Cameron Wigmore, Green Party Member: Green Party of Canada releases 'Vision Green'

October 15, 2007

Green Party of Canada releases 'Vision Green'


PDF version

About the Green Party of Canada and Vision Green

From the GPC website:
Vision Green presents leading-edge thinking and rational, realistic solutions for all the issues facing Canadians. It was developed by a 31-member Green Shadow Cabinet and was informed by experts, activists and citizens who participated in policy workshops held across Canada. All the proposals are based on policies approved by the membership of the Green Party.


Green Party solutions are rational because the Green Party, unlike other parties, understands the scientifically verified limits to growth set by the carrying capacity of our planet. We must work within these limits. Otherwise, we will exhaust resources, degrade our environment and put our economy, health and children’s future at risk.


Our solutions are realistic because they follow “best practices” already in place in parts of Canada or other countries. These practices are cost-effective, deliver results and benefit people, the economy and the environment.


The Green Party’s down-to-earth solutions will work in Canada because they have worked around the world. Many have been successfully applied in Europe, where Greens are elected at all political levels, including the European Union and national parliaments. Countries where Greens have served in government are the countries creating new high-paying jobs while simultaneously meeting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They are the countries where the gap between rich and poor is small and the standard of living is high. These countries don’t trade off the environment for the economy. Their economies and environmental laws are both strong.


Many people find it hard to position the Green Party on the old political spectrum. We believe in sound fiscal management and strengthening our economy while ensuring that it is sustainable. Does that mean we are “right wing”? We believe that government must provide needed social services while protecting our environment and the rights of women, minorities and disadvantaged people. Does that make us “left wing”? We don’t think so. More and more people are simply thinking of the Green Party as the party of the future.


The Green Party is different from other parties in another important way. We will never place the pursuit of power above principle. We will not allow partisan politics to get in the way of good ideas and needed action. We agree with Canadians who say it’s time for parties in parliament to stop bickering and get on with the job of combating climate change and taking better care of our environment, our health and our economy.


The Green Party of Canada, founded in 1983, is now a major force in Canadians politics. Over 660,000 Canadians voted Green in the 2006 federal election. More than one in ten Canadians are now saying they plan to vote Green.


There is only one true Green Party. We are not like the old line parties who talk green when seeking your vote but sideline green action once elected. You can trust us to stay true to our promises and champion the issues you care about. If you share our vision and agree with our solutions, VOTE GREEN.


Change the climate in Parliament.


12 comments:

camsax@gmail.com said...

Greens primed for federal vote: May

"...May says it's time for the Tories and Liberals to stop pointing fingers
over
the failure to act on climate change.

She has released Vision Green, a six-part plan for action on the
environment, tax policy and a range of social issues.

May says Harper is cynically paving the way for an early vote, and that
the
Greens are ready to offer a more hopeful option..."

camsax@gmail.com said...

Shift tax burden from individuals to corporations, Greens urge
Jack Aubry, CanWest News
Monday, October 15, 2007

from the story:
"...The federal government should cut income and payroll taxes and allow "income splitting" between spouses. And it should pay for all this by eliminating corporate subsidies and introducing a carbon tax, the federal Green party says.

On Monday, party leader Elizabeth May released "Vision Green," a 156-page policy book that spells out the Greens' position on everything from the economy, municipal infrastructure and international affairs to, of course, the environment..."

"...May said the policy book has been put together in preparation for an election and the Green's campaign platform will be distilled and fully costed from the document.

"This is not a cheap public relations trick. This is the work of months of grassroots efforts across Canada from members of the Green party, members of our shadow cabinet, to put together a comprehensive, integrated and sensible vision that is about hope," May said.

The party proposes to transfer one percentage point of the GST, worth $5 billion a year, to Canadian municipalities..."

camsax@gmail.com said...

May slams PM, outlines Green platform

Greens are primed for federal vote if cynical tactics force it: May

Greens Ready for an Election

camsax@gmail.com said...

Conservatives Attack Vision Green

The Conservative party actually bothered to pay people to go through Vision Green (our 160 page policy document released on Monday) to find stuff they could pick out in an attempt to make us look as crazy as possible. (I’m going to file this under “you know you’ve made it when.”) Today, they’ve posted a large image on their homepage (wait, that means they had to pay a designer too…that’s not cheap) that links to what they consider to be the “highlights” (their word) of our document. Of the hundreds of ideas and solutions contained within, there are four specific points they’ve decided are worthy of more attention, seemingly because they all start with the letter “P:”

PEACE - In addition to their policy of changing the “Department of Defense” [sic], to the “Department of Peace”, the Green Party is calling a “notice of withdrawal” from the NATO mission in Southern Afghanistan, and a review of our participation in NATO and other military alliances (Vision Green, p. 133, 141).

