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"I've been a member for awhile now and the last election nearly drove me away, with the lack of coordination and a third of the ridings not having candidates.
As leader, how would you ensure that we have candidates in all ridings? Do you see that as critical?
Given that we've never won more than three MPs in an election, how do you propose to put us in a good position to win the magic twelve needed for official party status, or at least more than four, next time?
Will you do a big push to be elected, personally, as an MP and if so how? Will you go to a riding that is 'winnable' or fight in your local one?"
- John Northey, London North EDA
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Dear John,
Many thanks for your questions. I am sorry that the last election nearly drove you away and I am grateful that you chose to stick around.
We are constitutionally-required to run good candidates in every riding. We are a national party and must provide a Green option to all Canadian. Elizabeth and I are committed to ensuring that we have EDAs in all ridings and that all are empowered to begin the nomination process as early as possible. We know we do best when we’re out early in all ridings, knocking on door and engaging in our communities.
All of this requires time. The candidate selection must therefore take early on. We don’t know when the next election will take place. As such, Elizabeth and I will assist EDAs to identify candidates as soon as we are elected.
To do so, we will:
a) Ensure we visit all provinces and engage in person early on and several times with all EDAs to communicate the party’s policies and priorities in all available fora;
b) Engage with former candidates who already have name recognition in their ridings and encourage them to run again and/or;
c) Work directly with EDAs to identify and court good potential candidates.
None of this will be possible if we aren’t able to demonstrate professionalism and stability. The Green brand must be attractive to recruit good candidates.
To rehabilitate the brand, we must elect strong, well-known leaders with a demonstrated ability to push our party’s message both within and outside the House of Commons. Elizabeth and I can renew trust in the Party and build a stable team to lead successful election campaign.
Beyond the leaders, we need strong and charismatic spokespersons, shadow cabinet members and candidates throughout this party. As a former trainer of journalists in conflict areas, I know I can train and empower members to engage in socio-political and cultural debates. This demands training, discipline, time and a strategic communications framework which I will develop with caucus, staff and federal council during our first few months in leadership.
As to your last question, I intend to run in Quebec, wherever I have good chances of winning. That said, I see leaders as people who prioritize the needs of others before their own. In that regard, I do not think it wise or fair to monopolize resources to serve my own electoral chances at the expense of the party. We need leaders willing to sacrifice to the greater good, with love, listening and respect. I try and live by these ideals in everything I do.
This is why Elizabeth and I will reduce the proposed leader’s salary by $30,000 and focus on assisting EDAs throughout the country to get good candidates and the money needed to run good campaigns.
You can see our 6-month plan at www.jonathanpedneault.ca and www.elizabethmay.ca
Kind regards, JP
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