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Jo-Ann Roberts

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Jo-Ann Roberts
Roberts in 2018
Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia
In office
October 23, 2021 – April 2024
LeaderAnthony Edmonds
Preceded byJenn Kang (interim)
Interim Leader of the Green Party of Canada
In office
November 4, 2019 – October 3, 2020
Preceded byElizabeth May
Succeeded byAnnamie Paul
Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada
In office
March 19, 2018 – November 4, 2019
Serving with Daniel Green
LeaderElizabeth May
Preceded byBruce Hyer
Succeeded byJonathan Pedneault (2022)
Personal details
Born1956 (age 67–68)[citation needed]
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyGreen
SpouseKen Kelly
Children4
Residence(s)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Alma materMount Allison University (BA)
Carleton University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • journalist

Jo-Ann Roberts (born September 8,1956[citation needed]) 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]

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 trice in the past, running in Victoria in 2015 and in Halifax in 2019 and 2021. She was appointed to be deputy leader of the party in 2018, serving alongside Daniel Green.[4]

In October 2021, Roberts was elected to be the deputy leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia, with Anthony Edmonds being elected leader of the party. Together they implemented a shadow cabinet for the party and hope to elect the first Green MLA to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the next election.[5] She stepped down as Deputy Leader of GPNS in April 2024.

Personal life

[edit]

Roberts received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University and a journalism degree from Carleton University.[6] She received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Non-Fiction from University of Kings College. https://ukings.ca/area-of-study/master-of-fine-arts-in-creative-nonfiction/ She has written a book, Storm the Ballot Box; How to Start a Voting Revolution Before It's Too Late, which will be published by Nimbus Publishing in May 2025.

She is married to Ken Kelly, with whom she has four adult children.[7] She also has four 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.[8]

Political career

[edit]

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.[9] While she had been approached by other parties, she claimed that the Green Party platform was the one which most aligned with her beliefs.[10] She came second in 2015 with almost 24,000 votes, which is more votes than was received by 131 MPs who were elected.[11]

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.[12]

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.[13] Roberts served until the election of Annamie Paul in October 2020.[14]

Roberts ran in Halifax in the 2021 federal election, placing fourth.

Roberts serves as host and producer for the Green Party podcast, People, Politics, and Planet.[15]

Electoral record

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2021 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Andy Fillmore 21,905 42.74 +0.26 $103,501.55
New Democratic Lisa Roberts 20,347 39.70 +9.66 $90,503.01
Conservative Cameron Ells 6,601 12.88 +1.30 $2,924.56
Green Jo-Ann Roberts 1,128 2.20 –12.17 $12,448.57
People's B. Alexander Hébert 1,069 2.09 +0.95 $3,500.64
Communist Katie Campbell 198 0.39 – $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 51,248 99.38 +0.02 $108,761.04
Total rejected ballots 322 0.62 –0.02
Turnout 51,570 68.13 –6.91
Registered voters 75,692
Liberal hold Swing –4.70
Source: Elections Canada[16]
2019 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Andy Fillmore 23,681 42.48 −9.25 $77,935.01
New Democratic Christine Saulnier 16,747 30.04 −6.09 $92,096.82
Green Jo-Ann Roberts 8,013 14.37 +11.08 $46,730.72
Conservative Bruce Holland 6,456 11.58 +2.97 none listed
People's Duncan McGenn 633 1.14 – none listed
Animal Protection Bill Wilson 222 0.40 – $2,719.51
Total valid votes/expense limit 55,752 100.0     $102,876.75
Total rejected ballots 361 0.64 +0.15
Turnout 56,113 75.04 +0.36
Eligible voters 74,778
Liberal hold Swing -1.58
Source: Elections Canada[17]
2015 Canadian federal election: Victoria
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Murray Rankin 30,397 42.28 -8.50 $222,151.95
Green Jo-Ann Roberts 23,666 32.92 +21.31 $147,733.88
Liberal Cheryl Thomas[18] 8,489 11.81 -2.18 $36,199.72
Conservative John Rizzuti 8,480 11.79 -11.83 $72,891.79
Libertarian Art Lowe 539 0.75 +0.26 $900.00
Animal Alliance Jordan Reichert 200 0.28 – $10,110.17
Independent Saul Andersen 124 0.17 – –
Total valid votes/expense limit 71,895 100.00   $234,268.29
Total rejected ballots 241 0.33
Turnout 72,136 77.92
Eligible voters 92,574
New Democratic hold Swing -14.90
Source: Elections Canada[19][20]


References

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  1. ^ Aiello, Rachel (November 4, 2019). "Elizabeth May steps down as Green Party leader". CTV News. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  2. ^ "Elizabeth May steps down as leader of Green Party". Global News. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  3. ^ Smith, Emma (November 10, 2019). "Green Party's new interim leader focused on prepping for the next election". CBC News. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Jo-Ann Roberts". Green Party of Canada. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  5. ^ Grant, Taryn (October 23, 2021). "Anthony Edmonds elected leader of N.S. Green Party". CBC Nova Scotia. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mount Allison University | Record | Meet the 2019 Alumni Award Winners". www.mta.ca. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  7. ^ Knox, Jack (November 8, 2017). "Jack Knox: Why a prominent Victoria couple is leaving for Halifax". Times Colonist. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  8. ^ "What you need to know about Jo-Ann Roberts, the Green Party's interim leader | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  9. ^ "Former CBC Host Jo-Ann Roberts Seeks Federal Green Party Nom. in Victoria". Puget Sound Radio. January 25, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  10. ^ Pammett, Jon H.; Dornan, Christopher (June 11, 2016). The Canadian Federal Election of 2015. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-4597-3335-0.
  11. ^ "About Elizabeth". Elect Jo-Ann Roberts. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  12. ^ "May's out. Now what?". The Signal. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  13. ^ 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 November 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Raj, Althia (October 3, 2020). "Annamie Paul Wins Race To Replace Elizabeth May As Green Party Leader". HuffPost. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  15. ^ "People, Politics and Planet Podcast". Green Party of Canada. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  16. ^ "Election Night Results — Halifax". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Liberal candidate Cheryl Thomas resigns over Facebook comments". CBC News. CBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  19. ^ Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca.
  20. ^ Canada, Elections. "Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits". www.elections.ca.
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