Former Kitchener MP officially running in next election

The Green Party’s Mike Morrice is officially running in the next federal election.

Morrice is the first candidate confirmed by the Green Party of Canada, after an uncontested nomination process.

“I could not be more pleased and proud to know that one of the best MPs in Canadian history – Mike Morrice – will be back in the House as MP for Kitchener Centre,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, in a release. “Mike is the first nominated Green for the next election. I hope to be the second!”

The former Kitchener Centre MP lost the April election by less than 400 votes to Conservative Kelly DeRidder.

In an interview with CityNews, Morrice said if he was going to run again he wanted to make the decision early.

“It takes quite a bit of time to build up and have all the conversations if you’re going to do it in a people-powered way,” he said. “I wanted to share as soon as possible and also just recognize that I needed some time to connect with volunteers and supporters.”

Morrice went on to say in a press release that his focus will continue to be on making life easier for the people of Kitchener Centre and Waterloo Region.

“We need to lift up and address the rising rates of poverty across our community, particularly when it relates to folks with disabilities,” Morrice said. “Tackling the rising grocery prices that we continue to see, there are real solutions.”

Morrice said he’s been hearing from constituents who want to see him return to Ottawa.

“I still have the fire in my belly, and I know the sooner we start, the stronger we’ll be.”

Morrice was first elected as MP for Kitchener Centre in 2021.