Elizabeth May facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth May
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May in 2014
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| Leader of the Green Party of Canada | |
| Assumed office November 19, 2022 |
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| Deputy | Jonathan Pedneault (2022–2024) Rainbow Eyes (2024–present) |
| Preceded by | Amita Kuttner (interim) |
| In office August 26, 2006 – November 4, 2019 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Jim Harris |
| Succeeded by | Jo-Ann Roberts (interim) |
| Parliamentary Leader of the Green Party of Canada | |
| In office November 4, 2019 – November 19, 2022 |
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| Leader |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands |
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| Assumed office May 2, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Gary Lunn |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elizabeth Evans May
June 9, 1954 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Citizenship | Canada • United States |
| Political party | Green |
| Spouse |
John Kidder
(m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residences | Sidney, British Columbia, Canada |
| Alma mater | Dalhousie University |
| Occupation |
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Elizabeth May is a Canadian politician, environmentalist, and author. She is the leader of the Green Party of Canada and has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Saanich—Gulf Islands since 2011. She also led the Green Party from 2006 to 2019. Elizabeth May is known for being the longest-serving female leader of a Canadian federal political party.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, Elizabeth May moved to Canada with her family when she was a teenager. She studied law at Dalhousie University in Halifax and also studied theology. After law school, she worked as an environmental lawyer. In 1986, she became a senior advisor to the Environment Minister. She helped create the Montreal Protocol, an important international agreement to protect Earth's ozone layer. She left this job in 1988 because she disagreed with a decision about a dam that didn't have proper environmental checks. From 1989 to 2006, she was the executive director of the Sierra Club Canada, an environmental organization.
In 2006, Elizabeth May became the leader of the Green Party of Canada. On May 2, 2011, she made history by becoming the first Green Party member to be elected as a Member of Parliament. She won her seat in Saanich—Gulf Islands. She was re-elected in 2019. May stepped down as Green Party leader in 2019 but continued as an MP. In 2022, she ran for leadership again and won, becoming co-leader with Jonathan Pedneault.
Elizabeth May has received many awards for her environmental work. She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005. The United Nations has named her one of the world's leading women environmentalists. Other MPs have also recognized her, voting her "Parliamentarian of the Year" in 2012 and "Hardest Working MP" in 2013.
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Early Life and Education
Elizabeth May was born on June 9, 1954, in Hartford, Connecticut. Her mother, Stephanie, was a sculptor and writer, and her father, John, was an accountant. Her family moved to Margaree Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1972. There, they ran a gift shop and restaurant from an old boat called the Marion Elizabeth.
In 1978, Elizabeth May became a Canadian citizen and gave up her US citizenship. She studied at Dalhousie University Law School, graduating in 1983. She also took courses in theology at Saint Paul University.
Public Life and Environmental Work
Elizabeth May first became known in the 1970s for her work against spraying insecticides on forests in Nova Scotia. This effort helped stop the spraying from happening. Later, she and a local group went to court to stop herbicide spraying. Even though they eventually lost the case, their actions helped prevent harmful chemicals from being used in Nova Scotia's forests.
In 1980, May helped start a political group called "the Small Party" to focus on environmental issues. She ran as a candidate in the 1980 federal election.
In 1985, May moved to Ottawa to work with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. She represented groups focused on consumer rights and the environment.
Working with the Government
In 1986, Elizabeth May became a Senior Policy Advisor to the Environment Minister, Thomas McMillan. She played a key role in creating several national parks, including Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. She also helped negotiate the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty to protect the ozone layer. In 1988, she resigned from her position because she disagreed with a decision to allow dam construction without proper environmental checks. A federal court later found these permits were given illegally.
May also helped create the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund. This fund helps support groups and individuals in environmental legal cases. She has worked with Indigenous peoples around the world on environmental issues.
Sierra Club of Canada
In 1989, Elizabeth May became the first executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada. This organization works to protect nature.
During her time at the Sierra Club, May received many awards for her environmental leadership. These included the United Nations Global 500 Award in 1990. In 2005, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for her many years of leadership in the Canadian environmental movement.
In April 2006, May left the Sierra Club to seek the leadership of the Green Party of Canada.
Political Career
Becoming Green Party Leader
On August 26, 2006, Elizabeth May won the leadership election for the Green Party of Canada. She received 65.3% of the votes. She said that one of her main goals would be to change the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
In 2006, May ran in a special election in London North Centre. She finished second, which was the best result the Green Party had achieved at that time.
