Mike Schreiner hosts rally in Guelph with David Suzuki, Elizabeth May

Hundreds gathered at the Hanlon Convention Centre in Guelph Saturday for an Earth Day rallyin support of Mike Schreiner, the leader of Ontario's Green Party, who is runningfor the Guelph riding.

Among supporters wereenvironmentalist David Suzuki, Elizabeth May, leader of the federal Green Party,and other Green Party members.

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Suzuki addressed the crowd with a speech showing support for Schreiner as a candidate for Guelph MPPand the Green Party.

The crowd cheered as Schreinerdelivered his platform speech, which focused onaddressing climate change and challenging the political status quo.

"We can do politics in a way that put people and planet first," Schreinersaid.

"We have to act on the climate crisis. We are running out of time and we need elected Greens across the country and at Queen's Park to deliver the change so that we can leap into the future now."

Schreinersaid one way theGreen Party plans to dopolitics differently isby creating a balance in minimum wage and small businesses.

"We can both raise the minimum wage, so workers have a living wage, and we can lower payroll taxes on small businesses," he said.

Green Party and leaders debate

Lately, much of the attention in provincial politics has been focused on the brawl between theLiberal and Conservative parties.

To getin front of that, Schreinersaid the media needs to play a bigger role in terms of including all party leaders in the leaders debate.

Only party leaders with seats in thelegislature were invited to take part in the debate on May 27.

Over 11,000 Ontarians, including community leaders,have signed a petition that calls to havea fairdebatebetween all party leaders,said Schreiner.

The change to have all party members attend the televised debate also gainedsupport fromother party members and leaders.

"Will the Ontario media consortium be fair and do what's right and ensure Mike Schreiner has a podium in the leaders debate?" May told CBC News.

"Because we are a real party,we are electedacross Canada and there is no excuse to create a black out on coverage of what Green stands for," she said.