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“Of course, I would say this is a pivotal time for the party,” said Weaver, who has stressed in the past that the B.C. and federal organizations are separate and distinct. “But that’s an exciting opportunity, just like we’re at a pivotal time for climate change and greenhouse gas reductions.

“View these as not glass-half-empty, but as an opportunity for innovation and change.”

Still, the departures of two high-profile leaders carries extraordinary risk, said Kimberly Speers, a University of Victoria professor who studies Canadian politics.

“The Green movement in general in Canada I think is just in an identity crisis, and it’s also in a situation where the future of the Greens may be in crisis,” said Speers.

“You have two Green parties looking for leaders, and where are those leaders going to come from? Are they going to come from the elected people in B.C.? The lone person out in New Brunswick? There’s not many elected Greens to choose from.

“And if it’s somebody from outside, it is going to take a long time for them to build the party and introduce themselves to the electorate as well. I think they both have a big challenge in terms of surviving into the future.”

Within the Green parties themselves, however, there is less worry.

Strategist Jillian Oliver, who has worked on both provincial and federal campaigns, said many of the members now join for their own reasons, and the larger priority to fight climate change transcends any one individual.