Astrophysicist Amita Kuttner chosen as interim leader of Green Party of Canada

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Astrophysicist Amita Kuttner chosen as interim leader of Green Party of Canada
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Nov 24, 2021 • 5 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
Green Party candidate Paul Manly speaks with local resident Colin Anstey about his concerns, as he campaigns in Nanaimo, B.C., Sept. 5, 2021.
Green Party candidate Paul Manly speaks with local resident Colin Anstey about his concerns, as he campaigns in Nanaimo, B.C., Sept. 5, 2021. PHOTO BY COLE BURSTON /AFP via Getty Images
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OTTAWA — The Greens have chosen a nonbinary astrophysicist as the interim leader of their party.

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Amita Kuttner, an expert in black holes, was appointed Wednesday by the Greens’ Federal Council to lead the party until a new leader is elected next year.


Kuttner, 30, will be the youngest person as well as the first trans person and person of east-Asian descent to lead a federal political party.

Paul Manly, the former MP who lost his British Columbia seat in the September election, withdrew Wednesday from the leadership race.

His withdrawal from the contest in a letter to the council surprised senior Greens, prompting speculation that he may run for election to lead the party permanently.

Manly, who was backed by former leader Elizabeth May, said he was currently “taking on other projects” in his community.


Kuttner, who stood against Annamie Paul for the Green leadership last year, has been a vocal advocate for action to address flooding and climate change. Their mother was killed and their father severely injured in a mudslide in 2005 after their North Vancouver home was crushed.

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Kuttner runs the Moonlight Institute, a non-profit that explores ways to adapt to the climate crisis. They have served as the Green party’s science and innovation critic and ran as a candidate in the B.C. riding of Burnaby-North Seymour in the 2019 federal election.

The interim leader will be in the post for a maximum of six months before a full-time leader can be elected to succeed Paul, who formally stepped down as Green leader earlier this month.

Paul said leading the Greens had been the worst period of her life and has handed in her party membership.

The party has been beset by infighting over the past year and saw its support plummet in the election, returning two MPs but losing a significant share of the popular vote.

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Kuttner will face the task of trying to unite the divided party, which is also beset by financial problems.

In a statement, Kuttner said they were “honoured to have been selected … during this time of transition and renewal.”

“I take on this responsibility fully aware of the magnitude of the challenges we are facing but convinced that we will overcome them and emerge stronger, more united and more confident about our vital role in national politics,” they said.

Federal Council President Lorraine Rekmans said their selection was “an important step forward in reinvigorating our party” and would help the Greens “rebuild.”

“Amita has the political and life experience that makes them supremely qualified to guide our party through a period of renewal, helping to reconnect with our membership, implement reforms in our approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion within the party, and prepare for the next leadership contest,” Rekmans said.

Kuttner spoke out this week after Mike Morrice, the newly-elected Green MP, was not given permission to speak in a debate on Monday, the first day of the parliamentary session.

“Apparently we welcome people to their first day in the House of Commons by refusing to let them speak. Clearly, representation for all people is not important to some MPs,” they said on Twitter.
 
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petros

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Kuttner, 30, will be the youngest person as well as the first trans person and person of east-Asian descent to lead a federal political party.
East Asia? We are at war with East Asia.

CANSOC has always been at war with East Asia.
 

taxslave

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I wish her well. As a smart person, she'll have to get her head around dealing with people who think volume substitutes for facts and reasoning.
The last so called smart woman that got into politics did not do so well. True, she was appointed not elected, but she had a party membership card.
 

Tecumsehsbones

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The last so called smart woman that got into politics did not do so well. True, she was appointed not elected, but she had a party membership card.
Did she have a Ph.D. in physics? Takes more'n cramming for the test to get one of those.

Last major politician I can think of with a Ph.D. was Angela Merkel. She did OK.
 
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Tecumsehsbones

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Have to check. She was an astronaut. Or space cadet, depending on your perspective.
I already did. She holds a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from University of California, Santa Cruz.

Not quite MIT, but I've never heard anybody who knew what the hell they were talking about question the quality of UC's Ph.D.s
 

B00Mer

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From the circus to mainstream politics. How do they ever expect people to take them seriously?

Another virtual signaler with no idea how to accomplish the ideology. Another mouth piece

...and what is IT.. a Girl with a dick, or a Guy with a pussy. :confused:
 
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taxslave

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I already did. She holds a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from University of California, Santa Cruz.

Not quite MIT, but I've never heard anybody who knew what the hell they were talking about question the quality of UC's Ph.D.s
Other than the price tag, is there any real difference between schools? Not counting diploma mills of course.