The Green Party of Canada’s leadership race now has only one contender following Nira Dookeran’s withdrawal from the competition. Dookeran, based in Ottawa, cited personal and family reasons for her decision to exit the race. This development leaves former MP Mike Morrice from Kitchener, Ont., as the sole candidate vying for the leadership position.
In a statement released on the party’s website, Dookeran conveyed her best wishes to Morrice and acknowledged the abundance of talent, experience, and dedication within the party. The Green Party of Canada expressed gratitude to Dookeran for her participation and commitment to the leadership race.
Morrice, in a statement Tuesday evening, extended his thanks to Dookeran and emphasized the ongoing effort to grow the party and address pressing issues such as climate change. The leadership race was officially initiated on June 11, with a five-month duration.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May had announced her intention to step down in the summer of 2025, with plans to remain in her role until November. May, the sole Green MP in the House of Commons, had previously served as party leader from 2006 until 2019, when Annamie Paul took over. May resumed leadership in 2022 alongside Jonathan Pedneault, who later resigned in April 2025.
Dookeran, a former provincial Green candidate, has a long history of involvement with the Ontario Green Party. Morrice, who previously held the MP position for Kitchener Centre, lost his seat in the April 2025 federal election. Despite this setback, Morrice was appointed deputy leader of the federal Greens in November 2025 and is set to be the party’s candidate in the upcoming federal election.
The Green Party has yet to provide details on the next steps in the leadership race, promising to share information as it becomes available. Voting for the new leader is scheduled to take place from Nov. 2 to 13, with the results expected to be announced on Nov. 14.
