The president of the Green Party of Canada has resigned, telling members in a letter that her “optimism has died” amid ongoing party turmoil. The Canadian Press received a letter from Lorraine Rekmans, who writes that she can no longer serve because “there is no vision of a better future, but only an attempt to look back and settle old scores while the planet burns.” “I am leaving this party on my own terms,” Reckmans wrote. “I have resigned for the beginning. I had no confidence in the leadership contestants, and they had no confidence in me, and I lost confidence in the federal council.” Reckmans writes that she has been marginalized, insulted and belittled by the leadership contestants and sees no way to continue as president when one of them will be the party’s main representative. Four of the six leadership candidates, along with Greens MP Mike Morris, recently issued a joint statement to condemn the misbehavior of transition leader Amita Kuttner — who is transgender and non-binary — at a Zoom event, though they praised Rekmans for an immediate apology. The Greens launched a leadership contest this summer to find a replacement for Annamie Paul, who resigned after a disappointing showing for the party in the 2021 election. Her tenure was marked by internal conflict and she accused some in the party of racism and sexism. Leadership candidate Sarah Gabrielle Baron, who did not sign the joint statement, says the party’s issues should be dealt with internally. Simon Gnocchini-Messier, who also did not sign the joint statement, said Rekmans had his full support as president. In a statement he said he had confidence in Reckmans to investigate allegations of transphobic behavior within the party and put an end to them. The other leadership candidates could not immediately be reached for comment. The winner will be announced by November at the latest. Kuttner told The Canadian Press it is not yet clear how the resignation will affect the leadership race. “I am grateful for all her work and dedication over the years and her time on the city council,” they said. “I wish her the best. We will chart the course forward as things change and adjust.” Reckmans said in her letter that the party’s current federal council is completely different to last year’s election, but now faces the same allegations that they are “indifferent to diversity”, as well as allegations that the council is not prudent with finances or communications. “This has been a tumultuous term for me as president of the Green Party of Canada,” he wrote. “After a year of working on it for over 40 hours a week as a volunteer, I’m exhausted and my optimism is dead. I suggest you might want to pay the next president you elect.”
