Federal Green Party leader Annamie Paul is confident Guelph will go Green next federal election.
Paul was in Guelph on Monday to kick off her provincial tour with Guelph's Green MPP Mike Schreiner by her side.
“We need a strong, fearless voice in Ottawa. That's exactly what Canada needs. And I'll be working to help get Annamie elected,” said Schreiner.
The two advocated for the housing affordability crisis in Canada as a priority in an outdoor press conference by The Boathouse.
Paul seconded Schreiner's thoughts on housing in Ontario that see the climate crisis and housing crisis go together.
“He is absolutely right that things are interconnected and the plan that Mike and the Green Party of Ontario have proposed is exactly one that recognizes that interconnectedness and is one that recognizes that we are at a defining moment in terms of housing, both here in Guelph, in Ontario and across the country,” said Paul.
She said the Green Party of Canada has been calling on the federal government to recognize the crisis of housing affordability and homelessness which the pandemic only made worse.
“As someone myself seeking to represent a riding (Toronto Centre), a riding that is ranked as one of the top 10 least affordable ridings in the entire country, a riding where homelessness and encampments are just simply a way of life for many of our residents in our community, I know how important the plan is that Mike is proposing,” said Paul.
“And I know how much it would mean to have a federal partner there supporting the efforts of a provincial partner. And this is where having Greens elected at all levels makes the difference.”
Paul advocated for low-income renters who have been put into precarious situations especially during the pandemic. “Those who have not received any kind of rental support benefit during this pandemic, they need it, they need it urgently. If not, we risk a wave of evictions when the moratoriums are lifted and they will be lifted soon,” said Paul.
Schreiner said the Green Party of Ontario is committed to building 60,000 permanent supportive housing spaces with wraparound mental health and additional support for people in Ontario in the next decade. He said that Guelph is on the path to eliminating homelessness by 2023 especially after Guelph City Council unanimously approved a major permanent supportive housing facility.
“We have to address the housing crisis because the false choice between tall and sprawl is actually contributing to an increasing level of greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario and as we build more compact, connected and affordable communities, we create great places for people to live. And we reduce climate pollution at the same time,” said Schreiner.
“And one of the things that makes me so proud to be a Green is the way in which we holistically connect a variety of issues to address ways of making life more affordable and livable, and better for people in our communities.
“One of the reasons that I chose to run in Ontario was that I knew that there was something special going on here,” said Paul adding that Schreiner’s work since he was elected has continuously helped the provincial and federal Greens grow.
“And so I wanted to contribute to that. I wanted to be here so that we could grow the party during the federal election so that it could help the Greens in the provincial election.”
