Greens in the federal riding of Kootenay-Columbia are getting ready to select a candidate for the next federal election, which — thanks to recent riding-boundary changes should be an exciting one.
The nomination contest for the candidate to represent the Green Party of Canada in the upcoming election, expected to take place in the fall of 2015 or earlier, has opened, with a vote by local Green Party members to follow in late 2014.
A statement from the party said Greens believe “the tide is turning in favour of the party with a strong focus on a smart economy, a strong environment, and strong communities.”
The party’s leader, Elizabeth May won a seat in the House of Commons in the last election. She was soon joined by Bruce Hyer who abandoned the New Democratic Party after being disciplined for voting against the NDP’s position on the gun registry. The Greens are also represented in the BC Legislature by Andrew Weaver.
“With the Conservative government’s recent approval of the Enbridge pipeline, it is more important than ever for us to stand up and say enough is enough,” Devon Caron, CEO of the Green Party Electoral District Association for Kootenay-Columbia, said in the statement. “Now is the time to take the first steps in changing the way we are represented in Ottawa.”
He said there are already two strong candidates seeking the nomination. However, Lars Sander-Green of the Electoral District Association said that “until the nomination period closes, we can’t reveal the names of anyone who is seeking the nomination. The nomination candidates themselves can announce their own candidacy and I expect we’ll hear an announcement from at least one of the candidates in the coming weeks.”
The federal New Democrats and the Liberals have yet to select candidates for next year’s election. Whoever they choose will face incumbent Conservative MP David Wilks.
That election is bound to be an interesting one. The riding’s boundaries will change the moment that Gov.-Gen. David Johnston calls for a new election. Kootenay-Columbia will lose the village of Nakusp but will gain Nelson and Salmo. Those additions will almost certainly alter the political complexion of the riding. (See the map below)
Wilks knows that and has been spending as much time as possible getting to know those communities and allowing them to get to know him.
How the boundary changes will affect the political landscape remains to be seen, but one this certain: the 2015 federal election should be an exciting one.
