(OTTAWA) - The Green Party of Canada is once again running a carbon neutral election campaign. Whatever carbon pollution is created as we drive and fly across the country, we will buy off-sets. We encourage the other parties to do the same.
“Election campaigns are incredibly wasteful. Party leaders criss-cross the country with carbon intensive modes of transportation and local campaigns produce enough waste to rival a small community. With a campaign nearly twice as long as normal, this year’s election will most likely be the most environmentally damaging campaign in Canadian history,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. “I am proud that the Green Party is running, for the third time in a row, the greenest campaign ever. We jokingly refer to my Prius as our campaign bus, and we really pile people on board!”
The Green Party’s strategy to achieve a carbon neutral campaign includes:
· Carbon offsets for all travel;
· The use of 100% recycled paper for printed campaign materials;
· Environmentally appropriate forms of transportation, including trains, hybrid vehicles, ferries, and cycling
“Our campaign has come up with some really creative ways to stay carbon neutral. Not only are we printing on recycled paper and re-using lawn signs, but we fixed up an old Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. We call it the Green Machine, and I love driving it up and down our beautiful riding,” said Ken Melamed, Green Party Finance Critic and Candidate (West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country). “We’re also installing a temporary solar panel at one of our campaign offices. Pretty soon all our lights, computers, and telephone systems on the Sunshine Coast will be completely off-grid.”
Elizabeth May concluded, “With a record amount of money being spent in this election on campaign materials, I call on all parties running in the 2015 federal election to join us in making this election carbon neutral. And I ask Canadians to vote for Green MPs to be prepared for real climate action as soon as the election is over.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca
Or
Kirsten Strom
Executive Assistant to Director of Communications
t: 613.562.4916 (200)
Toll Free 1.866.868.3447
kirsten.strom@greenparty.ca