By Jon Thompson

In an effort to put its roots down, the Green Party of Ontario is extending a branch to the Kenora-Rainy River riding, looking for a candidate to carry its banner into the provincial election this fall.

“We’re starting to gain traction in the North,” said its leader, Mike Schreiner. “I think part of the reason is I’m finding the Green Party’s message is resonating with people who work close to nature, whether it’s forestry or farming, mining or tourism. Whenever the environment is closest to someone’s economic community’s well-being, our message resonates around building resiliency in local economies.”

To date, neither the Progressive Conservatives nor the governing Liberals have nominated candidates to oppose former NDP leader Howard Hampton, who has been undefeated as MPP for two decades. The newcomer Green Party has yet to develop a riding association in the riding located furthest from Queen’s Park.

Schreiner said he believes the appetite for more local autonomy and resource management is a thirst only his party can quench.

“When I spent time in the North myself or met with people from the North, the issues I keep hearing over and over again is more local decision making, in particular not just being consulted but being empowered to make more local decisions,” he said. “That’s a big part of our platform across the province. The other one is retaining more value from resources in our local economies through value added industry so we’re not just shipping our resources to other places.”

He urged interested candidates to contact the Greens at www.gpo.ca.

Read the original story at Miner&News