David Coon was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick to represent the people of Fredericton South on September 22, 2014. He became the first elected Green MLA in New Brunswick history, and the third Green parliamentarian elected in Canada. Mr. Coon has served as the Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick since winning the leadership of his party in 2012. He was re-elected on September 23, 2018.
He is a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Fiscal Policy, the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers, and the Legislative Administration Committee. He served as a member of the Select Committee on Climate Change, whose recommendations formed the basis of New Brunswick’s Climate Action Plan.
He has introduced private member’s bills aimed at strengthening legal protections for tenants, increasing the fairness of the property tax system, increasing local food security and expanding local agriculture, creating jobs in energy efficient building renovations and renewable energy production, lowering the voting age, and protecting citizens against frivolous lawsuits.
So far in the second term, he tabled a bill to amend the Electricity Act to empower local municipal governments and First Nations to pursue renewable energy projects to help meet their energy needs, which went to the second reading. He called for an emergency debate on Glyphosate spraying, but it was not debated before the term ended.
In the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Coon has championed improved access to mental and physical health care, alleviating poverty, the provision of midwifery services, climate action, and forest management that is socially and ecologically sound. He also had a bill passed to ensure students in the public school system learn about historical and contemporary relationships with First Nations; implementing one of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
He was a founding director of Canada’s first community supported agricultural initiative, Harvest Share Co-operative on Keswick Ridge, co-founded the New Brunswick Community Land Trust.
In his riding of Fredericton South, Mr. Coon has established permanent round tables for youth and seniors to ensure he can represent their concerns in the Legislative Assembly. He continues to work with community members and organizations to help shape a sustainable, prosperous, and vibrant community in Fredericton.
Mr. Coon and his wife, Janice Harvey, live in Skyline Acres and have two daughters.