Annamie Paul

Annamie Paul is firing back against the party executives who sought to oust her as Green party leader, calling them out for ``racist'' and ``sexist'' accusations.

Her fiery response today comes after she survived a move to push her out last night.

Paul says respect for diversity is a Green value but the change she represents can be perceived as a threat to existing gatekeepers.

The Canadian Press has obtained a scathing letter that accompanied a non-confidence motion signed by six of 15 federal council members.

It accuses Paul of acting with an ``autocratic attitude of hostility,'' attending few council meetings, and displaying ``anger in long, repetitive, aggressive monologues.''

Paul says the document was ``so racist, so sexist'' that it wasimmediately disavowed by a majority of party executives and both Green MPs.

She is the first Black woman and the second Jewish person to lead a mainstream federal party in Canada.

As such, she says the rules of the game seem to have changed, and suddenly there is a need for ``more oversight, heightened accountability'' and ``swifter and more severe sanctions.''