New Westminster school trustee Jonina Campbell is taking on a high-profile role with the B.C. Green Party.
Green party leader Andrew Weaver has appointed the New West resident as the party’s second deputy leader. The New Westminster School Board trustee ran for the Greens in last spring’s provincial election, tripling the party’s support in New West from 8.35 per cent in 2013 to 25.36 per cent.
“It is a privilege to be able to serve in a leadership role and I am really excited,” Campbell told the Record. “I ran as a candidate because I wanted to be part of a team that is making decisions that make the world a better place for my children and grandchildren. I see the Greens gaining in momentum and people really coming to a place where they are saying, ‘Wow, this is a party that represents all the issues and really puts people first, and can find that balance between the economy, people and the environment.’”
Campbell replaces Matt Toner, who stepped down as the party’s second deputy leader in December. Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau is the party’s first deputy leader.
“For me, it’s an exciting party to be at. It’s about getting out there and looking at being bold and courageous, and not necessarily making sure we get re-elected. I think people are really looking to be inspired and looking for new ideas,” Campbell said. “It’s exciting to be part of a party that is bringing those things forward.”
Campbell’s responsibilities as deputy leader include supporting the growth of the party’s riding associations, liaising between the caucus and Provincial Council, and representing the party in media appearances and at public events.
“It’s an opportunity for me to play that role in growing and building our party, especially at the grassroots level, really looking how to grow and engage membership,” Campbell said. “One of those ways will be through growing our riding associations. I also see it as an opportunity to really get out there and connect with people, not just Metro Van, but all across British Columbia about who we are, being able to grow that awareness of the B.C. Greens and what we are about and what we offer.”
The Greens made history in the 2017 provincial election when Weaver, Furstenau and Adam Olsen were elected. Following the election, the Greens signed a “confidence and supply agreement” and agreed to support NDP budgets or confidence motions, allowing the NDP to form a minority government.
Campbell is pleased with the initiatives the Greens have been able to put forward since the election – issues such as proportional representation and innovation.
“There’s a lot of that collaborative work that’s happening and being able to show that a minority government can work,” she said. “There are times when the B.C. Greens differ on directions in policy that NDP have gone in – being able to advocate for what our position is and putting that out there. That’s also healthy in a minority government. Mostly, I think they’ve been able to bring a lot of things forward that they talked about in the election.”
Weaver is happy to have Campbell on board.
“Jonina is an incredibly motivated, compassionate, knowledgeable and capable person who brings a breadth of experience to this position,” he said in a press release. “We are richer and stronger for her commitment to the party and especially to the province-at-large.”
