 |
OTTAWA -- The Green Party is poised to make political history in 2008 by electing its first MPs to the House of Commons, Leader Elizabeth May predicts.
While 2007 was a bleak year for Canada on the critical climate change file, May said it has been a banner year for her party's political fortunes.
"Our momentum has been flying," she said. "But it's really hard for me to call it a good year when we've lost so much ground and had so many dangerous developments on issues that matter critically to everybody in our party."
May said her party's upswing is bittersweet, since the Harper government's failure on climate change helps drive up her party's popularity.
"They were exposed. They stood naked to the world as saboteurs, the worst obstructors you could find in Bali, except for the U.S.," she said.
"It's very hard to see anything positive, because these issues are not political, they are survival and it's devastating for me to see my nation ... acting as a saboteur and obstructionist on whether there's a liveable planet for my daughter and grandchildren. It's unbearable."
For years, the Greens have been struggling to shake the image of a one-trick political pony. Under her leadership, May said the party has developed strong positions on foreign policy, the economy and justice and human rights.
Crucial to boosting the party's image on a national scale is inclusion in the televised debates during the next federal election, which has been traditionally denied to parties without seats in the House of Commons.
May said the Greens would focus on finding solutions to Canada's problems, instead of hours of "spin and salesmanship."
Another hurdle is to wage a federal campaign on a shoe-string budget, compared to the other big, well-financed machines. But, May is convinced enough Canadians are embracing the green message and are looking for alternative visions to those offered by mainstream parties.
"We've really put ourselves on the map in the last year and a bit," she said. "I think 2008 will be a year we elect MPs to the House of Commons and we're able to accomplish more for Canadians."