THUNDER BAY: The Green Party of Canada today welcomes Bruce Hyer, the formerly Independent Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Superior North, to the Green Party caucus.
In an announcement this morning at Thunder Bay’s Finlandia Club, Hyer stated that he looked forward to joining Elizabeth May, previously Canada’s only Green MP, in the House of Commons.
“Becoming a Green Party MP will allow me to maintain my independence and stand up for the interests of my constituents,” said Hyer. “Working with the Greens, I’ll have access to the resources of a well-organized national party and will have the benefit of collaboration with Elizabeth May and her team.”
Bruce Hyer, a former Forest Ecologist and wilderness tourism entrepreneur in Northwestern Ontario, was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008. He voluntarily left the NDP caucus in April 2012 and, prior to today’s announcement, had served as an Independent since then.
“My decision to sit as an independent was a response to the way the major parties
limited true representation of my constituents by demanding lockstep discipline,” Hyer said. “This mindless solidarity prevents cooperation and compromise, meaningful policy discussion and finding productive solutions for Canadians.”
A strong advocate for democratic reform, Hyer has long been critical of the three major parties’ practice of whipping votes, and had stated that he would never join a party where he was unable to vote with his conscience and in the best interests of his constituents.
The Green Party of Canada is currently the only federal party that does not whip votes.
“I am thrilled to welcome Bruce Hyer to the Green Party,” said Elizabeth May, Party Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “I look forward to working with Bruce to break through the partisan gridlock and work on the issues that matter most to Canadians.”
Take a moment now to welcome Bruce to the GPC
Read Bruce Hyer's speech here:
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Contact:
Nicholas Gall
Communications Officer,
Green Party of Canada
Cell: 613 614 4916
Nicholas.gall@greenparty.ca