New leader for B.C. Green Party

The B.C. Green Party announced today that Sonia Furstenau has won the party’s leadership contest, succeeding interim leader Adam Olsen, effective immediately.

Furstenau won 52.4 per cent of the votes on the second ballot, defeating two other candidates, Cam Brewer and Kim Darwin (see results below).

Furstenau is MLA for Cowichan Valley and House Leader in the B.C. Green Caucus. She brings a strong record of legislative accomplishments and local governance to her leadership. She was previously Area Director for the CVRD, a teacher, and non-profit administrator. She has been involved in climate and social advocacy for over 20 years.

“I am so excited to lead the next generation of the B.C. Greens,” Furstenau said. “Our caucus has shown that by following evidence and working collaboratively we can achieve tangible outcomes for B.C. communities, and we’re just getting started. I look forward to working with both our new and long-standing supporters to continue to grow our party.”

I'm honoured to be the Leader of the @BCgreens.

Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign and to @BrewerForBC & @Kim4Leader and their campaigns for a hard-fought race to the end.

Our Party has accomplished great things for the people of BC and we are just getting started.

— SoniaFurstenau (@SoniaFurstenau) September 14, 2020

After reopening the leadership contest in June, the party ran a three-month-long leadership contest ending in an eight-day voting period. The contest attracted 5,478 voters from across the province, including members and non-member “supporters.”

Voter turnout was 85 per cent.

“This is an exciting time for the B.C. Greens,” said Jonina Campbell, Executive Director of the B.C. Green Party. “Sonia’s experience in the legislature is exactly what British Columbians need to lead us into the next provincial election.”

“It’s a critical time to step in as leader of the party and continue to show British Columbians how important B.C. Greens are to the future of our province,” said Adam Olsen, B.C. Green Party former interim leader and MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. “2020 has revealed substantial weaknesses in our society and it’s crucial that the B.C. Greens continue to ensure government invests in a Green Recovery.”

Andrew Weaver led the party from 2015 to January 2020 before stepping down due to a family health issue, and now sits as an independent MLA.

The B.C. Green Party used a ranked ballot, where 2,318 votes were required to reach the 50 per cent + 1 threshold.

First round: Cam Brewer 1,916 votes 41.35%; Kim Darwin 521 votes 11.24% (eliminated); Sonia Furstenau 2,197 votes 47.41%

Second round Cam Brewer 2,127 votes 45.9%; Sonia Furstenau 2,428 votes 52.4% (won)