Toronto Star

Greens’ campaign revs up after infighting drama

Candidate says some voters are upset by internal challenges leader Annamie Paul has faced

- ALEX BALLINGALL

OTTAWA—It’s not going to be easy for Green candidate Phil De Luna to win in the Liberal stronghold of Toronto—St. Paul’s.

The drama surroundin­g Green Leader Annamie Paul is making it even harder.

Touring the neighbourh­oods of the riding, De Luna said he’s encountere­d people who are upset by reports that Paul — a Black and Jewish woman — is facing challenges from within her own party. He said he’s been called an antisemite. Others have said he hates Palestine.

“I try not to take it personally,” De Luna said by phone on Thursday, describing how he explains that he is running due to his concern about climate change, a lack of affordable housing, and supports for essential workers.

“No leader is without imperfecti­ons, and Annamie Paul is no exception to that. However, this is a campaign, and I truly believe the Green party needs to rally around Annamie Paul and set aside what has been — in my view — a lot of internal party infighting,” he said.

“It hasn’t been able to, to rally around and get past that, just yet.”

De Luna is among 218 Green candidates nominated as of Friday in Canada’s 338 ridings for the Sept. 20 election.

The party limped into the campaign strapped for cash and divided over Paul’s leadership after months of party infighting that included accusation­s of poor leadership, racism, sexism, and antisemiti­sm amid a heated argument over the Israeli-Palestinia­n conflict — hence the allegation­s De Luna is hearing in Toronto—St. Paul’s.

Amid the factionali­sm, top officials reported in late July that the party was near a financial “tipping point” where it would no longer be able to run an effective national campaign.

And Paul — forgoing the traditiona­l leaders’ tour that is a campaign mainstay for major parties — said this week that she will spend most of the federal election in Toronto Centre, another Liberal bastion where she is trying for a third time to win a seat in Parliament.

But the Greens’ campaign machine appears to be revving up. After reporting weeks ago that the party had less than $300,000 in the bank, interim executive director Dana Taylor confirmed to the Star on Friday that the Greens have received a loan to finance the campaign.

The loan — which he pegged at “under” $2 million — will be “enough” for the party in the current election, he said.

It’s a far cry from the money other parties plan to spend. The NDP, for example, has budgeted around $24 million for the current election.

But the Greens have never been a bigmoney political organizati­on. The party spent around $2.5 million during the last federal election in 2019, and won three seats — its best result ever.

Many candidates — including the party leader — plan to finance their own campaigns through local fundraisin­g. De Luna said he’s raised $36,000 through his riding associatio­n so far, and has around 100 volunteers working with him. He’s also editing his own videos and has developed his own mobile campaign app to track potential voters.

In Fredericto­n, Nicole O’Byrne is trying to defeat Liberal incumbent Jenica Atwin, who defected from the Greens in June. O’Byrne said she’s not concerned about the recent party infighting and that her team is “only focused” on Fredericto­n.

Like De Luna’s campaign in Toronto, O’Byrne said she hasn’t received financial support from the central party but is raising money locally.

But that doesn’t mean the national headquarte­rs isn’t helping. O’Byrne said her campaign is getting advice, training for volunteers and help drafting campaign literature from the party. The candidates also have access to G-Vote, the Green party’s digital tool for tracking voters.

“They’ve been very, very supportive,” O’Byrne said.

In Guelph, where the Ontario Greens hold the provincial seat at Queen’s Park, federal candidate Michelle Bowman also said the party is supporting her campaign in these ways.

“I’m sure if the central party has any extra money, they’ll throw it our way,” said Bowman.

“But we do have a new leader that’s trying to be elected in a tough riding. So to be honest, I’d rather if they had any extra money — I’d rather they send it to Annamie Paul.”

But while local campaigns are expressing confidence, the party’s national campaign still does not have a single manager like the other major parties. Instead, the operation is being run by a team of people, said Taylor, the party’s executive director.

That includes Taylor, Paul’s executive assistant Victoria Galea, and a host of other fundraisin­g officials and strategic advisers, Taylor said.

After months of tensions between Paul and members of the Greens’ federal council, she was accused in June by unnamed members of showing a “hostile” and “autocratic” attitude — allegation­s Paul dismissed as “racist” and “sexist.”

She was also blamed by some in the party, including former leader Jim Harris, of failing to prevent Atwin from crossing the floor to the Liberals, and for failing to condemn a former aide who accused unnamed Green MPs of antisemiti­sm during the conflict this spring between Palestinia­ns and Israel.

 ?? THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO ?? Toronto Green candidate Phil De Luna says the party “needs to rally around Annamie Paul and set aside what has been — in my view — a lot of internal party infighting.” COLE BURSTON
THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO Toronto Green candidate Phil De Luna says the party “needs to rally around Annamie Paul and set aside what has been — in my view — a lot of internal party infighting.” COLE BURSTON

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