Greens divided on party leaders' status

Co-leadership role not yet sanctioned under party rules

- MARK RAMZY

OTTAWA Some Green Party members are calling for a new leadership election a year and a half after longtime MP Elizabeth May returned to power on a mandate to co-lead the party with activist Jonathan Pedneault.

Although the pair campaigned on a co-leadership bid, the party’s constitution does not allow co-leaders, and there is debate about whether changing the constitution to allow it should warrant a new leadership election. It’s unclear if May and Pedneault, who has yet to be officially made co-leader, would have to face election if the constitution is overhauled.

At issue is debate over what a co-leadership model would look like, and whether Pedneault, or anyone else for that matter, can be appointed to the position without being elected, according to internal messages obtained by the Star, public party documents, and interviews with sources familiar with discussions.

Others deny there is consensus in favour of co-leadership to begin with. Pedneault, meanwhile, says the party needs stability and since he and May ran on a clear co-leadership ticket, he should be appointed co-leader until the next leadership contest after the upcoming federal election.

“The whole thing is confusing to the membership because we don’t have a co-leadership provision in the constitution,” said Lorraine Rekmans, previously the party’s president. “And yet Elizabeth and Jonathan continue to identify themselves as co-leaders publicly.”