Elizabeth May is asking Green Party members to keep her at the helm — at least for now — as she faces a leadership review that could see her ousted before a new leader is ready to take over.
Although May has already announced she does not plan to lead the party into the next federal election, she is urging members to vote in favour of her staying on until a replacement is selected, warning that removing her prematurely would create “disruption and increase costs.”
The review comes as required within six months of a federal election, but internal tensions have spilled into the open. More than 40 party members have signed an open letter urging fellow Greens to vote against May’s continued leadership, arguing that it is time for fresh ideas and a new direction.
Critics say keeping May in charge after she has announced her departure risks confusing voters and delaying the party’s renewal process. Supporters, however, see her continued presence as a stabilizing force during a transitional period.
The vote’s outcome will determine whether May gets her wish to guide the party through the leadership handoff or whether the Greens will be thrust into an earlier-than-expected search for a new leader.