Amita Kuttner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amita (Avi) Kuttner
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| Interim Leader of the Green Party of Canada | |
| In office November 24, 2021 – November 19, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Annamie Paul |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1990 North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Political party | Green |
Amita (Avi) Kuttner (born December 4, 1990) is a Canadian scientist and politician. They served as the temporary leader of the Green Party of Canada from November 24, 2021, to November 19, 2022.
Kuttner first ran for a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election. They later ran for the Green Party leadership in 2020. Kuttner is known for being the first openly transgender person and the first person of East Asian background to lead a federal political party in Canada.
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About Amita Kuttner
Kuttner identifies as non-binary and transgender. They use they/them and he/him pronouns. Kuttner was born in North Vancouver, Canada. Their mother, Eliza Kuttner, taught computer science and was an immigrant from Hong Kong. Kuttner's father moved to Canada from the United Kingdom. Kuttner attended a French immersion school program.
In 2005, a natural disaster affected their family home. Kuttner's mother passed away, and their father was seriously hurt. Kuttner was attending a boarding school in California when this happened.
Education and Science Career
Kuttner studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). They earned a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics. Their research focused on black holes in the early universe.
While at university, Kuttner was part of the Women in Physics and Astronomy group. They also helped start the university's 314 Action group. This group encourages more scientists to run for public office in the United States.
Kuttner, along with other scientists, signed a letter in the journal Science. The letter supported young people protesting for action on climate change. It stated that scientists "approve and support their demand for rapid and forceful action."
Kuttner is also a co-founder of the Moonlight Institute. This non-profit organization explores ways to deal with the climate crisis. In April 2021, they spoke at an event called Solve Climate by 2030 at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Political Journey
During the 2019 Canadian federal election, Kuttner was a Green Party candidate. They ran in the area of Burnaby North—Seymour. They finished in fourth place, getting 9.59 percent of the votes. This was nearly double the Green Party's votes from the 2015 election in that area. From September 2018 to February 2020, they served as the Green Party's Science and Innovation Critic.
Kuttner also ran in the 2020 Green Party of Canada leadership election. They finished in sixth place. After the election, Kuttner shared that they had reported experiences of transphobia and racism during the campaign.
Interim Leader Role
After Annamie Paul resigned, Kuttner was chosen as the interim leader of the Green Party. This happened on November 24, 2021. At 30 years old, Kuttner became the youngest person to lead a federal political party in Canada. They were also the first openly transgender person and the first person of East Asian heritage to hold such a position.
Soon after becoming interim leader, Kuttner spoke about wanting to help the party grow and heal. The party had faced financial challenges and a decrease in members. Kuttner worked to improve the party's financial situation.
The Green Party's rules require a new permanent leader to be chosen within two years of an interim leader's appointment. Kuttner stated that they did not wish to become the permanent leader. They suggested that the party should take more time before starting the next leadership contest.
In September 2022, Kuttner was incorrectly referred to with female pronouns during a Green Party online meeting. Kuttner stated that this made them feel "hurt and isolated." The party president later resigned, saying she was unfairly blamed for the mistake.
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Amita Kuttner
