Mike Morrice named deputy leader for Green Party of Canada

Green Party MP for Kitchener Centre Mike Morrice rises in the House of Commons, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

A former MP from Ontario is taking on a new role.

In a news release on Friday, the Green Party of Canada announced Mike Morrice, formerly Kitchener Centre’s representative, was named as the new deputy leader for the Green Party of Canada.

“Since I first ran to represent Kitchener Centre in 2019, I have used the platforms available to me to make meaningful progress on our local priorities,” Morrice said. “By connecting with communities like ours, which continue to face affordability, housing, and mental health crises, we can build the necessary momentum required for the change we need.”

Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May was in Waterloo Region for the big announcement on Thursday.

“Working with Mike Morrice has been a highlight as my time as MP and Green Party leader, as we prepare for the next chapter of our growth as a party and a movement, I am thrilled Mike has agreed to serve in this leadership role,” she said.

Morrice ran in the federal election in April but is no longer a sitting member of parliament after he was defeated by current Conservative MP Kelly DeRidder. The riding was close throughout the night, with the count continuing into the early morning hours. According to the official results posted by Elections Canada, DeRidder secured 20,234 votes compared to 19,859 votes cast for Morrice — a difference of 375 ballots.

Shortly after the decision was announced, Morrice appeared before his supporters and thanked them for their unwavering faith in him. He called his time as an MP “a privilege of a lifetime.”

Morrice was first elected in 2021 and served as the Green Party of Canada’s critic for housing and disability inclusion. He is already the party’s confirmed candidate for the next federal election.

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