THUNDER BAY — Former Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer is praising Elizabeth May in the wake of her decision to leave the post of national Green Party leader.
May stepped aside Monday after 13 years, but will continue serving as MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands in B.C.
Elected twice as an NDP MP, Hyer left the New Democrats partway through his second term and served as a Green MP for nearly two years before he was defeated in the 2015 federal election.
He also ran unsuccessfully for the Greens in last month's federal election.
Hyer described May as "one of the smartest, toughest, best Members of Parliament in the history of Canada. I call her the Winston Churchill of Canada," he said.
May, he said, has done "an unbelievable amount in terms of legislation, amendments, moving the yardsticks policy-wise, making the other parties aware of climate change."
Hyer said it's a good thing she will now be able to focus exclusively on her job as an M.P., something that's difficult to do while simultaneously serving as a party leader.
Hyer spent the weekend in Ottawa for party deliberations on how to handle the transition,
May will continue to serve as leader of the three-member Green caucus in the House of Commons, but the party's new national leader will be selected at a convention next year.
Hyer believes there are several well-qualified candidates for the job.
