Federal Candidates
March 25, 2025
Ridings:
Mary Ann Hodge: London Centre
Jim Johnston: Middlesex-London
Jeff Vanderzwet: London West
London Centre
Mary Ann Hodge
mary-ann.hodge@greenparty.ca | Upcoming Events
Mary Ann returned to London in 2006 after working in Toronto for 20 years and has been involved in the London community and the Green Party ever since. Her varied background gives her insight into many different communities, from growing up on a small farm to corporate work, teaching and being a single parent.
Her accomplishments include:
- Cofounder of Climate Action London (subscribe to our weekly email newsletter!)
- Led the effort to ask the City Council to declare a climate emergency
- Raised over $1M for Camp Kee-Mo-Kee, leading a complete revitalization of the camp and spearheading programming for Indigenous & and LGBTQ2+ youth
- Led the effort to unite London non-profit organizations to bring native plants to London gardens (check out this year’s sale here)
- Key Earthfest London organizer for four years, bringing 3,000 Londoners together to celebrate Earth Day and Indigenous culture (join us Sat April 26)
- Helped raise $7M for Indwell supportive housing projects in London
- Foster parent with the London Children’s Aid Society
Every election seems to be “the most important election”. What IS important is for everyone to vote. Yet, about half of all eligible voters don’t see the point. The other half are too often highly partisan and feel scared or angry if the “other” side wins. Using the analogy of a body: is an eye more important than an ear; or an arm or a leg? In the same way, decision makers need to hear all voices to understand the impacts of decisions and issues. Our current election system -, the “winner takes all” system – means some voices make all the decisions. It also leads to massive waste; when governments change, programs are often cancelled and policies reversed, only to come back again years later with another government shuffle. Strategic voting hurts everyone at some point. What if it didn’t have to be that way?
How can we envision a new way forward? Indigenous people call it 2-eyed seeing: looking at issues from different perspectives.
The climate crisis often takes a back seat to the economy – but we are now in the position that extreme weather, and policies from unfriendly neighours, are increasing costs. We are finding our Canadian pride. I believe the Green Party has the policies to bring Canadians together – not focusing on differences but building on common goals.
WITH ONLY 5-7% OF THE VOTE, THE Greens do NOT swing governments, but what they do is signal to the other parties which policies are important to Canadians (policies they sometimes adopt themselves!). This means you can vote Green without fear of “splitting the vote”.
A green vote is a vote FOR something. This election, I hope you check out our policies and join us in a positive election experience.
Il est très important dans cette élection que tout le monde participe et vote.
Middlesex-London
Jim Johnston, BA Math, MBA
jjohnston@greenparty.ca | www.jimjohnston.ca
I am running for the position of Member of Parliament in the riding of Middlesex-London.
I have been a strong Green supporter since the turn of the century, and we have never needed Green values more that we do right now. Middlesex-London needs a meaningful voice in Parliament and support for strong community organizations, more local employment and a government that is concerned about people over profits. In the Green Party, we are elected to represent our constituents first and our votes are not “whipped” by party demands, unlike the Conservatives and Liberals.
For the last 16 years, I have been a professor in the International Business Program at the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business at Fanshawe college, where I teach such things as market entry and ethics. I enjoy teaching and the process of coaching others.
Previously, I owned a software development and consulting company in London for 18 years. I have two grandchildren. I try to see the world through their eyes, so I will do everything I can to make this world a better place for them.
I have lived in Middlesex-London for about 30 years, including Lucan, Ilderton and Poplar Hill. I have coached baseball here and volunteered with the London Dressage Association. I am a musician (Simple Joy) and composer, as well as having a private pilot licence.
I hope that I can count on your help to make a difference.
Elbows up, Canada!
London West
Jeff Vanderzwet
jeffry.vanderzwet@gmail.com
Growing up on a fruit & vegetable farm in the Niagara Peninsula, I was raised to appreciate the beauty of the land, and value the Earth that we live on. I moved away to university in 1982, but that upbringing remains at the heart of my being. Having lived in my current home in London since 1997, I also have an urban perspective on living in this complex world of constant change.
I worked full-time for 33 years in Information Technology, learning to integrate technology with business and society. This has deepened my resolve that technology, while a key part of our world today, is not the solution to all our problems.
I believe we need to work together as a society to make life better for all, addressing issues such as housing and health care, and building a future of optimism for younger generations.
