David Suzuki and the activists who take their fight to the campaign trail

For a brief, shining moment, noted nature lover David Suzuki considered a run for political office, pondering a strategy that would put him in a battle against Prime Minister Stephen Harper and put the issue of environmental protection at the top of the agenda.

The moment was short-lived and long-passed, according to the Globe and Mail.

"But just as the idea started to take root, the well-known broadcaster gave his head a shake and set aside the temptation of running for office," journalist Mark Hume wrote in an article posted online late Thursday.

According to the report, Suzuki denied rumours he had been recruited by the NDP, Liberals and/or Green Party to run in the upcoming election, currently slated for October.

But he did admit to thinking about it – about running in Harper’s Calgary riding and making the government’s environmental record his sole focus.

"[E]verybody I talked to loved the idea, just thought it was great because it would be a way of spooking [Mr. Harper] and making him stay close to home and answer some of the [environmental] questions,” Suzuki told the newspaper.

The idea that a political party would be interested in having Suzuki run under their banner is far from ludicrous. Things always seem to get a little loopy in the lead-up to election season, and parties are always searching for high-profile candidates that can change the battlefield.

Suzuki, the host of The Nature of Things and Canada’s premier environmental activist, would certainly fall under that category.

And the spotlight that comes with election season can be equally coveted by such activists — those who see it as an opportunity to expand the conversation in their field.

Jodie Emery, a noted marijuana legalization activist and wife to “Prince of Pot” Marc Emery, is fighting to represent the Liberals in Vancouver East.

The party has distanced themselves from her potential candidacy, despite sharing a desire to legalize pot, while she battles three other prospective nominees to become the Liberal candidate.

Emery isn’t set to run a single-policy campaign – she has position statements on the economy, environment and education, among others. But marijuana legalization is solidly at the top of the pile.

There is also Michele Audette, the president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, who has plans to run for the Liberals in Quebec’s Manicouagan riding.

Audette previously told Yahoo Canada News she decided to run because of Harper’s dismissive stance on the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women.

"I was mad, so what I decided to do what change it into a professional issue by running in the next federal election," Audette said. "I’m taking a huge step by doing this."

Of course, it is nothing new for activists to turn to politics. Those with passion to improve society are the type of candidates every party should hope to attract.

With that in mind, here are a few other activists we think should consider running in the next federal election:

Margaret Atwood - The novelist is an outspoken advocate on several issues, namely the environment. It is highly unlikely that Atwood, 75, would enter politics at this point.

She did, however, tell the Globe in 2011 that artists do play a role in politics.

"In our society, artists often get shoved to the front, because if they are freelance artists such as myself they don’t have a job and nobody can fire them,” she said. “In a way, people such as myself are voicing the concerns of a lot of other people who might not have a platform."

Craig Kielburger - The young entrepreneur co-founded Free the Children, with his brother Marc, and his youth rights activism has brought him in contact with many political leaders, including Harper and the Dalai Lama. He contributed to Justin Trudeau’s successful Liberal leadership campaign in 2012, suggesting he has an interest in politics. Currently, no word on whether he has an interest in entering politics himself.

Neil Young - The aged rocker has become a noted opponent to the tar sands, opposing pipeline projects and taking shots and the Tory government and even dedicating a national concert tour to the cause. A lot of opponents would like to see him put his money where his mouth is. But at this stage of the game, that is unlikely.

Chantal Kreviazuk - The musician and recent Order of Canada recipient is another noted activist who has supported Trudeau in the past. She’s not afraid to have her voice heard, but that doesn’t mean she’s giving up her day job.