Provincial Green Party leader ‘not taken by surprise’ by May’s departure

Saskatchewan’s Green Party leader isn’t shocked to see the resignation of Elizabeth May.

Shawn Setyo has been the leader since 2016, and he also ran federally for the Green Party in the 2019 federal election in the Saskatoon West riding.

Setyo said he had the opportunity to sit on the federal council as the Saskatchewan representative. In those discussions, Setyo said May made her future clear.

“Knowing and working with Elizabeth during that time, she said that this would probably be her last election as leader, and she has held that position for quite some time now,” Setyo said Monday. “I know she had been grooming certain individuals to become the next leader.”

Also announced Monday, former New Brunswick CBC journalist Jo-Ann Roberts will act as the party’s interim leader in May’s absence. There will be an official leadership vote in October 2020 at a convention in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and that’s something Setyo will have his eyes on.

He said he won’t be in the running, but is interested to see who will be bringing their ideas to the table.

“I’m still very focused on leading the Saskatchewan Greens into the next election, and helping build the capacity in this province,” Setyo said.

“I think we’re going to see a lot of interesting people and very strong, prominent Greens across Canada put their name forth. I’m very excited to see who those people are, figure out where they stand, how they’re going to lead the party, and what new things they can bring to the table.”

May has been the party leader since 2006, and was the first Green MP elected into the House of Commons in 2011.

— With files from The Canadian Press