Sparkling Green success in Vancouver, Burnaby gives party momentum

Green party insiders and supporters hopethat success in Vancouver and Burnabyin Saturday's municipal vote will lead to greater gains across the country at multiple levels of government.

In Vancouver, Coun. Adriane Carr was re-elected and will be joined on the 10-person council by Pete Fry and Michael Wiebe.

"I'm very excited about it," said Carr, who received the most votes of any candidate running for council in Vancouver.

Janet Fraser of the Green Party received the most votes of any Vancouver School Board trustee candidate. And fellow GreenEstrellita Gonzalez was second in votes, whileLois Chan-Pedleywasalso elected.

The top vote-getters for Vancouver's Park Board were Greens as well:Stuart MacKinnon, Dave Demers, andCamil Dumont all wonseats.

The wins in Vancouver were celebrated by Sky Losier, the outreach coordinator for federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May. Losierwrote on Twitter the candidates were, "outperforming all the establishment parties by miles."

'We have momentum'

Following his sixth time running for the Greens at either the provincial or municipal level,punk rockerJoe Keithleywas elected to Burnaby council. The Green's Christine Cunnigham was elected as a school board trustee in the city.

"I think we have momentum and I think people are getting the idea that the Green party is a sensible party that will listen to you," said Keithley.

He's been a party member since the late 90sand says the party has grown from a political movement to a viable ballot choice.

"It's gottena lot more organized lately and and more efficient at getting our message out to people, which is the key," he said. "People want to know what you stand for."

Keithley hopes to introduceplastic bans to the city and switchsome city-owned vehiclestohybrid or electric models.

On council though, Keithley will join seven other councillors, all incumbents. Only he and new mayor Mike Hurley aren't members of the BurnabyCitizen's Association,which has ruled the city for decades.

Still, Keithley says a core value for all Greens is to be able to work collaboratively and across party lines.

"Not everyone agrees with us and we don't agree with all of them but we're going to find a way to make it work," he said.

Lower municipal stakes

Political watchers recognize the Greens as a political force in B.C., but aren't sure Saturday's wins will translate elsewhere.

"I don't really believe it's going to have a huge impact on the rest of the country in terms of other Green potential supporters," saidSanjay Jeram, a politicalscientistat Simon Fraser University.

That's because the stakes arelower at the local level, he said.

Municipal politicians can come up with policies to reduce waste but they don't have the tools to levy taxes or put caps on things like emissions.

Still Jeramsays if B.C. residents vote in a referendumto adopt proportional representation, that could be the boost that gives the Green Party more equality with the provincial NDP and Liberals.