In 2007, May announced she would run in the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova in the 2008 federal election. The Liberal Party leader, Stéphane Dion, decided not to run a candidate against her in that riding. May was initially not invited to the televised national leadership debate in 2008, but she argued against this decision and was eventually included. In the 2008 election, she received 32% of the vote in Central Nova.
Member of Parliament
In 2010, Elizabeth May decided to run in Saanich—Gulf Islands, British Columbia.
Even though she was not invited to the national leaders' debate for the 2011 Canadian federal election, she won her riding. This made her the first Green Party MP ever elected in Canada.
In 2012, May introduced a bill called Bill C-442, which aimed to create a national plan to deal with Lyme disease. On December 16, 2014, this bill became law. It was the first Green Party law passed in Canada's history. The bill was important because Lyme disease was spreading more quickly due to climate change.
Each year, Maclean's Magazine holds an awards ceremony where MPs recognize their colleagues. In 2012, May was voted "Parliamentarian of the Year." In 2013, she was voted "Hardest Working MP," and in 2014, she was voted "Best Orator."
In 2015, May was the first MP to speak out against Bill C-51, a new anti-terror bill. She and another Green MP, Bruce Hyer, proposed many changes to the bill, but they were all rejected. May believed the bill could not be fixed and should be cancelled.
In April 2015, two of May's changes to Bill C-46, the Pipelines Safety Act, were accepted. These were the first Green Party changes to a government bill ever adopted. One change made sure that Indigenous groups could be paid back for their actions related to an oil spill. The other change strengthened the "polluter pays" rule, making it mandatory for those at fault in a spill to pay for the cleanup.
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In October 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited May to join the Canadian team for the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. This showed a willingness to work with opposition parties.
In 2018, May participated in a demonstration against the Kinder Morgan pipeline. She was asked to pay a fine for her actions during the protest. May has called for Canada to greatly increase its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Second Time as Leader
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After Annamie Paul, the previous Green Party leader, resigned, Elizabeth May decided to run for leadership again. She ran with human rights activist Jonathan Pedneault. They won the leadership election on November 19, 2022. They hoped the party would adopt a co-leadership model, but this change was not approved. Jonathan Pedneault later resigned as deputy leader. May plans to continue as leader and run for re-election in the next federal election.
Personal Life
Elizabeth May has one daughter, Victoria Cate May Burton. Victoria also ran as a Green Party candidate in 2015.
On November 27, 2018, May announced her engagement to John Kidder. He is the brother of actress Margot Kidder and helped start the Green Party of British Columbia. May and Kidder were married on April 22, 2019, in Victoria, British Columbia.
May is a practicing Anglican and has expressed interest in becoming an Anglican priest. She looks up to Jesus Christ as her personal hero because he led a non-violent revolution.
Honours and Awards
- International Conservation Award from Friends of Nature, 1985
- Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, 1992
- Elizabeth May Chair in Women's Health and the Environment, Dalhousie University, 1998
- Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (DHumL), Mount Saint Vincent University, 2000
- Harkin Award from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, 2002
- Best Activist Award, Coast Magazine, 2002
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of New Brunswick, 2003
- United Nations Global 500 Award
- Officer of the Order of Canada, 2005
- Couchiching Award for Excellence in Public Policy, 2006
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Mount Allison University, 2007
- Newsweek Magazine: One of World's Most Influential women, 2010
- Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year, 2012
- Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012
- Maclean's Hardest Working Parliamentarian of the Year, 2013
- Maclean's Best Orator of the Year, 2014
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity (D.D.), Atlantic School of Theology, 2015
- Maclean's Most Knowledgeable Parliamentarian of the Year, 2020
Selected Works
Elizabeth May has written several books, often focusing on environmental issues and Canadian politics:
- Budworm battles: the fight to stop the aerial insecticide spraying of the forests of eastern Canada (with Richard E.L. Rogers). 1982.
- Paradise Won: the struggle for South Moresby. 1990.
- Frederick Street: life and death on Canada's Love Canal (with Maude Barlow). 2000. This book looked at health threats to children near the Sydney Tar Ponds.
- At the cutting edge: the crisis in Canada's forests. 2005.
- How to Save the World in Your Spare Time. 2006.
- Global Warming for Dummies (with Zoe Caron). 2008.
- Losing Confidence: Power, Politics And The Crisis In Canadian Democracy. 2009.
- Who We Are: Reflections on My Life and Canada. 2014. This book was a best-seller.
Images for kids
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May speaking on a CBC Radio broadcast, July 2008
See also
- List of Green party leaders in Canada
- 2008 Canadian federal election
