Jo-Ann Roberts

Jo-Ann Roberts (born 1956) is a Canadian politician and former journalist who served as the interim leader of the Green Party of Canada from November 4, 2019 to October 3, 2020, having been appointed upon Elizabeth May stepping down from the party's leadership role.[1]

Jo-Ann Roberts
Roberts in 2018
Leader of the Green Party
Interim
In office
November 4, 2019 – October 3, 2020
DeputyDaniel Green
Preceded byElizabeth May
Succeeded byAnnamie Paul
Deputy Leader of the Green Party
In office
March 19, 2018 – November 4, 2019
Serving with Daniel Green
LeaderElizabeth May
Preceded byBruce Hyer
Succeeded byDaniel Green
Personal details
Born1956
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyGreen
Spouse(s)Ken Kelly
Children4
ResidenceHalifax
Alma materMount Allison University, Carleton University
OccupationPolitician

Roberts previously served as the party's deputy leader since March 2018 and was a broadcaster with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.[2][3] She has been a federal Green Party candidate twice in the past, running in Victoria in 2015 and in Halifax in 2019. She was appointed to be deputy leader of the party in 2018, serving alongside Daniel Green.[4]

Personal life

Roberts has a B.A. from Mount Allison University and a journalism degree from Carleton University.[5]

She is married to Ken Kelly, with whom she has four adult children.[6] She also has two grandchildren and cites the birth of her first grandchild as one of the forces which compelled her to move into politics in 2014. Roberts has claimed that she wanted to have an adequate answer if her granddaughter asked her what she had done to fight climate change.[7]

Political career

Roberts left her job at the CBC in 2014 to pursue a career in advocacy for public communication and the environment. She decided to run as a Green Party candidate in Victoria for the 2015 federal election campaign.[8] While she had been approached by other parties, she claimed that the Green Party platform was the one which most aligned with her beliefs.[9] She came second in 2015 with almost 24,000 votes, which is more votes than was received by 131 MPs who were elected.[10]

After the election, Roberts and her family moved back to her childhood hometown of Halifax. In 2018, she was appointed by Elizabeth May to serve as the deputy leader of the party, alongside Daniel Green. She ran as the Green Party candidate in Halifax in the 2019 federal election, finishing in third with 14% of the vote.[11]

On November 4, 2019, Elizabeth May announced that she would be stepping down as leader of the Green Party, effective immediately. She then named Roberts as the new interim leader.[12]

Roberts serves as host and producer for the Green Party podcast, People, Politics, and Planet.[13]

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAndy Fillmore23,68142.48−9.25$77,935.01
New DemocraticChristine Saulnier16,74730.04−6.09$92,096.82
GreenJo-Ann Roberts8,01314.37+11.08$46,730.72
ConservativeBruce Holland6,45611.58+2.97none listed
People'sDuncan McGenn6331.14–none listed
Animal ProtectionBill Wilson2220.40–$2,719.51
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,752100.0   $102,876.75
Total rejected ballots 3610.64+0.15
Turnout 56,11375.04+0.36
Eligible voters 74,778
Source: Elections Canada[14]
2015 Canadian federal election: Victoria
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticMurray Rankin30,39742.28-8.50$222,151.95
GreenJo-Ann Roberts23,66632.92+21.31$147,733.88
LiberalCheryl Thomas[15]8,48911.81-2.18$36,199.72
ConservativeJohn Rizzuti8,48011.79-11.83$72,891.79
LibertarianArt Lowe5390.75+0.26$900.00
Animal AllianceJordan Reichert2000.28–$10,110.17
IndependentSaul Andersen1240.17––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 71,895100.00 $234,268.29
Total rejected ballots 2410.33
Turnout 72,13677.92
Eligible voters 92,574
New Democratic hold Swing -14.90
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]

References
  1. Aiello, Rachel (4 November 2019). "Elizabeth May steps down as Green Party leader". CTV News. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. "Elizabeth May steps down as leader of Green Party". Global News. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. Smith, Emma (10 November 2019). "Green Party's new interim leader focused on prepping for the next election". CBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  4. "Jo-Ann Roberts". Green Party of Canada. Green Party of Canada. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  5. "Mount Allison University | Record | Meet the 2019 Alumni Award Winners". www.mta.ca. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. Knox, Jack. "Jack Knox: Why a prominent Victoria couple is leaving for Halifax". Times Colonist. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  7. "What you need to know about Jo-Ann Roberts, the Green Party's interim leader | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  8. "Former CBC Host Jo-Ann Roberts Seeks Federal Green Party Nom. in Victoria". Puget Sound Radio. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  9. Pammett, Jon H.; Dornan, Christopher (11 June 2016). The Canadian Federal Election of 2015. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-4597-3335-0.
  10. "About Elizabeth". Elect Jo-Ann Roberts. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  11. "May's out. Now what?". The Signal. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  12. Neatby, Andrea Gunn, Stu. "Canadian Green Leader Elizabeth May steps down, Halifax candidate Jo-Ann Roberts named interim leader | The Guardian". www.theguardian.pe.ca. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  13. "People, Politics and Planet Podcast". Green Party of Canada. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  14. "Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. "Liberal candidate Cheryl Thomas resigns over Facebook comments". CBC News. CBC News. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  16. Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca.
  17. Canada, Elections. "Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits". www.elections.ca.
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