By: Carrissa Peach
Family, friends and members of the community gathered alongside local Green Party candidates Fred Twilley and Christine Guillot-Proulx. at their campaign office in downtown Sudbury as federal election results came in May 2.
Twilley, the Sudbury riding candidate, came in fourth place behind NDP, Conservative and Liberal candidates, respectively, with 1,349 votes. Guillot-Proulx, the Nickel Belt candidate, also came in fourth place, behind the NDP, Conservative and Liberal candidates, respectively, with 1,252 votes.
When it comes down to what the Green Party has done for Sudbury, Twilley said they have “focused on issues, demonstrating that environment and economy go hand in hand.”
The NDP's Glenn Thibeault, who was re-elected in Sudbury for the second time, worked hard with the community as well as listened to policies being recommended by the Green Party, Twilley said.
Twilley said this will be his final election. “I've always thought of myself as someone who was blazing the trail,” Twilley said. He said his hopes for the future are for newer and younger people to join the Green Party.
Guillot-Proulx congratulated the NDP's Claude Gravelle on his victory in Nickel Belt.
The Nickel Belt riding is now more environmentally aware thanks to the Green Party, she said.
She promises to “come (back) fierce and hard when the next election is called.”
For the first time in history, the Green Party has won a seat in the House of Commons. Green Party leader Elizabeth May took her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands in British Columbia.
Twilley said he thought May's win was “the one bright spot in the election.”
“We're ecstatic she won,” he said. “Hopefully she can set an example in the House of Commons for a new level of decorum and bring forth some very different and constructive ideas.”
Twilley also said he thinks Canada needs to address its current electoral system in order to “best represent the people of Canada.”
“(The Green Party) represents 3% (of the country's vote). That would amount to nine seats if we were proportionally represented.”
For complete Sudbury and Nickel Belt poll results, visit NorthernLife.ca
