"One of the flaws in our ability to think, really, is that we've been taught to view the world as good Cartesian scientists," says Genest. "We have viewed things as separate. Over here is the subject of biology, over here ecology, economy, transport, social issues, and we think they're different agendas or different dossiers.

"But when you see things from an ecologist's point of mind, ecology is the study of the relationship of man to everything, so it's like how everything is connected to everything. And sure enough, we begin to see, as we look into this thing called environment, that it is not a separate little patch of woods over there and different.

"In fact, it is everything that makes the economy possible, and therefore finances social programs and all the rest, and it is everything that absorbs the wastes of the economy and of our civilizations. So when you're talking about environment and ecology, you are by definition talking about everything else.

"Environment issues are health issues, transport issues, education issues," Genest adds. "And furthermore, if you were to stop and look beyond the surface of so much social strife, and you look at what people are really fighting about, ultimately if you look at history, they've always been fighting over resources."

Genest says he is surprised that the Green Party "keeps getting hit with this notion that we're a one-issue party. Because I look at the other parties, and the Conservatives talk about economy and the NDP talk about working class Canadians … It seems that they, too, have their thing that they harp on and look at first. So we certainly have a bias and a bent. But the notion that we're looking at one issue separate from others, or that we don't consider the other issues, is absolutely not the case."

Genest has a definite plan for winning Westmounters' votes in the coming by-election. "Westmount is the greenest riding in Quebec," he says. "There's a tremendous green sensibility in Westmount. They've started doing the composting. It was one of the first places to get rid of cosmetic pesticide use. It's very progressive, very green. Westmount is doing really fine. It doesn't really have any pressing, major issues.

"But what it has is an opportunity to lead the nation, and in so doing lead the world. Be the first to put the first Green Member of Parliament into federal politics and history will never be the same. (Green Party leader) Elizabeth May will get her spot in the leaders' debates. There will never be going back and Westmount will forever be the one that made this possible."

Photo: Genest