#Shawn Setyo

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The federal Green Party’s openness to continued activity in Alberta’s oilsands has created a rift with some supporters — including party leaders in two provinces — who want to rapidly shut down the industry that employs tens of thousands of people and is responsible for a large portion of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Alex Tyrrell, leader of the Green Party of Quebec, is spearheading the dissent and calling on the federal Greens to change their environmental platform ahead of the national election on Oct. 21. In an interview Wednesday, Tyrrell accused federal Green Leader Elizabeth May of being too soft on the oilsands because her party’s platform would allow the industry to continue operating for decades to come.

Tyrrell said he agrees with “90 per cent” of the proposals in the plan, but that he’s troubled by this aspect of the Green platform that he argued is out of sync with the more ardent side of the environmental movement and will discourage some voters from supporting the federal party.

Two weeks ago, he launched a website calling on May to change the platform and support the “rapid shut down” of the oilsands within the first mandate of a Green government, while investing heavily to support the estimated 140,000 people who work in the industry. The site includes a list of Green members supporting his call, including Saskatchewan Green Leader Shawn Setyo and several current and former Green election candidates.

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Tagging: @abpoli @politicsofcanada @torontopoli @ontarionewsnow

[human-relationships-stuff]

Sask. Green Party Leader Shawn Setyo running in Saskatoon-Meewasin byelection Shawn Setyo, the leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party, is running in the upcoming Saskatoon-Meewasin byelection.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

If Thursday’s Saskatoon Meewasin byelection was indeed a small-scale referendum on the Saskatchewan Party, as pundits and politicians have proclaimed, the result could be considered a glimmer of hope for the provincial NDP.

With talk of program cuts, unpaid days off for public workers, wage rollbacks, layoffs in health care and education, as well as tax increases as the government struggles to balance what Premier Brad Wall has said is a $1.2 billion deficit, voters looked away from the governing Saskatchewan Party and backed high-profile NDP contender Ryan Meili over local businessman and Saskatchewan Party candidate Brent Penner. In a race that wasn’t as tight as predicted, Meili led from the first polls reported to win the Bridge City riding.

“We won. Isn’t that amazing,” Meili said, drawing roars from the crowd in attendance at his victory celebration, calling the win “an incredible honour.

“Isn’t this a beautiful feeling? And it’s been a beautiful experience … They wanted, you wanted, to send a message for Meewasin.”

With all 50 of Thursday’s ballot boxes reported, Meili received 54.2 per cent (2,666 votes), comfortably ahead of Penner at 39.9 per cent (1,962 votes). Also running were Liberal candidate Darrin Lamoureaux (3.7 per cent, 180 votes), Progressive Conservative candidate David Prokopchuk (1.3 per cent, 62 votes) and Green Party candidate Shawn Setyo (1.1 per cent, 53 votes).

“I’m feeling very excited, very honoured, and I’m feeling like this is something quite big in the province,” Meili told reporters after speaking to the crowd.

“Not because I’ve been elected, but because people have chosen to send this message. The message that this government is past its best-before date and they want to see things done better.”

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