Only one individual remains in the running for the leadership position of the Green Party of Canada following Nira Dookeran’s withdrawal from the race based in Ottawa on Tuesday. Mike Morrice, a former Member of Parliament from Kitchener, Ontario, is now the sole candidate vying for the leadership role.
In a statement released on the party’s official website, Dookeran cited personal and family reasons for her decision to step back from the competition after much contemplation. She extended her well wishes to Mike Morrice, her fellow contender, emphasizing the significant task that lies ahead for the party.
Expressing gratitude for Dookeran’s candidacy and the dedication she displayed throughout the leadership race, the Green Party of Canada acknowledged her contribution. In response, Morrice, in a statement on Tuesday evening, acknowledged his conversation with Dookeran and expressed his appreciation towards her.
While awaiting guidance from the party on the next steps, Morrice affirmed that their campaign remains steadfast in its mission to bolster the party’s growth and support the movement necessary to confront the challenges posed by the escalating climate crisis and the influence of the wealthy elite on ordinary Canadians.
The official launch of the Green Party of Canada’s five-month leadership race took place on June 11. Elizabeth May, the current leader of the Green Party and the sole Green Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, announced her intention to step down in the summer of 2025, with plans to retain her leadership role until November.
Having been elected as the Green Party leader in 2006, May temporarily relinquished her position in 2019, and Annamie Paul succeeded her in 2020. Following a series of leadership changes, May resumed her leadership role in 2022 alongside Jonathan Pedneault, who later resigned in April 2025 after failing to secure a parliamentary seat.
Dookeran, a former provincial Green candidate with over a decade of involvement in the Ontario Green Party, has actively managed both federal and provincial campaigns. Conversely, Morrice, who previously served a single term as the MP for Kitchener Centre, lost his seat in the April 2025 federal election to Conservative candidate Kelly DeRidder.
Appointed as the deputy leader of the federal Greens on November 28, 2025, Morrice has been designated as the Green Party’s candidate for the upcoming federal election. The party is expected to provide further details on the leadership race as they become available.
The voting period to elect the next Green Party leader is scheduled from November 2 to 13, with the announcement of the results set for November 14.
