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Elizabeth May juggles Island tour to make stop in Comox

Green leader takes exception to latest tactics from the NDP over minority government question
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Green leader Elizabeth May arrives with her dog Xiomara at the Comox campaign office for North Island-Powell River candidate Mark de Bruijn Thursday morning. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Green Party leader Elizabeth May took exception to recent NDP tactics at a campaign stop in Comox Thursday morning.

She was in the midst of a tour of Vancouver Island during the last week of the federal election campaign and rearranged her schedule in order to make a stop in the riding of North Island-Powell River.

Earlier in the day, she appeared in Campbell River, then came to Comox to speak to supporters crowded into the campaign office of candidate Mark de Bruijn.

After both leader and riding candidate spoke, May took a couple of questions, including one around statements by the NDP that May would support a minority government led by Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.

“It’s quite unbelievable that the NDP has sunk to this,” she responded. “I understand how minority Parliaments work. You talk to everyone.”

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May criticized the NDP for closing off their negotiating options, though she predicted any conversation with Scheer would be a short one. She drew a comparison to the B.C. election a couple of years ago when Green leader Andrew Weaver kept his options open to work with either the NDP or Liberals. She added the Greens are not prepared to support any party or combination of parties that are not prepared to work for a climate target of holding temperatures increases to 1.5 C.

“Right now, none of them do,” she said.

May and de Bruijn also touched on other topics such as salmon farming, a tax on wealth of more than $20 million, an increase of the corporate tax rate to 21 per cent from the current 15 per cent, national pharmacare, childcare, dental care for people on low incomes, relief for student debt and a guaranteed livable income. May also suggested setting up Canada Post offices as federal hubs during climate catastrophes, particularly in situations when technical communications may not be operating.



mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.com

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Elizabeth May and candidate Mark de Bruijn spoke to Green supporters inside the Comox campaign office Thursday. Photo by Mike Chouinard