OTTAWA -- Green party Leader Elizabeth May says she's delighted by the Green breakthrough in the New Brunswick election, saying it proves the party has momentum with a federal election on the horizon.

David Coon won the hotly contested Fredericton South riding in the province's election on Monday. It's the first-ever seat in the New Brunswick legislature for the Greens.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, May says Coon's triumph proves that Green votes are not restricted to British Columbia.

She says it also shows the Green message is resonating across Canada, and suggests that federal Greens could be elected in sufficient numbers to hold the balance of power in Ottawa in the event of a minority government.

Currently only May and Bruce Hyer sit as Greens in the House of Commons.

She points to the influence of the Greens in Australia, saying a handful of party faithful helped push forward climate legislation there.

She says if Canada's Greens find themselves in a similar situation following a federal election next year -- and are in talks with a minority government -- they would demand action on climate, reform of the electoral system and proportional representation.