Only one individual remains in the Green Party of Canada leadership race following Nira Dookeran’s withdrawal on Tuesday. Dookeran, based in Ottawa, cited personal and family reasons for stepping down. Former MP Mike Morrice from Kitchener, Ontario, is now the sole candidate.
Expressing her well wishes to Morrice in a statement on the party’s website, Dookeran acknowledged the abundance of talent, experience, and dedication within the party. The Green Party of Canada appreciated Dookeran’s participation and thanked her for her contributions to the leadership contest.
In response, Morrice conveyed his gratitude to Dookeran and emphasized the importance of continuing the campaign efforts to expand the party’s reach and address pressing issues like climate change.
The Green Party of Canada initiated a five-month leadership race on June 11, after Elizabeth May, the current party leader, announced her intention to step down by November. May, the sole Green MP in the House of Commons, first assumed leadership in 2006. She returned to co-lead with Jonathan Pedneault in 2022 following Annamie Paul’s leadership term.
Pedneault resigned in April 2025 after electoral setbacks, while Dookeran, a seasoned Green Party volunteer, previously ran as a provincial candidate. Morrice, who lost his parliamentary seat in the 2025 federal election, was appointed as the deputy leader of federal Greens in November 2025.
The party is yet to provide clarity on the next steps in the leadership race. Voting is scheduled from November 2 to 13, with the new leader expected to be announced on November 14.