May 2025 Newsletter
Last month, we celebrated Earth Day on April 22. People of all ages gathered in front of the Legislature for a protest organized by Seniors for Climate. The message was loud and clear: “Later is too late” to act on climate change and protect children from the devastating impacts of a warmer world.
In 2018, leading climate scientists from around the globe released a dire warning to the world that we may only have 12 years left to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial average temperature, thus avoiding the more severe risks of climate change. Today, with a mere 5 years left to avoid climate disaster, it is more important than ever to hold governments accountable and demand a just and equitable transition to a more sustainable economy that leaves no one behind.
Our Green MLAs, David Coon and Megan Mitton representing over 50,000 green voters in the last provincial election, have been working hard to do just that.
We have tabled An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment, called on the government to make Solar Energy more accessible and affordable for all New Brunswickers, and advocated for a Minister of Public Transportation to oversee the implementation of the Transportation Strategy and fix our aging infrastructure across the province. And that’s just a start on the work that needs to be done!
We are just 4 weeks away from our 2025 provincial AGM and registration is now open! We invite you to join us in Tracadie from May 31 to June 1 to celebrate our hard work in last year’s election and chart a course for the coming years to win more Green seats in the next provincial election.
This will be an extra special AGM for us as we say goodbye to our outgoing Executive Director, Claire Kelly, and welcome our new permanent Executive Director. Keep reading to see our thank you message to Claire below.
Enjoy the newsletter!
Sincerely,
your Green Team
In This Issue:
- Thank you Claire-Kelly!
- Register for our 2025 AGM
- Call for Memberships
- Upcoming Events
- MLAs in Action
- Press Releases
- Petitions
Thank you Claire Kelly!
Written by Addison Fach
Claire Kelly has been so many things to so many people, she is a mom, an activist, a politician, an immigration consultant, and so much more. To us, she has been the Executive Director of the Green Party of New Brunswick since 2023, and an invaluable member of our team.
I first met Claire in the 2019 federal election, when she ran as the Green candidate for Moncton-Dieppe and received an impressive 3rd place finish with 18% of the vote. Later that year, we attended COP25, the 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with Elizabeth May and other fellow Canadian Greens. Claire also ran in the 2020 provincial election as part of an all-female crew of Green candidates in the Moncton area ridings.
Immediately upon taking on her role as Executive Director, Claire hit the ground running. She helped recruit 3 phenomenal candidates, all of whom secured strong second place finishes in the spring by-elections of 2023. The very same month, she also planned and executed our first in-person provincial AGM since before the Covid pandemic, helping to bring energy, determination, and a sense of community back to our party after 3 long years apart and setting us up for success.
Most of the next year was spent on the edge of our seats, as constant threats of a snap general election loomed. Thanks to Claire, the Green Party of New Brunswick was ready, with a slate of talented, charismatic, and highly qualified candidates. Although Claire ultimately had to step back to take maternity leave before the provincial election was called in fall of 2024, she left us with a formidable green machine ready to compete toe-to-toe with the Liberals and Conservatives.
Claire is a self-proclaimed “determined optimist” who brings an infectiously positive energy into every room and courageous leadership and inspiration to every table. Although she is starting a new adventure as the (first) Executive Director of the Moncton-based Community Incubator organization, Claire will always have a place in our Green team to call home.
Claire, from all of us at the Green Party of New Brunswick, thank you for all of the incredible work you have done to make the Green Party what it is today. We look forward to seeing you thrive in your new role and we are excited to watch where your political journey takes you next!
Green Party NB 2025 AGM
Registration is now open! You can read all about the plans, the agenda, the location & accommodations on the website. And you can now register for the full weekend or for the parts of the AGM that you’ll be able to attend.
There’s a ton to be excited about! For those who decide to travel to Tracadie on Friday, May 30, we’re planning an informal social night out on the town. If you’re interested in policy, plan to join us starting at 11am on Saturday, May 31. The business meeting will open with welcoming remarks from Megan Mitton & Serge Brideau at 1:30pm. David Coon will provide a Leader’s Address at 4pm. Are you an executive member of your local RDA? We’re holding RDA Executive Meetings from 5pm to 6pm. If you are able to stay overnight, plan to join us for the evening meal and entertainment. On Sunday morning, June 1, we’ll start the day with continental breakfast and a guest speaker and then take a tour before saying goodbye to everyone by noon.
Nominations for Provincial Council have now closed. Voting will begin next week. If your membership status is in good standing, you will be receiving an invitation by Thursday, May 8th. If you don’t receive your invitation, please check in at the office to confirm the status of your membership. You can reach Maria at [email protected] or 1-888-662-8683.
We look forward to seeing you in Tracadie on May 31st!
Call for Memberships
Be sure to sign up or renew your membership today to be eligible to vote in our Provincial Council elections, and to be eligible to vote at our upcoming AGM. Voting for Provincial Council begins on May 8th!
***Please note that if you have donated recently, that does not necessarily make you a member of the Green Party of New Brunswick. Membership fees are separate from your tax-deductible political contribution limit as per Elections New Brunswick regulations.
Not sure if you’re a member in good standing? Ask us! Send an email to Maria at [email protected].
Upcoming Events
Sunday, May 4
- Run for Women Moncton - Join the Riverview Greens team to support the Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre. Register to walk, or, make a donation at their team page here
May 31 - June 1
- Parti Vert NB Green Party AGM - See details here
MLAs in Action
Driving Change: David Coon & Megan Mitton
Despite the Holt government's attempts to constrain their work as MLAs by cutting the Green Caucus budget, David and Megan were as busy as ever this month. They used their time in the Estimates Committee at the Legislature to ask questions about the government's budget. David found out that the Holt government's budget includes the status quo for glyphosate spraying, a large increase for planting trees on plantations and funding for the Enhanced Energy Savings Program barely increased this year and is not keeping up with demand.
Megan discovered that the Holt government's affordable housing target lacks ambition and is essentially the same as that of the Higgs government. She also learned that the Environment department has not inspected all underground fuel storage tanks since 2020. Megan also asked minister after minister if their department was investing in provincial public transportation in this budget, and was disappointed in the results.
In April, David and Megan also worked around the province to help build the Green movement. Megan participated in the annual meetings of the Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins and Riverview RDAs, speaking to members about the importance of building grassroots support now to win more seats in the 2028 election. David supported federal Green Party candidate for Fredericton-Oromocto, Pam Allen-Leblanc, by talking about the difference it makes having a Green representative to stand up for you in government.
New Press Releases