Elizabeth May, the longtime leader of the Green Party of Canada, announced her intention to step down earlier this week, a move she expects will rejuvenate the party.

“I think with experience and age comes potentially some wisdom, but I think it’s healthy in any organization to have renewal, to see new people get on board, to have new people get interested,” May told CityNews.

“A leadership race does that.”

May, who first assumed leadership in 2006, has orchestrated and overseen some landmark moments for the party — including her own 2011 election to the House of Commons.

Related: • Elizabeth May won’t lead Green Party in next federal election

“I defeated a sitting member of Stephen Harper’s cabinet to become the first elected Green in Canada,” she said.

“So there’s sort of a David

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