The WR Greens have been working tirelessly to save the Greenbelt, and they are heartened by the recent reversal of the policy threatening it, but there is still so much more to be done. With the smoggies running the province, we are poised to be one of the only places left on Earth investing in fossil fuel infrastructure like natural gas plants, yet we are running out of time to save our planet. Climate change is a ticking time bomb, and we need to act now.

The Kitchener-Centre by-election is less than a month away, and the riding is now awash with Green signs for Aislinn Clancy. Hundreds of volunteers have knocked on every door and called every phone in the riding, drumming up support and signing up supporters for lawn signs. And it shows!

Winning an election for a people-powered party like the Greens means a lot of leg and ear work. Beyond just talking, we are listening. That’s why the Greens aren’t just the champions of the environment, but they also stand for social justice and affordability.

Last night’s official campaign kickoff party comes just five days after Premier Ford’s by-election announcement. Scurried and cynical, the PCs are running a non-resident candidate in the riding. But Aislinn Clancy is different. She’s a hard worker in the local community. Caring and empathy are her calling cards here.

Aislinn put her hand over her heart and asked us all to do the same and close our eyes. As we took deep breaths we tried to be mindful of why we are here and why we are doing this. Why Ontario needs candidates like Aislinn to run! 

She became emotional and her voice and tears authentically told us what she felt. She fought hard to become a city councilor only to have her tools stripped away from her by the premier’s strong mayor legislation. She witnessed municipal boundaries expanded without the council’s consent. While many of us are angry about the mismanagement we see of the province, Aislinn reminded us not to waste that anger. It’s there for a reason. It’s there to help organize and mobilize us for political action. To fight back against our smoggy rulers catering to a few 1%ers! To fight against this cratering injustice.

Volunteering for the Greens isn’t always as magical as it may seem. After all, someone’s got to clean out the rotten pumpkins from the riding office. But with Aislinn Clancy leading the charge, we can make a difference. She’s a mom, wife, and city councillor, who is out knocking on doors on evenings and weekends. Her family sacrifices for her, but she’s made to do this.

With more Green Party members in the legislature, we will see progress on key files like housing, mental health, physical wellbeing, and basic income. We need a new economy, a green, climate-friendly economy. While the Greens get things done by working with other parties, they also differ quite a bit from other progressive parties, who often give economic rationales primacy when it comes time to vote.

Just three weeks left…let’s make history together!