VICTORIA, Feb. 25, 2019 /CNW/ - Federal Green leader Elizabeth May and BC Green leader Andrew Weaver celebrated the nominaton of the new federal Green candidate for Victoria, Racelle Kooy. Kooy was acclaimed as the new federal Green candidate for Victoria at a standing room only celebration at the Ambrosia Conference and Event Centre in downtown Victoria yesterday afternoon (February 24th).

"It's an honour and a privilege to be the candidate for one of Canada's Greenest ridings," said Kooy. "Victoria historically elects MPs who fight for green values. It's time for Victoria to elect a Green MP. This riding was the birthplace of the Species at Risk Act under David Anderson. And after the National Energy Board's appalling decision, this is the riding that needs to lead the fight to make sure the act is enforced to protect the southern resident orcas from the Trans Mountain pipeline."

Kooy was formally introduced by May. "I know Racelle to be a strong voice for climate, for justice and for reconciliation," said May. "I need her with me in parliament. Canada needs her voice on the national stage."

BC Green Party leader, Andrew Weaver, told the cheering crowd that Kooy is going to win in Victoria and "the BC Greens are going to go all in to make sure that happens."

Other speakers celebrating Kooy's nomination included Adam Olsen (BC Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands), Jackie Albany (Councilor from the Songhees Nation), Chief Patrick Harry from Canoe Creek First Nation and Green Party deputy leader, Jo-Ann Roberts [via video].

In 2015, the Green Party's candidate for Victoria was former CBC host Jo-Ann Roberts, who finished second and received the most Green votes in Canada apart from party leader Elizabeth May. Roberts now serves as the GPC Deputy Leader and is running in Halifax. In the 2012 by-election that brought the NDP's Murray Rankin to parliament, Green candidate, Donald Galloway, also came second and lost by less than a thousand votes.

Within ten minutes of her nomination becoming official, Kooy received over $12,000 in donations from the crowd.

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www.racellekooy.com

@racellekooy

SOURCE Green Party of Canada Victoria 2019 Campaign

For further information: Jonathan Dickie, Mobile: 250-818-3234, Photos available on request