Nova Scotia's Green Party folds because of inactive membership

The Green Party of Nova Scotia has shut down, blaming its end on an inactive membership and a lack of leadership candidates.

Brynn Nheiley, the party's interim leader who ran in the 2015 federal election, announced the decision on the party's website. She said a political party can't exist without an active membership.

"This is something that we have continuously expressed, particularly over the last eight months. But we cannot force people to engage. Nor can we continue to operate without the active engagement of our members," she wrote Tuesday evening.

'We are no longer able to function'

"It's a sad day for the executive, as we announce to you that, with no one having stayed the course, or stepped forward for the leadership of the party, we are no longer able to function."

Nheiley said the executive had built the party up to the point where it once had a paid leadership. But support fell away.

She said if someone wants to start a new Green Party in the province, the old one would help them.

Nheiley placed the blame at her own feet as leader.

"While several people have come forward to aid the party, I was not able [to] successfully harness this new energy and these new ideas, nor did I effectively reach out and communicate with those who have always supported the ideals of our party," she wrote. 

"I'm sorry for not showing the best of what we are."

She said they hope to repay those who have paid their 2016 membership dues. 

Party founder unsure if he'll run again

Thomas Trappenberg called it a "sad day."  He helped found the party in 2006 and ran in every provincial election since then.

"We need really a larger membership and we never were able to develop this," he told Maritime Noon on Wednesday. "At this point we really don't have the support of the people to carry on."

The party managed to run candidates in all 51 provincial seats in past elections, but only had 16 candidates in 2013. Trappenberg they decided to put more resources into fewer candidates. "I don't think it worked very well," he said.

Support also fell from two per cent to one per cent.

Trappenberg said the party is still registered and anyone who wants to run under the banner should contact him. When asked if he would run again, he replied "maybe."