Bill Green of Kimberley will be the Green Party candidate in the next federal election, after being acclaimed in the contest for the Kootenay-Columbia riding nomination. Shortly before the scheduled December 6 vote, the other contestant, Keith Page of Nelson, withdrew from the race.
“I am very excited to start campaigning now for the 2015 federal election,” said Bill Green. “And I’m really happy that the Kootenay-Columbia Greens have selected a candidate early so we are ready for an early election.”
Green previously ran for the Greens federally in 2011.
“Bill is clearly the best candidate for Kootenay-Columbia” said withdrawing candidate Keith Page, “and I look forward to working on his campaign. I’ve been nothing but impressed with his dedication to this region.”
“I am very appreciative of Keith’s campaign to win the nomination,” said Green. “I think that it was great that we had a nomination contest and I certainly learned from Keith’s views, as well as from all of the people I met at the eight meetings held throughout the riding over the last six weeks.”
In place of the planned nomination meeting on Saturday, the Kootenay-Columbia Greens held a campaign launch event in seven communities around the riding, linked by videoconference.
“I’m campaigning to win this election, and Greens across the country have shown that Greens can get elected and bring a wide range of important issues forward at all levels of government” said Green.
“Most importantly, I want to give real representation to the people and communities of this riding in Parliament. We need to revive our democracy, we need a smart economy, and we need strong communities.”