Annamie Paul resigns as Green Party leader
Annamie Paul is resigning. The embattled Green Party leader announced Monday that she’s started the process of withdrawing from the role, calling her less than a year at the helm of the party “the worst period” in her life.
Paul’s decision to step down comes on the heels of the party initiating a review of her leadership given the results of last Monday’s federal election.
Paul said that when the review of her leadership launched this past weekend, she asked herself whether she had it in her to continue in the job knowing she’d be facing an uphill battle.
“I just don’t have the heart for it,” she said. “I just will not spend any more time focused on political games as opposed to public policy, which is what I entered politics for in the first place, particularly at a time when it is so needed.”
Paul did not take any questions from reporters after making the announcement.
In the 2021 federal vote, Paul failed to win a seat, or grow the Greens’ seat count in the House of Commons.
Moreover, the Greens saw a significant drop in their share of the popular vote, after only managing to put a Green candidate on the ballot in 252 of the 338 ridings.
It was the fewest number of candidates the party had run in a federal election since 2000. The party placed sixth in overall percentage of the vote, dropping to 2.3 per cent from the 6.5 per cent secured in 2019. In 2021 just 398,775 Canadians voted Green, in contrast to the 1,189,631 votes secured in 2019.
Party bylaws stipulate that because Paul did not become prime minister, she would have to face a leadership review within six months. Voting in that process was set to begin Oct. 26 and end on Nov. 25, according to the Green Party. Now, the Greens will likely be looking to name a new interim leader before launching their second leadership race since the 2019 federal election.
“There is a struggle that is going on for the soul of the party,” Paul said to Green Party members as they head into this new chapter. And to her detractors? Paul said that while they may take “small comfort” in seeing her go: “You will not succeed in the end, and I will look to those other people to take up the baton and to move the party in the direction that I still believe that it can go in.”
GREENS HOLD 2 SEATS IN HOUSE
After spending the majority of the federal election campaigning in her home riding of Toronto Centre, Paul placed a distant fourth. It was her third time running, and losing, in that riding.
In an interview with CTV National News ahead of the federal vote, Paul defended her choice to run in what historically has been a Liberal stronghold, saying that there wasn’t another so-called safe Green seat waiting for her.
The Green Party will be sending two MPs to Ottawa for the 44th Parliament: Longtime Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C. MP and former leader Elizabeth May and rookie Mike Morrice representing Kitchener Centre, Ont.
Incumbent Green MP Paul Manly lost in a tight race in Nanaimo-Ladysmith, B.C., despite Victoria being one of the few regions Paul visited in the final days of the campaign.
“The last campaign was a major setback for the Green Party and its brand. At a time when there are wildfires in British Columbia, and people worried about the environment, the fact that the Green Party came lower than the People's Party of Canada—which is a protest party—should be a big wake up call for the greens,” said Founder of Nanos Research Nik Nanos.
Former interim party leader Jo-Ann Roberts says the party has struggled for some time to transition to “the next level of politics” and that Paul’s resignation will be a moment of reflection.
“We have to learn from this, we have to start repairing and rebuilding this party,” she told CTV News Channel’s Power Play. “I think we will thank, years from now, Annamie Paul for the work she did on the Green Party, we’ll be a better party because of what we learned from her.”
A TUMULTUOUS TENURE
On Monday, Paul said she has no regrets, but she knew going into the campaign that it was going to be “very hard” to convince Canadians to vote Green given she did not have adequate funding or staff, and was under “the threat of a court process,” from her party.
A leadership review nearly took place in June, as part of a bout of intra-party politicking that also included an attempt to strip Paul of her Green membership.
The rift between Paul and some outgoing Green Party governing body officials included concerns over the Greens’ financial standing, and the handling of the defection of former Green MP Jenica Atwin to the Liberals over a difference of position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Paul fought ardently against claims made about her leadership style, suggesting they were based in racism and sexism.
This all saw Paul under intense scrutiny in the months leading up to the election and left her on shaky ground heading into the vote, which prompted some candidates to ask that she not come campaign in their ridings.
When she became leader in October 2020, Paul made history as the first Jewish woman and first Black woman to be elected leader of a major political party in Canada. Her pitch to voters in the 2021 vote was to “be daring.”
“When I was elected and put in this role, I was breaking a glass ceiling. What I didn't realize at the time is that I was breaking a glass ceiling that was going to fall on my head and leave a lot of shards of glass that I was going to have to crawl over,” Paul said Monday.
“When I arrived at that debate stage [the English-language 2021 leaders’ debate] I had crawled over that glass, I was spitting up blood, but I was determined to be there. I was determined to be there so that the next time someone like me thinks of running and wonders whether it's possible to be on that stage, they will know that it is possible to do that.”
