The Green Party's long-simmering internal conflicts have reached a boiling point, with its president resigning and its MPs threatening to quit if the leadership race is called off..Noah Zatzman, a senior advisor for former party leader Annamie Paul, told the Western Standard that several members of the Greens' federal Council recently resigned, interim party leader Amita Kuttner has "lawyered up," and there are even whisperings of a campaign to form a new Green Party..This news comes as Green Party President Lorraine Rekmans recently quit in frustration, claiming that the "dream is dead."."Oh my God, we're on the verge of collapse right now. It's a circus," Zatzman said..For over a year, the Green Party has been haunted by allegations of racism, sexism and abuse. To make matters worse, the party has been bleeding cash, with its annual report warned in July that it may need to mothball its headquarters in downtown Ottawa and freeze spending..READ MORE: Former Green leader Elizabeth May to join party's leadership race.According to Zatzman, Green MP Mike Morrice told Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner that he will leave and become an independent if the turmoil continues..Morrice would not be the first MP to leave the party over its internal strife. Back in 2021, Green MP Jenica Atwin crossed the floor and joined the Liberals, citing a lack of support from leader Paul during a disagreement with Zatzman over the Israel-Palestine conflict..Zatzman also shared with the Western Standard an email from Morrice aid Asha Philar to Federal Council member Bill Matheson. In the email, Philar claims that if the leadership race is cancelled or the party's offices are closed, MPs will leave the party and sit as independents.."I cannot stress what a crossroads this is for the party. I hope the federal council will make the right decision," she said..Zatzman accused former leader Elizabeth May of blackmailing the party. "She's saying, 'If you don't suspend the contest that I'm the frontrunner of, I will leave the GPC and sit as an independent.'".May, who stepped down as party leader back in 2019, is running to be the party leader again alongside former human rights worker Jonathan Pedneault..Zatzman has repeatedly criticized May for using her party influence to attack former leader Paul and for "perpetuating" conflict within the party.."So many people like me who got involved [in the party] do not understand this 'Days of Our Lives' drama. But the drama and intrigue only benefit Elizabeth, is what I've learned.".Green Party President Rekmans, who resigned late last Friday, said she had hoped she could act with "integrity, using truth, honesty, love, respect, wisdom and humility" to raise up the Green Party from the ashes.."But after one year it was evident to me this was not possible," she said in a three-page letter sent to party members..Rekmans, who became president over a year ago, described her tenure as "turbulent," and said she is "exhausted" after working over 40 hours a week as a volunteer. "I suggest you might want to pay the next president you elect," she said..Rekmans said during her time as president, she was excluded from Executive Council meetings that were held without her knowledge, accused without evidence of harming the interim leader, and was insulted and denigrated in public. The party has become, according to Rekmans, a space for people to "attack misalign, feed ego, and divide.".According to Rekmans, the Federal Council voted to undertake an investigation into the many acts of discrimination and abuse within the party. But she said the leadership race should also be suspended while the investigation is underway. "I cannot see how we can continue safely amidst the allegations that harm is being caused to our members," she said..Rekmans said instead of highlighting the party's policies, its contestants have spent their time, "picking out our shortcomings and shining a huge spotlight on a small mistake that we made and apologized for."."If these are shades of things to come, if this is what leadership hopefuls are taken up with, I can no longer serve, because it seems to me there is no vision for a better future, but only an effort to look back and settle old scores while the planet burns."
The Green Party's long-simmering internal conflicts have reached a boiling point, with its president resigning and its MPs threatening to quit if the leadership race is called off..Noah Zatzman, a senior advisor for former party leader Annamie Paul, told the Western Standard that several members of the Greens' federal Council recently resigned, interim party leader Amita Kuttner has "lawyered up," and there are even whisperings of a campaign to form a new Green Party..This news comes as Green Party President Lorraine Rekmans recently quit in frustration, claiming that the "dream is dead."."Oh my God, we're on the verge of collapse right now. It's a circus," Zatzman said..For over a year, the Green Party has been haunted by allegations of racism, sexism and abuse. To make matters worse, the party has been bleeding cash, with its annual report warned in July that it may need to mothball its headquarters in downtown Ottawa and freeze spending..READ MORE: Former Green leader Elizabeth May to join party's leadership race.According to Zatzman, Green MP Mike Morrice told Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner that he will leave and become an independent if the turmoil continues..Morrice would not be the first MP to leave the party over its internal strife. Back in 2021, Green MP Jenica Atwin crossed the floor and joined the Liberals, citing a lack of support from leader Paul during a disagreement with Zatzman over the Israel-Palestine conflict..Zatzman also shared with the Western Standard an email from Morrice aid Asha Philar to Federal Council member Bill Matheson. In the email, Philar claims that if the leadership race is cancelled or the party's offices are closed, MPs will leave the party and sit as independents.."I cannot stress what a crossroads this is for the party. I hope the federal council will make the right decision," she said..Zatzman accused former leader Elizabeth May of blackmailing the party. "She's saying, 'If you don't suspend the contest that I'm the frontrunner of, I will leave the GPC and sit as an independent.'".May, who stepped down as party leader back in 2019, is running to be the party leader again alongside former human rights worker Jonathan Pedneault..Zatzman has repeatedly criticized May for using her party influence to attack former leader Paul and for "perpetuating" conflict within the party.."So many people like me who got involved [in the party] do not understand this 'Days of Our Lives' drama. But the drama and intrigue only benefit Elizabeth, is what I've learned.".Green Party President Rekmans, who resigned late last Friday, said she had hoped she could act with "integrity, using truth, honesty, love, respect, wisdom and humility" to raise up the Green Party from the ashes.."But after one year it was evident to me this was not possible," she said in a three-page letter sent to party members..Rekmans, who became president over a year ago, described her tenure as "turbulent," and said she is "exhausted" after working over 40 hours a week as a volunteer. "I suggest you might want to pay the next president you elect," she said..Rekmans said during her time as president, she was excluded from Executive Council meetings that were held without her knowledge, accused without evidence of harming the interim leader, and was insulted and denigrated in public. The party has become, according to Rekmans, a space for people to "attack misalign, feed ego, and divide.".According to Rekmans, the Federal Council voted to undertake an investigation into the many acts of discrimination and abuse within the party. But she said the leadership race should also be suspended while the investigation is underway. "I cannot see how we can continue safely amidst the allegations that harm is being caused to our members," she said..Rekmans said instead of highlighting the party's policies, its contestants have spent their time, "picking out our shortcomings and shining a huge spotlight on a small mistake that we made and apologized for."."If these are shades of things to come, if this is what leadership hopefuls are taken up with, I can no longer serve, because it seems to me there is no vision for a better future, but only an effort to look back and settle old scores while the planet burns."
