2020 Green Party of British Columbia leadership election
The Green Party of British Columbia will hold a leadership election to elect a leader to replace Adam Olsen, who became interim leader following the resignation of Andrew Weaver. Party members will vote online by ranked ballot if there are more than two candidates, and first-past-the-post if only two candidates run. Members and supporters 16 years of age and older are eligible to vote. On March 27, 2020, the election was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and state of emergency in the province. The campaign resumed on June 15, 2020. The party opened a second nomination period to run from June 26 to July 27, 2020. Members and supporters have until August 21, 2020, to register in order to be able to vote by phone, and until September 2, 2020, if voting online. A debate is planned to take place on September 1, 2020. Voting will occur from September 5 to 13, 2020, with the winner to be announced on the day after voting closes.
Timeline
2019
October 7, 2019 – Andrew Weaver announced he would step down as party leader once a new leader was chosen.
December 20, 2019 – Adam Olsen was named interim leader.
2020
January 6, 2020 - The party released the leadership contest rules.
January 13, 2020 - Leadership contest officially started.
January 27, 2020 – Sonia Furstenau announced her candidacy.
March 4, 2020 - Kim Darwin announced her candidacy.
March 27, 2020 – The election was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the postponement, voting was to take place between June 15 and 26, 2020. The deadline to enter the race was to be April 15, 2020, and debates were planned to take place after April 30, in three regions of the province. The winner was to be announced at the party's convention in Nanaimo from June 26 to 28, 2020.
April 15, 2020 – Original deadline for candidates to enter race. The deadline was subsequently changed to July 27, 2020 following postponement of the race.
June 15, 2020 – Contest officially re-opened following the postponement.
July 25, 2020 - Cam Brewer announced his candidacy.
July 27, 2020 - Deadline for candidates to apply.
August 21, 2020 - Deadline to become a member or supporter if voting by phone.
September 1, 2020 - Official leadership debate.
September 2, 2020 - Deadline to become a member or supporter if online voting.
September 5-13, 2020 - Voting.
September 14, 2020 - Leader announced.
Debates
Candidates
Declared
Cam Brewer
Cam Brewer is a Vancouver lawyer and Simon Fraser University adjunct professor who practices environmental and Aboriginal law.
Kim Darwin
Kim Darwin is an independent mortgage consultant and former president of the Sechelt Chamber of Commerce. She served as vice chair of the Green Party of British Columbia's provincial council and stood as a candidate for Powell River-Sunshine Coast in 2017.
Sonia Furstenau
is the MLA for Cowichan Valley and deputy leader of the party.
Declined
Jonina Campbell – deputy leader, candidate for New Westminster in 2017.
Adriane Carr – Vancouver city councillor, former deputy leader of the Green Party of Canada, former leader of the Green Party of British Columbia.
Pete Fry – Vancouver city councillor, candidate for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in 2016 by-election.
