Quotes from Elizabeth May

The reality of the Green party is that we are a party committed to bringing forward big ideas, new ideas and demonstrating by our conduct in parliament and through the election that we really want to work for Canadians, work across party lines, work across jurisdictions.

I really think a minority Parliament delivers better democracy in Canada when parties are prepared to cooperate.

I think the words 'vote strategically' translates in the human brain to: 'Oh I can't vote for what I want.' And that's discouraging.

I don't think that, you know, adherence to ignorance is really something that encourages voters to support you.

It's not a big deal for me to be leader of the Green Party. It is a big deal for me to represent the voters of Saanich-Gulf Islands.

We appeal to Conservatives who just can't see themselves voting for the corruption and the scandals and the contempt of parliamentary institutions. And of course, we also appeal to people in other parties who are disappointed in their own leadership.

Whether we make it a condition or just through persuasion or just through popular support, whatever it takes, we really do need to shift through a system of voting where the way the Canadian public votes is the way the Canadian Parliament is formed after the election.

I was known as an activist, described by CBC's 'The Fifth Estate' as 'the 23-year-old waitress who stopped the pulp company dead in its tracks.' Without knowing it was even possible, my activism helped me gain admission to Dalhousie University law school.

I'm fair-minded, maybe. Maybe I bend over backward to give people too much benefit of the doubt. And I'll give credit where credit is due.

I stick to stuff I'm pretty sure of and I know this: when the price of a barrel of oil is under $80 a barrel and you build a pipeline, you are driving up greenhouse gases.

It's clear that the Green party loves Quebecers deeply. At the same time, we are Canadians!

Those who take action have a disproportionate impact. The power of one is to move many.

We cannot ever accept a government that thinks they can get away with tiny targets on climate which they then don't achieve.

I wanted to repeat we cannot vote confidence at any point on a confidence motion in a government that fails to have a climate target that's ground in science and consistent with what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we must do.

To improve humanity's chances of survival, it is critical that Canada assume a leadership role, first ramping up our own ambition and then pushing for more ambition overall in global negotiations.

I never heckle. I never swear.

I'm a firm believer that if we could restore real parliamentary democracy, the best way to do that would be to get rid of political parties.

My funny speech wasn't funny. That's not the first time a politician has done that.

Democracy is too important to be left to politicians.

I think the majority of politicians keep their positions for too long.

It's very clear the Conservative party does not want to move to real climate action.

The process of forming government in a minority is one where you talk to everyone and see: What do you have in common? And is there enough commonality?

Andrew Scheer talks about an energy corridor. So do I, but his corridor is for pipelines and mine is an electricity grid that's running 100 per cent on renewable energy.

Within the Green Party, we have candidates from every faith and religion and a lot who don't believe there is a God and wonder why anyone would be so foolish as to think so. And everyone is respected and welcome.