Posts Tagged ‘Mike Schreiner’
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Revitalizing democracy
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
On April 13th, I will be stepping down as President & CEO of the Barrie Green Party after almost 6 years. If I were the President of the US, that’d be a term and a half. Alas, I’m a volunteer President, and so after 6 years it is time to move on.
I leave behind a legacy of democracy. When I held my first Annual General Meeting in 2009, we could barely make quorum. Over the years we’ve completely replaced the constitution with one that works much better for us, and not only do we meet quorum at our AGM’s, we exceed it. Simple things such has having a speaker, and sometimes Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner help bring out members, friends, and supporters. One change we made in 2014 was moving the meeting from January, to April, where we can promote it at our annual Earth Hour activities.
This year we present Sandra Holdsworth, a presenter with the Trillium Gift of Life Network who will be speaking on organ donation. Sandra herself is from the Simcoe/Muskoka area, being a local native herself.
I’ve always felt it was the President’s job to protect democracy within the Electoral District Association. I always claimed the AGM as mine, my event to organize, and invite the members to. To ensure it is not only held, but that anyone who wants to attend can. I also moved it from a boring evening during the week to a Sunday afternoon at the Barrie Public Library, where notably, the room is free.
The new President of course will be able to chart their own course, but I am proud of my 6 years, and I cannot wait for whatever window opens next.
“Second star to the right and straight on till morning.” – Captain Kirk, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
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Reflections on a Green Century
I have been a Green Party member here in Canada since 2004. Most people know this story – I got involved because a friend of the time who was doing a Master’s program at Ottawa’s Carleton University was telling me about Green Party tax policy, and suggested we become a member. 7 years later and I don’t know if he’s still a member, but I’m the only one of us who got involved.
In the last 2 – 3 years, we have made major strides. Elizabeth May became our first Green MP in the Canadian House of Commons,
English: Green Party leader, Elizabeth May. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
representing Saanich–Gulf Islands in British Columbia. If you’ve never been to Victoria, BC you should really go. It’s such a beautiful area, and Elizabeth is lucky to represent it. Now this year we’ve earned a spot in British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly, with Andrew Weaver representing Oak Bay–Gordon Head.
This is truly exciting. Two elected Greens in Canada. Plus Adriane Carr on Vancouver City Council, where they do have municipal political parties. Sure we have other municipal elected officials, but unfortunately due to the non-partisan nature, they often go unrecognized.
So we truly are in the Green Century. The Green parties in Canada have evolved, and changed so much since I became a member in 2004. We’ve gotten better, higher quality leaders like Elizabeth May, and Mike Schreiner (leader of the Green Party of Ontario.) And higher quality candidates. This tells me that we will continue electing people, even under the antiquated first past the post system. And Fair Vote Canada recently gave the Canadian government a petition of 25,000 signatures on their Declaration of Voters Rights.
In Barrie, we have a plan to elect Ontario’s first Green MP. We’re calling the Order of the Green Century. The plan is pretty simple. Like a legion of 100 centurions, we’re recruiting 100 volunteers, and 100 monthly donors. With this we will be able to have a fully funded election campaign, and enough volunteers to knock on every door in the electoral district at least once. Because this century is the Green Century, and I want it climate change-free. Want to get involved? Email me!
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