After it became clear that Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May would not run again in Central Nova, many observers and pundits have been speculating where she will run in the next election. Now it appears the stage is set for an announcement.
On July 9th, the coastal British Columbia riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands will be hold their
Annual General Meeting. The special guest will be none other than Elizabeth May.
The event appears to be the perfect place to announce her intentions to run in the riding. Many insiders believe that May will
move her lot to Saanich-Gulf Islands for the next election, but no announcement has been made to date.
May has stated on a number of occasions that the party's number one priority is to elect May. The decision translates into an admission by the Green leadership that running in the riding of Central Nova will not bring the leader electoral victory.
In the 2008 Federal election May won 32% of the vote in Central Nova, the best percentage tally of any Green in the last federal election. But May lost by almost 6,000 votes to Conservative Defense Minister Peter MacKay. The defeat came in spite of not having to campaign against a Liberal in the riding after an agreement with former Liberal leader Stephane Dion not to run candidates in each others' ridings.
If May announces that she will seek a seat in Saanich-Gulf Islands, it will be the third riding she has ran in in just three elections. In 2006 she ran in an Ontario by-election in London-North Centre where she surprised many by coming in second place and winning 26% of the vote.
Details of the AGM can be found
here.
