I get it, you’ve got a life. I’ll give you the short version with links to more details, and the incredibly detailed version so you can make the best use of your time.
Short Version: Green Parties around the world share common values as expressed in the Charter of the Global Greens. The policies of the Green Party of Canada are based on six fundamental principles:
1) Ecological Wisdom – We acknowledge that human beings are part of the natural world and we respect the specific values of all forms of life, including non-human species.
2) Non-Violence – We declare our commitment to non-violence and strive for a culture of peace and cooperation between states, inside societies and between individuals, as the basis of global security.
3) Social Justice – We assert that the key to social justice is the equitable distribution of social and natural resources, both locally and globally, to meet basic human needs unconditionally, and to ensure that all citizens have full opportunities for personal and social development.
4) Sustainability – We recognize the limited scope for the material expansion of human society within the biosphere, and the need to maintain biodiversity through the sustainable use of renewable resources and the responsible use of non-renewable resources.
5) Participatory Democracy – We strive for a democracy in which all citizens have the right to express their views, and are able to directly participate in the environmental, economic, social and political decisions which affect their lives; so that power and responsibility are concentrated in local and regional communities, and devolved only where essential to higher tiers of governance.
6) Respect for Diversity – We honour and value equally the Earth’s biological and ecological diversity together with the cultural, linguistic, ethnic, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity within the context of individual responsibility toward all beings.
Incredibly Detailed Version: Vision Green presents a well-researched analysis of critical environmental, economic and social challenges facing Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and presents practical solutions that can be achieved if there is the political will and leadership to take forward-looking action.
Hungry for more links?
Green Party of Canada
GPC – In the News
GPC Videos about Current Events
Other Green Party sites
Hi Anna,
I have taken a look at the Green Party platform, but, as my potential MP, I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts about defense funding, our role in NATO and the issue of Northern Sovereignty.
Thanks for your time and for being brave enough to take on the blue machine!
Hi Fred, thank you for your question. Personally I believe that we need to return to our peace-keeping traditions, and that having real sovereignty means that we don’t have to get involved in every military conflict that our neighbours are involved in.
I like the way the GPC sums up their stance on this: “The Green Party will re-establish Canada among the global leaders in peace-building, peacekeeping, and international diplomacy. We were proud of Canada’s decision to say “no” to joining the U.S. invasion of Iraq. We believe our foreign policy objectives must include multilateral disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and support for United Nations peacekeeping operations.”
If you’re interested in reading more about this, you can find more details on page 99 of the Vision Green document (http://greenparty.ca/issues/vision-green).
As for our role in NATO specifically, the GPC would like to “Review Canada’s membership in military alliances including NATO and NORAD to ensure they are meeting Canada’s priorities of diplomacy, development and defense.” (pg 99)
Regarding Northern Sovereignty, there is quite a lot of detailed information on page 60. I’ll list the top three action plan items here:
“-Recognize and respect that our Arctic sovereignty is already established through the
presence of Canadians in the North, including the continuous use and occupation of
Arctic lands and waters by indigenous peoples.
-Reinforce Canada’s Arctic sovereignty through community infrastructure development, regional sustainability projects, northern research, northern culture, and other regional socio-economic activities rather than through military presence. -Honour the spirit and intent of Land Claims Agreements, and uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Let me know if you have any further questions,
Anna
Hi back Anna,
I know you are busy so the time lag to respond is not a problem. At least YOU respond to questions. I am still looking for a home for my vote so I appreciate your help.
I liked your answers and certainly can live with most of what you have indicated. I like the Green positon on rapid response to help other nations, the need to rethink our roles in Nato and the ‘we must be our own decision makers’ attitude. There is certainly evidence that we still tend to jump far too often to help big brother when what he really needs is a good swift kick in the nether regions.
I find it troubling that Calgary has, in the eyes of some, become a waste land for national politics. So I was most pleased to see THE Green Party Leader come here. I also like the fact that you actually respond to questions. Our current (hopefully to be ex) MP is notorious for ignoring such requests.
However, I am troubled by some Green positions. As one example, the on going issue with Quebec. To borrow a phrase ‘my country includes Quebec’. I value its culture, language, history and the postive contributions it continues to make to this country. However, just as I will be damned if I’ll roll over for that elephant south of us, there are limits to what I am willing to see us do just to appease Quebec. The green Party policy stating:
Green MPs “will support Quebec’s official representation at UNESCO and ensure that if Quebec and the federal representative do not agree upon a matter then CANADA WILL ABSTAIN,” bothers me greatly.
This, in my humble opinion, is well off the mark and a very dangerous position to be taking. Canada must be seen internationally as a unified and strong nation.
Your comment would be appreciated.
