Friday, July 30, 2010

Greens Prepare for Federal Election

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Bruce Grey
by Jonathon Jackson    

The federal Green Party's leader and deputy leader will speak at a meeting next month that will determine the party's next candidate in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.

Leader Elizabeth May and Deputy Leader Adriane Carr will both attend the meeting, slated for August 17th.

It will take place at 7 PM at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre  in Owen Sound.

The announcement was made this morning as the local riding organization introduced Emma Hogbin of Owen Sound and Lynn Morgan of Massie, the two women who are seeking the nomination.

Neither woman has sought political office before, but both have been active within the party at the local level.

Hogbin -- who works as a technical author and website builder -- served as a web consultant in two previous campaigns.

The issues that are important to her include Bruce Power's plan to recycle steam generators by shipping them to Sweden via Owen Sound and the Great Lakes.

She says there is more to the plan than what the public has been told.

Morgan -- a business and project management consultant -- volunteered during the federal election of 2008 and recently stepped down as the recording chair for the executives of both the federal and provincial riding organizations.

She says her inspirations for stepping forward include the recent G20 summit in Toronto, which she says was an outrageous display of federal government incompetence and unnecessary expense.

Both women say the Greens can win in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, where Dick Hibma finished a strong second to incumbent Larry Miller of the Conservatives in 2008.

Hibma did not seek the nomination this time.

Nominations are now closed, and voting at the August 17th meeting will be restricted to those who are members of the Green Party of Canada by tomorrow, July 31st.

Former members whose memberships have lapsed within the last year will be able to renew and vote.