About Annamie

49 years old

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Annamie Paul was born in Toronto, Ontario, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants. She had an early interest in public policy, and at the age of 12 worked as a page in the Ontario legislature. Annamie holds a law degree from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Public Affairs from Princeton University. She worked abroad in international affairs as an advisor and political officer before entering federal politics. Annamie ran as the Green candidate in the riding of Toronto Centre in the 2019 federal election and 2020 by-election, but failed to win the seat both times. In October 2020 she won the leadership of the Green Party of Canada. Annamie is quadrilingual, speaking English, French, Catalan, and Spanish.

If elected, a Green government would institute a universal childcare system available to all children whatever their parents’ work status or income level.^[1][2]

A Green government would make parental leave more inclusive so it covers leave following miscarriages.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would introduce a Just Transition Act before the end of 2021. The purpose of this Act would be to make sure the transition to a decarbonized economy takes place in a fair way that protects communities and affected people (such as workers in greenhouse gas-intensive industries, Indigenous Peoples, marginalized communities).^[1][2]

A Green government would replace every high paying fossil fuel sector job with a high paying green sector job through wage insurance, retraining programs and early retirement plans.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would forgive all student debt owed to the federal government.^[1][2]

A Green government would abolish post-secondary student tuition. This change would be partially paid for by no longer having to give tax credits for tuition, or running the student loan system.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2005 levels by 2030. To get here, a Green government would introduce clear targets and timelines for reductions, starting in 2023.^[1][2]

A Green government would aim to achieve net-zero emissions as quickly as possible and set a goal of having net-negative emissions in 2050.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would ensure the right to a healthy environment is enforceable under law.^[1][2]

A Green government would make sure that companies that pollute pay the costs of cleaning up and restoring land.^[1][2]

A Green government would order a public inquiry to look into the pandemic response between all levels of government and investigate what went well and what could have been done better.^[1][2]

A Green government would prepare for future pandemics by strengthening the Global Public Health Intelligence Network to identify potential public health concerns around the globe, invest in and restructure the health care and long-term care systems, and commit to being guided by the recommendations of the relevant scientists and experts when responding to health emergencies.^[1][2]

A Green government would declare housing affordability and homelessness a national emergency.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would implement a Guaranteed Livable Income, regularly providing money to Canadians to pay for basic expenses, like food and housing. There would be few or no restrictions on how recipients could use the money, but the amount would gradually decrease as a person’s income from other sources increases.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would end the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires that asylum seekers must request protection in the first safe country they arrive in.^[18][19]

A Green government would update the citizenship guidebook to include a more accurate history of Canada and Turtle Island that includes the harms of residential schools and the Indian Act.^[1][2]

A Green government would work with First Nations, the Métis Nation, and Inuit and their governing institutions on a nation-to-nation basis to create agreements, co-develop and co-design policy and programs that will benefit First Nations, Métis Nation, and Inuit.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would immediately implement all 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, and all the calls for justice from the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This would include providing funding to identify, record, and remember missing children who attended residential schools through the Missing and Unmarked Burials Project.^[1][7][8]

A Green government would sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a legally binding international agreement that aims to eliminate nuclear weapons globally.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would increase Canada’s international climate finance amount to $USD 4 billion per year to support climate mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage in developing countries.^[1][2]

If elected, a Green government would remove mandatory minimum penalties and develop a restorative justice model that would aim to decrease involvement in the criminal legal system, and instead focus on healing for all involved.^[1][2]

A Green government would create a national database to keep track of every time police officers use force. The database would include information about the race, ethnicity, age, and other identities of the subjects of police violence.^[9][10]

If elected, a Green government would expand Canada’s healthcare system to include national universal pharmacare by 2022.^[12][13]

An elected Green government would mandate and support a faster transition to renewable energy in every transportation sector, from airline travel to passenger rail, and from freight to ferries.^[1][2]

A Green government would ban the sale of all internal combustion engine passenger vehicles by 2030, and expand charging stations for electric vehicles, including charging stations in smaller communities and rural areas.^[1][2]

A Green government would support humane and sustainable food systems, promote more plant-based eating and reduce consumption of animal-source foods as recommended in the Canada Food Guide.^[1][2]

An elected Green government would support research, development and investments in local markets and urban agriculture to increase access to local food.^[1][2]