An interview with Green Party MLA Megan Mitton
Megan Mitton, a Green Party member of the legislative assembly (MLA) for Tantramar, said she is putting her name forward to succeed the current provincial party leader David Coon. Mitton said in a press release sent to The Argosy that she is “even more certain now than when [she] was elected as an MLA eight years ago that we need deep change in New Brunswick.”
In an interview last week with The Argosy, Mitton said she is putting her name forward because she has the experience, passion, and integrity to do the job. Mitton added that she is a good listener who “love[s] to take in new information and learn more about what people are experiencing and what needs to be done.”
Focusing on Tantramar, Mitton said that by living in Sackville, she is able to see a strong sense of volunteerism among residents, alongside those who deeply care for nature and the environment. Mitton said these are “key things that need to come together.” She noted she hopes to continue working against the proposed gas plant and advocate for a permanent public health office in the area.“We are right now going in the complete opposite direction,” Mitton said, speaking on the proposed Tantramar gas plant. She emphasized the importance and cost-efficiency of transitioning to renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.
In order to tackle the climate crisis and energy concerns, Mitton said that “every part of the government needs to change,” and the solution is tackling systemic inequalities. “[It is] really all based on extractive capitalism,” Mitton said. She added that inequality can be tackled by “living wages, supporting small businesses rather than large corporations and billionaires, helping make post-secondary education more affordable, … making sure food is accessible and affordable, growing more of our food, and supporting farmers.”
When asked about long-term solutions to such problems, Mitton noted her goals of “diving into renewables, energy storage, energy efficiency, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible.” Mitton also said there is a lack of governmental focus on preventative health care that must be addressed, further noting that health care must be spoken about in a way that encompasses poverty, environmental pollutants, and socioeconomic status.
What Mitton sees as key to politics is “our community making decisions about our community.” A “participatory democracy,” she said, “is one of the key things that is often missing.”
“Right now, the way that the economy is set up, it’s rigged for the rich to get richer, the billionaires to become trillionaires, [and] for everyone else to absorb the risk from what they’re doing.” Specifically, Mitton said that, “one thing that every government is going to have to pay attention to and that [she has] really been trying to bring attention to is the role of AI and hyperscale data centers and what that looks like … [and] we need a critical eye on that.”
So far in her career, Mitton has achieved progress in housing, navigating the government system, and advocating for a healthcare clinic; but she acknowledges that, “we are not out of the woods.” A specific achievement Mitton highlighted was helping start a scholarship for a prospective medical student, who will return after graduation for service and practice in Sackville.
Mitton was also the first woman elected as a Green MLA in New Brunswick and has served on several legislative committees, including the public accounts committee and the environmental stewardship committee. Mitton is currently the deputy leader, one step below the position she is running for. The position, the provincial Green’s new leader will be announced in early December.