OTTAWA – Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) today congratulated Lorraine Rekmans on her strong campaign in the Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes by-election. Ms. Rekmans finished in fourth place in a virtual tie with the NDP candidate.

“Lorraine did a super job in her canvassing and in listening to the people of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes,” said Ms. May. “Voters who are looking for a progressive voice in Parliament are increasingly turning to the Green Party.”

Ms. Rekmans said: “Naturally my expectations were tempered knowing I was running in a Conservative stronghold, especially after the sudden death of Gord Brown who was a good man and cherished by his community. Nonetheless, people want change and increasingly they think the Greens are a viable option. In the 2019 general election, we might see a different outcome.”

A tireless advocate for Canada’s First Nations peoples, Ms. Rekmans has been the Green Party’s Indigenous Affairs critic since 2008. She is an expert on natural resources issues, having served as executive director of the National Aboriginal Forestry Association. She also co-chaired an international dialogue on forestry at the United Nations Forum on Forests and helped organize the World Forestry Congress in Quebec City. Lorraine and her husband own a small family business in Kemptville.

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Rod Leggett

Press Secretary

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rod.leggett@greenparty.ca