November 19. The Greens’ federal council, the party’s governing body, has yet to make a decision. The body is scheduled to meet next Wednesday. Interim leader Amita Kuttner told a press conference on Wednesday that the race was on and the party would release more details soon. This month, Lorraine Rekmans stepped down from her role on the leadership committee and as party president. He cited the party’s refusal to halt the leadership race until it could investigate allegations of systemic discrimination in the party — allegations that came to the fore when Kuttner was misgendered at a leadership presentation. LISTEN: What’s happening to the greens? The CPC breaks down the internal strife within the party CBC News: The House8:49 It’s not (yet) easy being a Green: Allegations roil leadership race CBC’s David Thurton talks to interim leader Amita Kuttner, outgoing party chair Lorraine Rekmans and others about the infighting within the Green party. Following Rekmans’ resignation, three other committee members — Natalie Odd, Michael MacLean and John Wilson — resigned their positions via email. “I am surprised and disappointed to learn that (the leadership committee’s) recommendations to the federal board, to protect LGBT+ members from potential harm in the operation of the Leadership Contest, have been rejected,” said Wilson’s resignation email, which was seen by the CBC News. “We regret the unfortunate series of events that occurred. It is not what we had envisioned,” said a joint resignation letter submitted by Odd and MacLean and obtained by CBC News. “Tender operations are being transferred to (Green Party) staff who will work with volunteers.” Although Odd, MacLean and Wilson have stepped down from the committee, they retain key roles on the federal council and the Green Party Fund. Sources tell the CBC their departures undermine preparations for the leadership election, which is supposed to be held mostly online. When the leadership race began in August, the party promised it would be the most technologically advanced ever. Virtual campaign events and the party website require a lot of technical and time-consuming work. But the Green Party of Canada is facing an economic crisis and relies on unpaid volunteers. Some of that expertise has now been lost due to recent resignations, sources said. MP Elizabeth May, a former party leader, is running for co-leader this time. He said the party should go ahead with the contest despite setbacks. “I was in the leadership race in 2006,” May said. “And we had fewer resources, fewer people, and we ran a very credible campaign and leadership contest, with a debate in English in Calgary and a debate in French in Montreal. Several bilingual debates in Ottawa.” Former Green Party interim leader Jo-Ann Roberts said the party should be able to proceed with the race without much difficulty because most of the hard work – setting the rules, vetting candidates – has already been done. done “The organizing leadership committee has done the heavy lifting,” Roberts said. “So I think whoever comes in has a very strong foundation.”
