Article content

The Green Party candidate running in the riding of Edmonton Strathcona announced Wednesday he is ending his campaign and encouraging supporters to vote strategically and vote for the NDP.

The closely contested race in the riding has one less person after Green Party candidate Michael Kalmanovitch said he is stepping down during a forum at The King’s University and in a news release.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Edmonton Strathcona Green Party candidate quits, endorses NDP Back to video

According to 338Canada‘s latest poll, the riding is a toss-up between Conservative Party candidate Sam Lilly and NDP candidate Heather McPherson.

“The climate crisis is too important for people and parties to play politics as usual,” said Kalmanovitch in the release. Kalmanovitch was on hand with Extinction Rebellion during its protest on the Walterdale Bridge on Oct. 7. It stalled traffic while the group demanded political action on climate change.

“I am, first and foremost, a person of conscience. I have devoted my life to caring for my fellow humans and our shared home,” said Kalmanovitch, who is a longtime activist.