ADAMS: Elizabeth May's Next Chapter Is the Green Party's Path Forward

Roadside view of Elizabeth May's 2025 federal election campaign sign alongside a Canadian flag and a Progress flag near a rural driveway. (Source: Facebook)

Elizabeth May's announcement that she will not lead the Green Party into the next election (Yahoo) is both a necessary step and a deeply bittersweet one. Necessary, because any movement that wishes to endure must embrace renewal. The Greens need new voices, new leadership, and new energy if they are to thrive in a changing political landscape. Bittersweet, because in Elizabeth May we have one of the most remarkable parliamentarians in Canada's history—an individual whose integrity, intelligence, and tireless service have left an indelible mark on our country.

For nearly four decades, May has stood at the heart of Canadian environmental and political life. Long before her election to the House of Commons, she was working within the system to try to strengthen it. In 1986, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney appointed her to the Minister of Environment's advisory staff. She worked diligently, helping shape a government that would go on to have the best environmental policies in Canadian history.

But when the government failed to act on the looming cod fishery collapse, she did something most politicians today would not: she resigned in protest. That courage defined her then, and it has defined her career ever since.

Her record in Parliament speaks for itself. Bill C-442, the National Lyme Disease Strategy Act, which she introduced and saw passed in 2014, is one of the few pieces of legislation in modern Canadian history to originate from an opposition party leader. That accomplishment alone sets her apart from the political theatre we see far too often in Ottawa. It makes her, in truth, more legislatively accomplished than many who aspire to the highest offices of the land—including Pierre Poilievre, who has yet to pass a bill of comparable impact.

May shaped the national conversation around climate change, social justice, and accountability. She was, and remains, a voice of conscience in a House of Commons often too eager to trade principle for expediency. As the Green Party prepares to choose a new leader, it must recognize that May’s departure is not an ending, but an opportunity. For the Greens to grow, they must step beyond the shadow of their founding leader and into a new era. But let us not mistake that transition for a loss. May's continued presence in the House of Commons ensures that her wisdom, her tenacity, and her moral clarity will remain.

Large group of people gather indoors at a Green Party event, socializing and standing among campaign posters supporting Elizabeth May. (Source: Facebook)

In fact, I believe Canada owes her more than gratitude. We owe her honour. In a Parliament increasingly dominated by partisanship and noise, the role of Speaker has never been more important. If there is one Member of Parliament whose character, experience, and record make her worthy of that chair, it is May. Granting her that responsibility would not only recognize her service but would also remind Canadians of what true statesmanship looks like.

May has given her life to this country and its people. She has fought for our environment, for justice, and a politics grounded in service rather than ambition. Now it is time for the Green Party to carry that legacy forward with new leadership—while ensuring her voice continues to guide the House of Commons.

Because if anyone has earned the right to be called a servant of the people, it is Elizabeth May.