Uh…wait, sorry, was there a non-spelling-related criticism coming there? No, that’s it? You’re just mocking us for our commitment to work towards peace? Ok then. Moving on.

POT - The Green Party will “legalize marijuana” by removing it from the schedule of regulated drugs (Vision Green, p. 107).

Correct. You know what other group of hippies recommends legalizing (and regulating, taxing) marijuana? The Canadian senate. Anyone who’s studied this issue knows that prohibition on pot has failed, and only serves to criminalize a huge number of Canadians while simultaneously financing organized crime and contributing to gang violence.

PROTECTIONISM - The Green Party wants to “immediately provide the required six months’ notice of withdrawal from NAFTA”, and to scrap the Security and Prosperity Partnership with the United States (Vision Green, p. 146, 148).

The six months notice is to trigger much needed re-negotiations of NAFTA, particularly the parts that say it’s ok for American companies to poison our drinking water, so long as they’re making money while doing so. That’s not trade protectionism, that’s protecting Canadians. Besides, it’s not like the US is respecting NAFTA anyway.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT…PARKING TICKETS – Attention shoppers, the Green Party wants to force malls and “megastore retail outlets” to charge customers for parking (Vision Green, p. 67).

Believe it or not folks, the Green party wants to discourage out-of-control sprawl and a debilitating dependence on cars. Shocking news indeed. (Attention shoppers, we cannot shop our way out of this problem.)

Look Stephen, last week we found out that concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have already reached critically high levels that we previously believed would take ten years to accumulate. Meanwhile, the arctic is melting more rapidly than even the most pessimistic climatologists predicted. In other words, we should now be in crisis mode, and must take emergency measures. Given our situation, taking action to discourage the most “mega” aspects of our car culture is the least we should do.

Of course, I don’t expect the Conservative party to understand that. It’s clear they still don’t have any understanding of the extremely serious situation we’re in. That makes Harper and the rest of this government Dangerous with a capital D and that rhymes with E and that stands for Election. Canadians, I know you don’t want one right now (at least, that’s what my TV tells me), but you may need one. Soon, at least.

camsax@gmail.com said...

to the anonymous commenter, if you wish to link to an article and quote a paragraph or two that is fine, but to copy a lengthy section of the article - which is likely under copyright - is not a good idea. Please feel free to repost your comment without cutting and pasting large chunks of copyrighted material.

Thanks!

camsax@gmail.com said...

one more thing - please keep comments on topic.

:-)

Anonymous said...

The article was 8 pages long. I quoted 1/2 page.

Repost it.

Thx

camsax@gmail.com said...

You copied quite a few paragraphs, and they were off topic, and you didn't say please.

:)

By the way, who are you?

camsax@gmail.com said...

May sets out Green future



The Star has invited each national party leader to respond to the Conservative Speech from the Throne. Today, Green party Leader Elizabeth May outlines her vision for the country.

Anonymous said...

The reason no one comments on your blog is because you selectively turn the anonymous comments option on and off when you don't agree with what others say.

Simply another form of censorship.

Typical GPC hypocrisy.

camsax@gmail.com said...

You're a bit quick to judge, and I've not heard of this 'GPC hypocrisy' you accuse me of.

I've been experimenting with moderated comment settings with blogger over the last few months, and it seems easiest to just leave the comments set to allow all comments unmoderated. I actually accidentally set it to 'blogger account holders only' recently, which prevented anyone without a blogger account from posting.

I prefer it free and open, even if trolls and spammers fill up the comment sections with off topic or rude comments.

I will remove copyrighted material if you or others post extended lengths of copyrighted articles.

Please understand that I have no interest in preventing you or other critics from voicing your opinions here on my blog. Have a look through my archives and you'll see lengthy discussions on many posts, some with 50 comments or more.

Thanks for popping in!

Now, do you have any comments on the subject - the Green Vision policy document?

:-)

camsax@gmail.com said...

I know this is off topic, but...

I'd like to mention to the anonymous commenter above that I welcome criticism and enjoy discussing post subjects with visitors here. I have had my share of mean spirited attacks here on my blog by anonymous folks, but I guess that's part of having a political blog.

I don't mind that people use the anonymous setting to post comments. That's why the option is there. I'm not going to jump on people for offering critical comment on my posts; I'd rather see people continuing to challenge me in constructive discussion and debate.

I hope I can continue to make this an inviting environment for people to read and post comments.