Green Party Federal Council: Leadership

Democracy works best when fresh voices step up and that’s why I’m running to be the Ontario Representative on Federal Council.

I grew up in the Ottawa area and have now lived, studied, and worked in Waterloo Region for 32 years. I hold graduate degrees in Physics and in Peace & Conflict Studies. I’ve worked in advanced technology development and in community-based social-impact roles. I’ve served in governance across academic institutions, civil society organizations, and faith communities, with a consistent focus on accountability, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.

I believe healthy organizations thrive when leadership is refreshed. Fresh perspectives bring new energy, new voices, and new ideas. For the Green Party, this is especially vital: our movement depends on grassroots engagement and collaborative leadership. If elected to Federal Council, I will advocate for processes that keep leadership equitable, responsive, participatory, and dynamic.

I’ve campaigned in municipal, provincial, and federal elections, and I’ve been a candidate at the local level (Kitchener City Council - 2022, Waterloo Regional Council - 2025) and federally (GPC Waterloo - 2025), and a provincial nomination contestant (GPO Kitchener Centre - 2023). I build strong teams to strengthen connections between voters and our elected leaders. These campaigns taught me the importance of fostering trust and communicating Green values with clarity and conviction.

I have been a part of our Shadow Cabinet since January of this year, as our Critic for Democratic Reform. For me, democratic reform is about building a system that actually reflects the people it serves. That means trusting young people with a vote at 16, since they’re already living with the consequences of decisions on climate, education, and opportunity. We need citizens’ assemblies to lead us toward electoral reform, so that alternatives to first-past-the-post come from broad and transparent public deliberation rather than backroom deals. It means drawing a clear line against misuse of the notwithstanding clause, so that rights aren’t dismissed before they’ve even been tested in court. It also means taking technology seriously. AI and other tools can help strengthen participation, but only if we put safeguards in place against bias, misinformation, and misuse. And we need stronger protections against interference (whether from foreign powers, big corporations, or the ultra-rich) so that Canadians can trust that our democracy belongs to us.

As a political party, our top priority must be electing Green MPs to the House of Commons. Only with a stronger presence in Parliament can we influence legislation, hold government accountable, and advance the policies Canadians urgently need. Every decision of Federal Council should ultimately be guided by this purpose: building the conditions for electoral success, supporting candidates and campaigns, and ensuring our message resonates in communities across the country.

By combining practical experience, thoughtful governance, and a deep commitment to strengthening our movement, I’m ready to help ensure the Green Party of Canada is prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Thanks for reading. If you’d like to connect to discuss the election, I’d be delighted to do that. Send an email to hello@simonguthrie.ca.

Photo taken by Dave Klassen.