Green Party leader Elizabeth May said she thinks most Canadians don't know that before entering politics, Conservative leader Stephen Harper worked hard to dismantle public health care.

May made the observation in an on-board interview with The Tyee as her campaign train headed east out of Vancouver. May talked about where Via Rail has abandoned Canadian passengers, about why she's running in one of the most staunchly Tory ridings in the nation, and about how she might go after Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the upcoming leadership debates.

"When Stephen Harper was working for the National Citizens Coalition, his goal was to end public health care in Canada," May said. "In 2004, he got away with explaining that by saying, 'My views have evolved.'"

May threw up her hands in mock confusion.

"'Evolved?'" she asked. "We'll that's good. It must mean that he believes in evolution. But beyond that what does it mean?"

May added, "I'd like Canadians to know what he did for a living before he ran for leader of the Alliance. And what he did for a living was try to end our health care system. Do they know that? I don't think they know that."

Read the full interview on the Tyee.