Victoria – A 25-year-old climate activist has been chosen as the new leader of the B.C. Green Party in a decisive victory.
Emily Lowan, who campaigned on higher taxes for the wealthiest and a ban on fossil-fuel extraction, takes over the party leadership despite not holding a seat in the legislature. She will now face challenges including contesting a byelection in the future, working with two rookie Green MLAs — Jeremy Valeriote (West Vancouver–Sea to Sky) and Rob Botterell (Saanich North) — and strengthening the party’s influence in provincial politics.
Lowan has vowed to push the governing NDP to declare a moratorium on new fossil-fuel projects, legislate binding emission reduction targets of 60 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040, and eliminate post-secondary tuition fees for domestic students.
The leadership contest began in October after longtime leader Sonia Furstenau stepped down following her defeat by NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore.