OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada has accepted the nomination of Meryam Haddad as a contestant for the party’s leadership.
Voting will take place from September 26 to October 3, online and by mail-in ballot. The party will announce its new leader in October. The new leader will replace Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) who stepped down in November last year after 13 years in the position.
Born in Syria, Meryam Haddad immigrated to Canada with her family in 1993. She earned her law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2012 and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2013. Specializing in immigration law, for the past seven years she has represented asylum seekers from Yemen, Syria and stateless Palestinians, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Meryam is a 32-year-old immigrant lesbian. During the last federal election, she was a candidate for the Green Party of Canada in Châteauguay-Lacolle. In October 2019, she was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Immigration Critic.
All Green Party of Canada members in good standing are eligible to vote in the leadership election. For more information on contestants, contest rules and how and when to vote, go to:
When sharing information about Meryam Haddad, please note that she identifies as female, and uses she/her pronouns.
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For more information or to arrange an interview:
Rosie Emery
Press Secretary
613-562-4916 ext, 204