Paul’s executive assistant Victoria Galea, who also ran as a candidate during the election, said the premise that the party undermined Paul’s campaign is “almost an understatement.”
“The party did not want to provide us with money in order to siphon our success. There’s absolutely no reason for them to lay off half of our staff leading into an election including the entire leader’s office,” she said on CTV’s Power Play. “It was not a money inflow issue it was money mismanagement issue.”
Galea said while the conflict with Atwin acted as a “catalyst” for the ensuing issues, Monday’s outcome was inevitable.
“I absolutely think we still would have ended up here. All roads led to this path, when you’re not supported in your own party even though you were democratically elected to be the leader,” she said.
Asked whether she believes there are racist members within the Green Party and whether racism was used against Paul during her tenure, Galea said “yes, I think absolutely that occurred.”
Former Liberal Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who has been vocal about the racism she experienced while serving in Parliament, responded to Paul’s announcement.
“I am disappointed in myself that I was shocked and surprised because inevitably, that is what we’ve seen unfold for women of colour, especially Black women within politics,” she said on CTV’s Power Play.
“Somebody that puts their name on a ballot, who decides they want to step up and serve our country in its democracy should not be treated that way.”
Earlier in the day, Kayne Alleyne-Adams, the debate preparation coordinator for Paul and her former policy director, told CTV News Channel he joined the party because he was inspired by Paul, but “what I've seen is appalling, and what I've seen is not something that I want to be a part of upholding. So unless serious changes are made today, personally speaking, I think I'll be resigning my membership.”
PARTY LEADERS REACT
Shortly after Paul’s announcement, her counterparts in other federal parties reacted to the news on social media, thanking her for her time and leadership.
“Thank you…. For your resilience and perseverance. You made it possible for an entire generation of Canadians to see themselves reflected in politics. On behalf of so many Canadians, thank you,” tweeted NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
“Thank you… for your perseverance & for being a trailblazer for Canadians from all backgrounds interested in public service. I always appreciated our discussions and admire your tenacity. Wishing you and your family well,” tweeted Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole.
And, People’s Party Leader Maxime Bernier—who also failed to win a seat last Monday—tweeted that while he “completely” disagrees with her views, he respects Paul.
“She is a nice and decent person… She was viciously attacked by extremists in her party. I wish her good luck in her next endeavours,” Bernier posted.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the chorus, thanking her for “stepping forward and for serving Canadians with determination.”
“Wishing you nothing but the best in your next chapter,” he tweeted.
With files from CTV News’ Ryan Flanagan
IN DEPTH
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Trudeau, key election players to testify at foreign interference hearings. What you need to know
The public hearings portion of the federal inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections and democratic institutions are picking back up this week. Here's what you need to know.
Who is supporting, opposing new online harms bill?
Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's sweeping online harms legislation is before Parliament, allowing key stakeholders, major platforms, and Canadians with direct personal experience with abuse to dig in and see what's being proposed, reaction is streaming in. CTVNews.ca has rounded up reaction, and here's how Bill C-63 is going over.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
TREND LINE What Nanos' tracking tells us about Canadians' mood, party preference heading into 2024
Heading into a new year, Canadians aren't feeling overly optimistic about the direction the country is heading, with the number of voters indicating negative views about the federal government's performance at the highest in a decade, national tracking from Nanos Research shows.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Local Spotlight
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Molly on a mission: N.S. student collecting books about women in sport for school library
Molly Knight, a grade four student in Nova Scotia, noticed her school library did not have many books on female athletes, so she started her own book drive in hopes of changing that.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Marmot in the city: New resident of North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale a 'rock star rodent'
When Les Robertson was walking home from the gym in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood three weeks ago, he did a double take. Standing near a burrow it had dug in a vacant lot near East 1st Street and St. Georges Avenue was a yellow-bellied marmot.
Relocated seal returns to Greater Victoria after 'astonishing' 204-kilometre trek
A moulting seal who was relocated after drawing daily crowds of onlookers in Greater Victoria has made a surprise return, after what officials described as an 'astonishing' six-day journey.
Ottawa barber shop steps away from Parliament Hill marks 100 years in business
Just steps from Parliament Hill is a barber shop that for the last 100 years has catered to everyone from prime ministers to tourists.
'It was a special game': Edmonton pinball player celebrates high score and shout out from game designer
A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.
'How much time do we have?': 'Contamination' in Prairie groundwater identified
A compound used to treat sour gas that's been linked to fertility issues in cattle has been found throughout groundwater in the Prairies, according to a new study.
'Why not do it together?': Lifelong friends take part in 'brosectomy' in Vancouver
While many people choose to keep their medical appointments private, four longtime friends decided to undergo vasectomies as a group in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.