Former Calgary-Centre federal Green candidate John Johnson is thinking about entering his party's leadership race. In an interview with your humble organ, Mr. Johnson - an engineering consultant who also competed provicially in Calgary Nose Hill - said "The impetus for running is mostly to raise the profile of Western Canada. I was told we don't have a Western Canadian leadership candidate at this point. So I'm interested in raising the profile of Western Canada."

When asked how he would differentiate himself from better-known contenders such as David Chernushenko and Elizabeth May, Mr. Johnson replied "To my knowledge I'm the youngest leadership candidate - I'll be 36 on the campaign trail. My training is engineering - it's a technical background. And I think I bring a rubber hits the road kind of solution to solve a lot of Canada's problems in policy. I think there're going to be a lot of opportunities to offer genuine pragmatic solutions that are cost-effective, that are fiscally responsible and social and environmentally responsible."

But if Mr. Johnson wants to advance those solutions in the leadership race, he has to get 100 signatures of support from Green Party members in more than two provinces by May 31. And so far, he says "I've got about 30 (signatures) in Edmonton. And I've got a fellow in Ottawa that I've got to hear back from. But I would love some signatures in B.C."