Former CBC meteorologist Claire Martin obviously doesn’t believe in the old adage, “Never believe weather forecasters or politicians.”
On Wednesday, the former national forecaster announced she’ll be wading into some heavy political weather as the federal Green Party’s candidate in North Vancouver.
Martin made her announcement on the North Vancouver waterfront, flanked by national Green Party leader Elizabeth May, who said she’d been trying to recruit Martin ever since the forecaster left the CBC.
Martin said Wednesday she’s running because “People are tired of old politics. People don’t like politicians. I want to change that.”
She said signing on for the Green Party was a natural fit as a climate scientist. Martin said she’s been a political “greenie” since she took a job with Environment Canada in the Northwest Territories more than 20 years ago.
She said the warm winter and lack of snow on the North Shore that shut down local ski hills early this year has been a red flag to people that “climate change is real.”
Martin will go up against Conservative MP Andrew Saxton, who handily won the riding in the last election, with almost 50 per cent of the vote. The Greens came in fourth place.
Martin said one way she hopes to challenge Saxton is “he is a representative of Mr. Harper” as well as trading on her own public reputation of being “honest and a little bit likeable.”
May said Greens hope to appeal to disenchanted voters of traditional parties as well as voters who have simply opted not to vote in the past.
As well as Saxton, Martin will face Liberal challenger Jonathan Wilkinson and NDP candidate Carleen Thomas on the ballot.
