Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner is once again hoping Guelph’s reputation as a green community translates into Green votes in the next election.

Schreiner officially launched his campaign to become the first Green party representative in the Ontario legislature with a party in Riverside Park on Sunday.

“I’m going to work hard for you, not to be elected, but to make Guelph a better place and to make Ontario a better place,” he told supporters at the event. “I want to earn your trust, I want to earn your respect, and then I want to earn your vote on June 7, 2018.”

Schreiner, who was elected party leader in 2009, and was Green party candidate for Guelph in the last provincial election in 2014, went on to thank all those people across the province who are standing up to make a difference.

He suggested he and his supporters should pat themselves on the back for all the things they have already accomplished, and went on to city local-food and local-beer campaigns, and an anti-pesticide campaign. He also referenced a campaign aimed at getting “big money” out of Ontario politics.

“It’s unprecedented for a party without a seat in the legislature to accomplish all of that,” Schreiner said. “I think about how much we’ve accomplished without a seat at Queen’s Park. Imagine what we can do with a seat at Queen’s Park.”

Schreiner said his goal is to create a government that puts people ahead of lobbyists and political insiders.

“Together, we can bring honesty, integrity and policies that work for people to Queen’s Park,” he said.

Schreiner was joined at the launch by British Columbia MLA Adam Olsen, who is one of British Columbia's three Green MLAs.

“I came out to Ontario for Mike's nomination because he is a refreshing change from business-as-usual politicians,” Olsen said in a news release. “He will be a hard-working MPP for Guelph. I look forward to watching his campaign from Victoria, and helping in whatever way I can.”