Elizabeth May

Elizabeth Evans May OC MP (born June 9, 1954) is an American-born Canadian politician. May was leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands. She is an environmentalist, author, activist, and lawyer, May served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada from 1989 to 2006.

Elizabeth May OC MP
May in 2024
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office November 19, 2022 Co-leader with Jonathan Pedneault (2025)
Deputy	Jonathan Pedneault (2022-24)
Preceded by	Amita Kuttner (interim)
In office August 26, 2006 – November 4, 2019
Preceded by	Jim Harris
Succeeded by	Jo-Ann Roberts (interim)
Parliamentary Leader of the Green Party of Canada
In office November 4, 2019 – November 19, 2022
Leader	Jo-Ann Roberts (interim) Annamie Paul Amita Kuttner (interim)
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office May 2, 2011
Preceded by	Gary Lunn
Personal details
Born	Elizabeth Evans May (1954-06-09) June 9, 1954 (age 71) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Green
Residence	Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
Alma mater	Dalhousie Law School (1983)
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, writer

Political career

On May 2, 2011, she became the first member of the Green Party of Canada to be elected as a Member of Parliament.^[1]

May ran for re-election in the 2015 federal election in the riding of Saanich–Gulf Islands and was successful in regaining her seat in Parliament.^[2] After the 2015 election, she was the only Green Party member in the House of Commons.^[3] This changed on May 6, 2019, when Paul Manly was elected. Manly became the second Green Party member in the House of Commons.^[4]

After the 2019 Canadian federal election, May said she was going to stop being the leader of the Green Party.^[5]

After Annamie Paul resigned, May announced she would run in the leadership election to replace her.^[6][7] Running on a joint ticket with human rights activist Jonathan Pedneault, May won the leadership election on November 19, 2022.^[8] In the 2025 election, May won re-election in her riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands, becoming the party's sole representative in Parliament. On August 19, 2025, May announced her plan to resign as party leader and not lead the party into the next federal election.^[9]