Her mind may be on trying to win a seat in Vancouver-Centre, but deputy Green party leader Adriane Carr's heart and is always close to home on the Sunshine Coast.
Carr said the Green party is revelling in a recent surge of momentum and feels that energy drive will continue in the coming weeks for the Oct. 14 vote.When Coast Reporter spoke with Carr Monday morning, she was thrilled to report a new Angus Reid pole which stated the Green party was second in B.C. trailing only the Conservatives.
"Polls are only polls, but it fits with the momentum I've been feeling with people," said Carr. "The big key is to keep this momentum going and this positive feeling going right up to election day."
Carr is in a dog fight to win a seat in Vancouver Centre, a riding that features Liberal Hedy Fry, Conservative Lorne Mayencourt, and New Democrate Michael Byers.
"When I first declared I would seek the nomination here, the riding was one of the the best ridings to turn Green in Canada," said Carr. "It's a young riding, people here care about the environment, they walk and ride bikes - park their cars when they commute. It's been a joy to campaign here. People that I meet get excited when I say I have a chance to win."
Carr lives full time in Vancouver, but still has a home on the Coast. She sees it as the best of both worlds and tries to "escape" to the Coast frequently, although she admits that is difficult these days.
In looking at the riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, Carr said MP Blair Wilson has a great chance to retain his seat.
"I want to make it clear that Blair approached us saying he was motivated to get Elizabeth May involved with the debates," said Carr. "It was perfect timing for us because with our dismay we were told Elizabeth would not be allowed in the leaders' debates without a sitting MP. Blair helped secure Elizabeth a place in the debates and I'm grateful to him for that. We checked his background out and his work in the constutiency. He has served local people well as an MP and that's important to me and the Green party. He's taken on some Green initiatives and that's important too. Things have greened up as a whole in a society that people are now calling us home. He may have come from a Liberal background, but we have people who have been candidates from other parties that have come to the Green party so this is not unheard of."
Carr said a Green vote is the most strategic vote for climate action change and feels the voters of this riding will make the right "Green" choice when they go to the polls.
"Blair is associated with a party that is on the rise and has momentum. If people are concerned and I know they are in the environment and solutions to the big problems like climate change, I can't imagine that those people will vote Conservative," Carr said. "Canada needs some Green MPs. It will make for better politics and better debate in Parliament and that's what this country needs right now."
