Greens' Elizabeth May speaks out after 'terrible election result'
CBC
After a long silence and a "terrible election result," Green Party MP and former leader Elizabeth May says she must speak out and clear the record on her federal party's status.
"I knew I'd get more criticism by saying something about what's going on than by staying quiet," said May, who was re-elected in her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands this election.
"I feel awful about it. I know this puts me in a bad situation but it's important for Canadians to know that there is a Green Party. It's important for people to know the Green Party exists. We're not going away. We will rebuild."
May says Green Party Leader Annamie Paul, who announced on Sept. 27 she was stepping down as the leader, hasn't actually officially resigned and still controls party communications.
"Someone needed to explain that the reason they weren't hearing from the Green Party is that the communications are controlled by Annamie Paul," said May.
May says she had been asked to refrain from speaking about internal party politics but decided she had to speak out after Lorraine Rekmans, the president of the party's federal council and a member of the Serpent River First Nation, was unable to send out a statement through the party for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation last Thursday.
"She wanted to make a statement on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and the communications staff informed her, 'We only take instruction from Annamie Paul and you will not be making a statement,'" said May.