May's Green Party stuck in reverse

It should be the Green Party's moment.

- ALTHIA RAJ

Abnormal extreme heat waves are affecting large parts of the country, sparking wildfire and health and safety concerns.

Globally, the past 12 months have been the hottest on record since, well, ever, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Over the past year, global surface temperature increased 1.5 C above average preindustrial levels.

Politically, the Liberals are unpopular. The NDP hasn't been able to capitalize on the public's desire for change. There is opportunity, especially with a Conservative leader who is moving his party further to the right and appears to believe climate change can be addressed solely through technology.

And yet public support for the Green Party of Canada hasn't budged beyond five per cent in the past two years, according to Abacus Data. The party's potential voter pool has shrunk in the last five years, with only 28 per cent of those surveyed now saying they would even consider voting Green. And concern with the Greens' top-line issue climate change - has dropped, replaced by concerns about immigration, health care, housing and economic issues, such as affordability.

If that's not bad enough, this month 53 per cent of Abacus survey respondents didn't recognize Elizabeth May when shown a picture of the longtime Green Party leader. And last year, the Greens had their worst fundraising result since 2012, raising less than $2 million.