Andrew Basham

First campaign and university career

Basham ran for the Green Party in the 2004 federal election, and finished fourth in the riding of Charleswood—St. James. He enrolled as an Environmental Studies student at the University of Winnipeg following the election, and became a coordinator for the group SUNSET (Sustainable University Now, Sustainable Earth Tomorrow). In the latter position, he sought resources to conduct a campus-wide survey on criteria such as land, energy, air and health, but the University refused to provide the funding, and instead offered to develop a "Sustainability Task Force". He served on the university's Sustainability Taskforce for the 2005–06 year.

Green Party leader

Basham was a member of the Green Party of Manitoba executive prior to his election as party leader, and wrote an essay in support of proportional representation for the party's August 2006 newsletter. He was chosen as GPM leader in November 2006, defeating rival candidate David Carey. He has identified Lake Winnipeg, urban sprawl and climate change as his party's key priorities. His mother, Ardythe Basham, was party president prior to the 2006 convention.

Basham led his party into the 2007 provincial election. He called for a provincial ban on cosmetic pesticides, and the introduction of a four-day work week. He also promised 1,500 subsidized housing units, and tax incentives for companies that sell organic foods. The Greens fielded fifteen candidates, none of whom were elected. Basham himself ran against New Democratic Party leader and Premier of Manitoba Gary Doer, and finished fourth.

He sought re-election to the party leadership in 2008, and was defeated by James Beddome.

All electoral information is taken from Elections Canada.