Green leader says efforts to remove her from post motivated by racism, sexism
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul is calling out efforts by members of the party’s governing body to force her removal following internal policy disputes as “racist” and “sexist.”
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, a day after an emergency meeting to discuss the fate of her leadership, Paul said while many of the individuals that sit on the Federal Council remain committed to a mandate of “transformation and diversity,” others don’t.
“A small group of councillors sought to force a vote of no-confidence in my leadership. They did so with no substantive consultation with the members they represent. They produced a list of allegations that were so racist, so sexist, that they were immediately disavowed by both our MPs as offensive and inflammatory and contrary to party ethics,” she said.
In a letter detailing allegations against Paul, which was obtained by CTV News, members accuse the leader of “acting with an autocratic attitude of hostility, superiority and rejection, failing to assume her duty to be an active, contributing, respectful, attentive member of Federal Council, failing to develop a collaborative working relationship, failing to engage in respectful discussions, and failing to use dialogue and compromise” among other items.
Paul said their plan did not “succeed” and thanked the other councillors who rejected the allegations.
On Tuesday, the council passed a resolution that asks Paul and Green MP Paul Manly to organize a joint statement and press conference whereby the leader would “repudiate” her former senior adviser for “attacks” on party members.
“Otherwise, a vote of non-confidence in the leader will take place on July 20, 2021, as per the GPC Constitution,” the statement reads.
The internal party dispute stems from comments made about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Former Green MP Jenica Atwin had tweeted out a pro-Palestinian message, a viewpoint supported by Manly, while Paul urged for peaceful resolution and de-escalation from both sides.
The leader’s former adviser Noah Zatzman expressed an opposing view and posted on Facebook stating : "We will work to defeat you and bring in progressive climate champions who are antifa and pro LGBT and pro indigenous sovereignty and Zionists!!!!!"
These “irreconcilable” differences in opinion, as Atwin told CTV’s Question Period, led to her crossing the floor to the Liberal caucus las week.
On the resolution and whether she’ll comply, Paul said she will need to discuss with her team about how to best proceed.
“I haven’t formally received the resolution from the council, I wasn’t there during the deliberations. It’s an important matter, I want to take it very seriously. I want to make sure I give it the thought it deserves,” she said.
In a subsequent interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play, Paul added that she “doesn’t see the need” to publicly repudiate Zatzman if he no longer resides in her office.
The Green Party leader also fired off criticism at the Liberal government and specifically Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for targeting her success by poaching MPs and causing party turmoil.
“The Liberal Party of Canada has demonstrated that it is hell bent on winning their majority at almost any cost. By their admission, in recent days, they have sought to sow division, and to create disarray,” she said. “That claim that they are allies is one where they talk the talk without walking the walk. To the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, you are no ally and you are no feminist.”
The Quebec wing of the federal Green Party is calling for Paul to resign over the series of events.
“Annamie Paul, by her silence and masked support for Mr. Zatzman, is considered directly responsible for [Atwin’s] departure from the Green Caucus by members of the Quebec Wing of the Green Party,” a statement from the group reads.
“Hereby, the Quebec Wing of the Green Party of Canada, representing all local associations in Quebec, calls for the immediate resignation of the leader of the Green Party of Canada, Annamie Paul.”
On Wednesday, the two remaining Atlantic representatives on the party’s Federal Council announced their resignation.
In a statement to CTVNews.ca, the former councillor for Nova Scotia Lia Renaud said she could not continue to offer her support given what’s transpired.
"I will continue to support Elizabeth May, Paul Manly, and Green Champions in Atlantic Canada in the upcoming election,” she said. "The earth is the one thing we have in common. Canadians need leaders in sustainability at all levels of government – our economy requires it. We require leaders that are planning for future generations."
In response to these moves, Paul said she is accountable to the membership that got her to this position.
IN DEPTH
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.
'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.
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: 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.
opinion Don Martin: Pierre Poilievre's road to apparent victory will soon start to get rougher
Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives appear to be on cruise control to a rendezvous with the leader's prime ministerial ambition, but in his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Don Martin questions whether the Conservative leader may be peaking too soon.
opinion Don Martin: The Trudeau lessons from Brian Mulroney's legacy start with walking away
Justin Trudeau should pay very close attention to the legacy treatment afforded former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who died on Thursday at age 84, writes columnist Don Martin.
opinion Don Martin: ArriveCan debacle may be even worse than we know from auditor's report
It's been 22 years since a former auditor general blasted the Chretien government after it 'broke just about every rule in the book' in handing out private sector contracts in the sponsorship scandal. In his column for CTVNews.ca, Don Martin says the book has been broken anew with everything that went on behind the scenes of the 'dreaded' ArriveCan app.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
Local Spotlight
A tiny critter who could: Elusive Newfoundland Marten makes improbable comeback
Newfoundland’s unique version of the Pine Marten has grown out of its threatened designation.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
Ontario man loses $12K to deepfake scam involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
A Toronto man is out $12,000 after falling victim to a deepfake cryptocurrency scam that appeared to involve Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Record-setting pop tab collection for Ontario boy
It started small with a little pop tab collection to simply raise some money for charity and help someone — but it didn’t take long for word to get out that 10-year-old Jace Weber from Mildmay, Ont. was quickly building up a large supply of aluminum pop tabs.
'I was just like, holy cow!': Saskatoon dumpster divers reclaim wasted valuables
There’s a group of people in Saskatoon that proudly call themselves dumpster divers, and they’re turning the city’s trash into treasure.
Ontario to balance budget ahead of 2026 election, citing delay due to 'economic uncertainty'
Ontario is facing a larger than anticipated deficit but the Doug Ford government still plans to balance its books before the next provincial election.
Business owner disappointed in police efforts to locate $500K worth of stolen e-bikes
The owner of an e-bike business says he has doubts police will find the roughly $500,000 worth of product that was stolen from a shipping container last week, while police say he “complicated” their investigation by posting video of the theft.
Costco begins using verification scanners at some Ottawa stores
At least one Costco store in Ottawa has implemented a digital card scanner for member entry, a departure from the traditional in-person card check, in an effort to crack-down on shoppers who have not paid a membership fee.
How to safely view the solar eclipse using household materials
With the solar eclipse just a week away, it’s time to think about how to safely view the celestial show.