Good Sunday Morning to you!!
What a week!! Fortunately, this is not my first rodeo. I know what launch day is like with national media working to share feeds in a designated pool going from one party to another.
March 23, 2025 broke a number of patterns, as the new PM was pretty late going to Rideau Hall, and the leader of the official opposition spoke to the media first. PP went on and on, with the media giving him almost an hour. I am proud of the opening statements made on behalf of Greens! Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault Launch Green Party Campaign. National live coverage cut away from us within 10 minutes, but I knew from experience we should keep it short and snappy to avoid continuing to talk after the national cameras had moved on to pundits.
I wrote you last week that I was hopeful that the meeting of leaders Jonathan Pedneault and I had requested from Liberal leader Mark Carney, organizing all federal leaders to maintain “Team Canada”, would occur. When we put Good Sunday Morning to bed late last Saturday, I was still awaiting word for the re-scheduled meeting. In the end it did not happen, but I was pleased that Mark Carney phoned me just as he set foot on Newfoundland and Labrador soil late Sunday, and just before I boarded a flight from Montreal to get me home to Sidney. It was a casual and friendly call. Mark Carney apologized that the planned meeting had to be cancelled because the meeting with premiers had run late. But we discussed the notion that we must work together despite efforts on the hustings to defeat each other’s candidates. We talked about the risk I see of Trump being able to capitalize on the federal election in a divide and conquer strategy. I told him I worried that as a country we would be less able to protect ourselves during an election. In a writ period the government of the day is restricted to a “care-taker role.” Only with a multi-party cabinet, based on the history of the WWII war cabinet would this work. I was pleased with our conversation. We have known each other a long time, but given my work and non-partisan approach, I have known everyone for a long time! I told him I had never been able to get to church on the writ-drop morning which is always a Sunday. No other prime minister has made it a priority to go to church. I teased that I wished he had told me so I could have gone to church too! He said, “Next time.”
Once home on Monday, we had our first SGI sign wave in the pouring rain at the corner of Shelbourne and McKenzie. The reaction from drivers was enthusiastic and encouraging. Door knocking in Sidney and in Broadmead was also great fun with lots of supporters. I will never be complacent but I did want to let you know that the poll aggregator 338 is not actually polling SGI. They use national scale polls and then they use an algorithm. To get a baseline of what our actual support looks like in SGI the national campaign hired Oracle Research to do a poll with a significant sample size. Here is the press release:
New poll shows strong lead for Elizabeth May in Saanich-Gulf Islands
SIDNEY, B.C. – A new Oraclepoll Research survey shows Elizabeth May leading in Saanich-Gulf Islands with 41% of the vote, demonstrating strong early momentum and growing support for her leadership. The Conservatives trail at 28%, followed by the Liberals at 22% and the NDP at 8%.
“In addition, May also has the highest favourability rating of any federal leader in the riding, with 50% of residents viewing her favorably – well ahead of Jagmeet Singh (17%), Mark Carney (31%), and Pierre Poilievre (35%).
“Elizabeth has always fought for the environment, but she’s also championed affordable living, healthcare, and a future that works for everyone. Voters are telling us they trust Elizabeth to deliver real solutions, not just talk about them.” – Tim Maloney, Campaign Manager for Saanich-Gulf Islands.
“Tariffs and US relations, healthcare, and economic concerns like the cost of living and housing affordability top voters’ minds in the riding. Elizabeth May has been a clear leader on these critical issues, offering practical, sustainable solutions.
“In Saanich-Gulf Islands, the Green Party is the only progressive choice. Canada needs Elizabeth May. Only voters here in SGI can elect her.” New poll shows strong lead for Elizabeth May in Saanich-Gulf Islands
Survey details:
The Green Party of Canada commissioned Oraclepoll to conduct a live telephone survey with a randomized sample of N=600 voting-age residents in Saanich—Gulf Islands, using both cellular and landline numbers. Interviews were conducted from March 21-25, 2025. The margin of error for the N=600 sample is +/- 4.0%.
Q6. If a federal Election were held today, which Party and its candidate in your Saanich – Gulf Islands would you most likely vote for or be leaning towards?
Polling details can be requested by emailing us at [email protected]
I am not a fan of polls but when the door-knocking and the street waves are also super good, it is confirmatory of the poll. That said, I am staying put in SGI as much as possible. Please let us know if you can join me in these activities. The more the merrier! Sign up here!
The most amazing news of the week is that one of the best MPs in the history of Canada, the second Green MP, Paul Manly, first elected in May 2019 is BACK!!! In order to stop a Conservative win in Nanaimo-Ladysmith Paul is running again!!! We had his campaign launch in Nanaimo Friday night in the same hall where we held his victory party in. Co-leader Jonathan Pedneault came too, as well as deputy leader Rainbow Eyes, who is running in the North West Territories, and all seven of our Green Vancouver Island candidates. it was old home week on a large scale!!
Elder Geraldine Manson of Snuneymuxw First Nation gave us a beautiful song and prayer and expressed her joy that Paul is running to be her MP once again.
I am so grateful for all your support and proud of our roster of great candidates on Vancouver Island and across Canada.
The world continues to be in a bizarre state of upheaval with appalling scenes like Fulbright scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, who is/was working on her PhD at Tufts, and who was arrested, handcuffed and flown to Louisiana where she remains in custody. This is not normal. This is not right. Meanwhile, we must defend Canada from US economic aggression, while standing up for democracy, the rule of law, democracy, and climate action all around the world.
We grab any opportunity to ensure the media knows we exist! This afternoon, JP and I will be walking the “orange carpet” at the JUNOs!!
Watch for news of local fundraising. We need to refill the re-election piggy bank!!!
Thanks so much for your kindness and generosity.
Much love,
Elizabeth
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Saanich-Gulf Island Greens publish two newsletters:
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Saanich-Gulf Islands Greens
https://www.sgigreenparty.ca/