If a federal election is called, the Green Party said they're ready for it. Fred Twilley is the federal Green Party candidate for the Sudbury riding. A candidate for the Nickel Belt riding hasn't been chosen yet.

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, said her party believes there will be a federal election called.

“Our message to northern Ontario is if you want to find a party that represents your values, that will work hard for you and that is different from all the others...have a look at the Green Party,” she said.

May was in Greater Sudbury on March 22 to meet with party supporters and members at the Laughing Buddha. Speaking to reporters at the event, May said she feels the issues for northern Ontario are similar to issues in other areas of Canada.

“Resource dependent communities in areas away from urban Canada share a lot of similar problems,” she said. “ One is that we've seen a collapse of jobs in particularly pulp and paper exports. Our approach is we will actually do more with an economic strategy that thinks about all regions of Canada, that doesn't abandon any area.”

During the 2008 federal election, the Green Party didn't win any seats. May said despite not winning a seat, her party still received almost 1 million votes.

“We made real progress in the last election,” she said. “We were the only party...that got more votes in 2008 than 2006. The Conservatives, the Liberals and the NDP all lost votes.”

May said the goal for the next federal election will be to win at least one seat.

Twilley said if elected, he plans to focus on the environment and the economy.

“I feel the economy is the big issue,” he said. “I do not think that Stephen Harper is doing a good job on the economy. The greatest threat to our economy is our dependence on cheap energy and by not addressing the green economy, (Harper) is failing to protect our economy from the realities of the future.”

A federal election hasn't been called yet, but May said her party will have a candidate in every riding if an election were to go through.

Steve May, CEO of the Sudbury Federal Green Party Association, said although there will be challenges in finding a candidate for the Nickel Belt riding, one will be chosen.

“It's not the best time for our party in terms of demographics,” he said. “We have a lot of younger members in our party, especially in Nickel Belt who attend Laurentian University, Cambrian College and Collège Boréal. Those who we would like to step forward...it's not going to be reality for them with exams coming up right now to step forward in March for an April election.”