Fred
Hi Anna,
This seems to be building into quite an election run so far, and I am quite excited to see if Canada will decide to make a change…
I am however, a little disappointed in the lack of climate change debate in this election run-up. Our current government has left strong indications they really don’t care about the issue, and for alot of us Canadians – it’s still an important one…
In 2010, our leadership signed an international agreement to reduce our CO2 emissions by 17% from 2005 rates. We were embarrassed a little at the conference, but we did commit to a reduction. So did the EU, the US and even China (we ended up committing to the smallest emission reduction).
Unfortunately, to date, our government hasn’t progressed any platform or framework to address the commitment to the international agreement. It has even lobbied internationally on behalf of industry to increase oil sands production while ensuring our emissions continue to increase, not decrease (see http://climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=DC025A76-1).
It is quite clear to me, that our government, who signed an international agreement that the rest of the world is following, does not have any regard for meeting these targets.
They need to be challenged on this issue.
I would strongly support the Green Party if challenges like these are confronted and addressed – even if it is on the campaign trail.
Hi cc’d,
Thanks for leaving a comment and for providing that link for the benefit of all readers on this page. The Green Party is quite vocal about the issue of climate change in issuing press releases and conducting interviews, however this message is not always given adequate or fair coverage by the media.
Here is a link you might find interesting:
http://greenparty.ca/article-link/2011-04-17/elizabeth-mays-candid-conversation-rt-hon-brian-mulroney
I will add some more of what I think are great examples later. Also, there is a lot of information in our Vision Green document which I would be interested in your opinion on as relates to climate change. You can find it here here: http://greenparty.ca/issues/vision-green starting on page 33.
Thanks again for your comment,
Anna
Hi Fred, thanks for your patience as I get through my many emails and comments from Calgary West. I am always happy to have a dialogue with people like you who have great questions and bring them to me in a spirit of mutual respect.
I heard a similar question to yours at the Lodge at Valley Ridge from the ‘current events’ club this week.
I fully understand where you’re coming from and why you’re concerned about how we proceed when it comes to Quebec, and I agree that it is definitely important for us to be a unified country and a sovereign nation in order to be respected on a global scale.
Quebec is unique – yes. Our country’s situation is unique in that we are the only nation in the world where English and French speaking people have lived this long in relative harmony. I go to Montreal every year and I love it there. Having been across Europe I definitely feel proud to have a little piece of exotic cosmopolitan lifestyle in our country.
Part of the platform also says that we want to “Re-balance the funding formula to ensure fairness across regions and provinces.” I definitely want fairness across provinces. I think that the people in Quebec have been treated differently since Confederation and having an expectation of being courted the way they are in election periods is just what they’re used to. I think that it will take a political party with real courage to win them over without essentially bribing them with another token new bridge. I also believe that our electoral system does not accurately reflect the true wishes of Canadians. If we had proportional representation I think we might see a different voice in Quebec.
I don’t think any parties in Canada have the ideal plan in regard to how to support Quebec’s right to separate from Canada while trying to maintain our sovereignty as a nation at the same time. Personally, I also find the statement about UNESCO a bit unfair to the rest of Canada. It is possible that I am missing some background information about this issue which may make this statement more clear, and I will ask the party for some advice on this.
I do know that the Green Party ultimately wants what is best for Canada while respecting individual rights. Working with Quebec will continue to be a real test in diplomacy to be sure. Also, it is important to remember that all MPs must work together on issues like this. Regardless of what the platform indicates in writing, if I were elected, my role would be to educate the people in my riding on all sides of the issue, present the Green Party platform, and ask how they would like me to proceed. I believe in real representation of the majority of the people in the riding.
When it comes to Quebec, I actually believe that the solution to satisfying the largest number of people hasn’t been discovered yet. I think that our model for understanding this situation is too limited, and it is my great hope that the leading minds of our nation will help us find the best solution to this.
Thank you again for your comment. Please leave another one if you feel I did not fully answer your question or if you have additional questions.
Hi Anna,
Wow! Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to give me this detailed answer to my concerns. I appreciate your candour. You are already working very hard for us as your potential consituents.
Since we will be out of the area on election day we did take advantage of the advanced pole. We have voted for you with every confidence that you will be an effective and reliable Member of Parliament for us and we are looking forward to seeing you in that role.
I certainly have been impressed with your work ethic, your honesty and, while you are loyal to your party, you have also remained open to suggestions.
Good luck
Fred
Thank you Fred, I appreciate your vote of confidence and your actual vote!
Honestly, I don’t see any other way to approach this campaign. No single person can know everything about everything, and I think it’s absurd to be expected to have the perfect solution for every problem in an instant. I’ve never met that super-human.
Besides, any MP who is elected should be willing to work with the other MPs to find good solutions to the issues we’re trying to resolve. It’s supposed to be about working as a team to find the best solution for Canadians, and according to the will of the majority of Canadians.
Thank you for voting, and remember that you can still ask me questions or leave comments even after you’ve voted. It’s my pleasure.