Here’s the snazzy image created for the story by the folks at The Walrus.
This month, I published my first essay in The Walrus. Called ‘Will PEI Start a New Green Wave?”, it explores the popularity of the PEI Green Party heading into a spring election on PEI, and the impact a potential win (or strong finish) would have on the Green Party federally.
This piece was truly a labour of love. I had the chance to speak to Islanders supporting the Green Party, interview party leader Peter Bevan-Baker, speak to a national pollster, and interview a political scientist at UPEI. I learned lots more about PEI and its reputation for innovative, ahead-of-the-curve environmental policies.
For example, PEI is a global leader in wind energy, producing 25% of its energy from wind. In July, 2019, the province will enact a province-wide plastic bag ban. PEI leads the country in composting rates and has one of the strictest, most comprehensive waste-sorting programs in the country.
All of this because of the fragile nature of the island. Living so close to the sea, folks are more aware of the devastating impacts of climate change. This is one of the reasons cited by the folks I spoke to about their support for Peter Bevan-Baker and the PEI Greens.
You can read the full article here.