Green leader ready to take on the Tories

Mike Schreiner suggests striking a respectful tone contributed to his victory

Civility has been a key plank in Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner’s platform. The Guelph politician’s promise to strike a respectful stance in the hurly-burly of provincial politics has been almost as prominent as the environmental and social justice ideas that propelled his win of a historic first seat for his party in the Ontario legislature.

Even as the Progressive Conservatives took a decisive majority of seats in Thursday’s provincial election, Schreiner insisted that constructive dialogue with premier designate Doug Ford is possible. Never mind that Ford was caught on camera during the campaign telling developers that he would allow them to build on the Greenbelt, the environmentally and agriculturally sensitive swath of protected land around Toronto — comments he was forced to walk back when they became public.

Despite the smiling optimism of Thursday’s victory speech, Schreiner has quietly acknowledged that there could be dark days ahead. In a call to congratulate campaign rival Liberal Sly Castaldi on a well-run campaign, the 49-year-old organic food entrepreneur, told her he is preparing to do battle for the community that honoured him with 45 per cent of its votes.

“Here in the community we can find some ways to support our most vulnerable, those most at risk,” he told Castaldi, who is executive director of Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. He struck a similar note in his call to NDP candidate Aggie Mylnarz.

“Those of us who believe in a progressive vision, we’re all going to have to work together,” said Schreiner.

On Friday, between a round of community handshakes, the Green leader admitted that the PC victory and the potential cutbacks it portends, has shaken Guelph’s non-profit and social service sector. Through their constituency office, even a single-seat MPP can help connect those at risk to community resources, he said.

“It’s really starting to sink in what a huge responsibility this job is,” said Schreiner.

For 15 years Guelph was represented by Liz Sandals, a cabinet minister with the governing Liberals, who has retired from politics.

First-time NDP candidate Mylnarz said time will tell whether the community missed an opportunity to take a progressive path with the larger presence of the Ontario NDP.

“It will be very hard for Mike as an independent with a Doug Ford majority but I hope this progressive community supports him and continues to keep the social programming that keeps us healthy and keeps us happy,” she said on Friday.

Schreiner points out that Ford’s threat to the Greenbelt caused such a backlash, he was forced to back down.

“I’m going to try to play a very constructive role but I will not hesitate to be critical and mobilize people if I think there are cutbacks that are going to hurt our community,” he said.