Pitching a party that’s struggling to gain ground, Bisma Ansari, the Green candidate in LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, is making her case on the ridings’ streets, campaign cards in hand.
The polls aren’t promising, and voters say the party’s focus on the environment is a harder sell in these tough economic times.
“We prioritize, of course, the planet,” Ansari says. “But also, people and small businesses and things that make our local economy run.”
The Green party took a big blow when they were dropped from the last federal leaders’ debate for not fielding enough candidates.
“It’s a big loss for what we were able to share - not just for the Green Party, but for Canadians,” Ansari says.
The party has never won a seat in Quebec.
Their national support peaked in 2019, when more than a million Canadians voted Green.
Today, however, many voters view them as a single-issue party, and with the high cost of living, the environment isn’t a top concern.
“The cost of living and all the tariffs and all the stuff is like taking priority right now over the environment,” said Jessica Benwell.
“I feel sorry for them because nobody’s thinking about the environment anymore,” added Giovanni Sivilla.
“The economy, taxes, how expensive life is getting for someone who’s young like me, and I can’t think about buying a house,” said Lucas Legatos, addressing his key issues this election.
“Somebody has to stand up to Trump,” said Marie Goudreau.
Ansari says Green candidates are working to shift the narrative, telling voters that climate action and economic reform can go hand in hand, hoping that message resonates.
“We have been able to push through very important topics, even with the small presence that we have,” she adds.
Roger Kanagarajah says he’s voting for her.
“I believe they have an inclusive policy, and everything is linked to the environment ultimately,” he says.
But in Quebec, the Greens aren’t the only party offering progressive environmental policies, according to Amy Janzwood, an assistant professor in McGill University’s departments of political science and Bieler School of Environment.
“We’ve seen the Bloc have quite significant support for championing things like electrification, more ambitious climate policy,” she says.
Still, candidates like Ansari are trying to plant seeds for the future.
“I think the communication of what we stand for is super important, and it needs to scale up,” she says.
The hope is that eventually, voters will go Green.
