About Elizabeth

68 years old

Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut

Elizabeth May was born in Connecticut and moved with her family to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1973. She is an environmentalist, writer, activist, and lawyer. Elizabeth became the founding Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada in 1989 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005 for her environmental leadership. In 2006, she was elected the leader of the Green Party of Canada. Elizabeth's family operated a restaurant and gift shop out of a restored land-locked fishing schooner in Margaree Harbour on Cape Breton Island.

If elected, a Green government will establish a federal minimum wage of $15 an hour.^[1][2]

A Green government would aim to end poverty by establishing a regionally specific Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) for all Canadians.^[3][4]

The Greens would establish a cross-party Cabinet, similar to the Second World War “War Cabinets” that would bring together members across party lines to tackle climate change.^[5][14]

A Green government would work to reduce Canadian climate-changing emissions to 60% below 2005 levels by 2030 and work towards reaching net zero emissions in 2050.^[5][15]

If elected, a Green government will maintain a fee on all sources of carbon dioxide pollution. Revenue earned from these carbon fees will be redistributed back to Canadians.^[5]

Green MPs would conduct a cleanup of abandoned oil wells and identify opportunities for geothermal or district energy.^[5]

A Green government would eliminate two-tier healthcare in Canada (where all citizens have basic care but can pay for additional, faster, or better quality care).^[5][19]

If elected, a Green government would work towards expanding mental health and rehabilitation services, reducing wait times, and increasing access to safe abortion services and gender-affirming health services.^[5][20]

If elected, a Green government will expand the single-payer Medicare system to include Pharmacare for everyone as well as free dental care for low-income Canadians.^[5]

A Green government would Increase Canada’s overseas development assistance budget to be 0.7 % of the Gross National Income (GNI). In 2018, Canada spent approximately $6.1 billion or 0.28 % of the GNI.^[5]

If elected, a Green government will review federal government policy to ensure it aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and will develop a mechanism to track progress towards meeting these targets.^[5]

If elected, a Green government will work towards abolishing tuition and allocate $10 billion towards post-secondary and trade school supports.^[5]

If elected, a Green government will ban unpaid internships.^[5][21]

If elected, a Green government will end the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and increase immigration where there are worker shortages.^[5][22]

A Green government would work with professional societies to remove unnecessary barriers to recognizing foreign credentials.^[5][22]

A Green government would legislate housing as a legally protected fundamental human right for all Canadians and permanent residents.^[5]

If elected, a Green government will invest in energy efficient co-operative housing to support co-ops and encourage more affordable housing units.^[5][23]

If elected, a Green government will create a smart National Transportation Strategy.^[5]

A Green government would exempt new and used electric and zero-emission vehicles from the federal sales tax.^[5][24]

If elected, a Green government will immediately increase federal child care funding to achieve the international benchmark of at least 1% of GDP spent on child care annually. The Green party would add $1 billion in funding each year until this benchmark is met.^[5]

If elected, a Green government will abolish the federal Indian Act to allow Indigenous Peoples to govern themselves.^[5][26]

A Green government would honour Canada’s fiduciary responsibility (legal obligations), treaty rights, and other rights of Aboriginal peoples, including their inherent rights of self-government.^[5][27]

A Green government would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences (set sentences that must be given for specific criminal offences) and allow the courts to determine sentences based on the unique circumstances of each case.^[5]

If elected, a Green government will pass legislation that eliminates the practice of solitary confinement in the Canadian prison system.^[5]