OTTAWA - Green party leader Elizabeth May is urging Canadians dissatisfied with politics to vote for her party in the coming election.
"We are the voice not of a political party solely but of a movement that wants change," May told supporters Sunday as she launched the party's campaign. "And we'll be that voice without making those rather petty calculations of, `If we say this today, it might hurt us tomorrow'."
"We will always tell the truth and we will never allow power to overcome principle," she said.
The Green party's aim is to have multiple candidates elected to Parliament. "We're seeing strong candidates for the Green party across Canada," she said.
May herself faces an uphill battle in her first campaign as party leader. She is running against incumbent Conservative Defence Minister Peter MacKay in a Nova Scotia riding.
"And of course I plan to win my own seat in Central Nova by defeating -- some of you may have heard of him -- the defence minister Peter MacKay," she said to cheers from supporters.
To those Canadians who say they are fed up with politics, May said "now is the time to wake up" and vote for a new party.
"When Canadians hear what we have to say as Greens, they'll recognize that our platform speaks to a broad range of issues. I think at that point we will see a Green caucus elected in the House of Commons."
The party currently has one member elected from British Columbia.
"We'll get many more than one seat," May predicted.
"We will have MPs elected in the next election ... and an effective and efficient caucus that will be able to change the system in Parliament."
May complained about being excluded from the party leaders' debate. She has called on Canadians to urge the television networks to let her stand on the podium with the other political leaders.
May says her party wants to protect the environment, fight poverty -- especially among First Nations people -- and better assist people with disabilities.
The Green party is seen as a threat to the New Democrats, who have until now touted themselves as the best party to protect the environment and the vulnerable.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an election for Oct. 14.
