What of the policy resolutions if that is mostly what the national convention was supposed to be about?
The GPC has a little ongoing work to do in this department. In the rush of time and the need to address all the resolutions, we threw out a lot of babies with the bath water. For example, the motions dealing with child care/parental support and strategic voting were both voted down not because of their intent, but for spurious reasons that could have been resolved with a little more discussion.
Quite a few resolutions would have been very restrictive for the leadership had they been passed and Elizabeth May more than once got up to explain how one motion or another would have made her life a lot more difficult. The resolutions varied in format, length, and purpose making it very difficult to deal with them one after another.
Frank de Jong commented that the national party will have to come around more to the provincial way of operating. He conceded that the GPO has four years to fine tune its policy before the next election. This allows for a much smoother adoption process. In any case the national party will have to clean up the format for these resolutions, their delivery and discussion, so that a national conference will a time to deal with these issues a lot more efficiently.
For my part I'm not too concerned as the party has a lot of other good things going for it, growing pains can be dealt with, the people promoting some of these policies have in no way given up and the debate will continue. The future is green...
Monday, March 16, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Cruising the Rails
Monika Schaefer was the candidate in Yellowknife, she lives in Jasper Alberta . I’m not sure what the cost of a train ticket would be from there to Nova Scotia but being resourceful Monika came up with a solution many wouldn’t have thought possible. She is a violinist and somehow sold the management of Via Rail on the idea of letting her travel for free in exchange for providing music daily in the lounge car. For two hours a day passengers are treated the sounds of her blend of classical and fiddle music in a win win that speaks well of her and Via Rail.
Speaking with Karl Dias Manager, Customer Experience Eastern Services I learned that Via is becoming quite adventurous with innovative ways to enhance rail travel. The Exchange of Services Agreement program has resulted in a variety of pleasant surprises of rail service. There have been wine producers offering wine and cheese tastings, an oyster entrepreneur shucking his product, musicians and other forms of entertainment. People have even held their wedding on the train.
Monika has given out a variety of spoons and clackers to the other passengers and while she’s playing a reel two have locked arms and are dancing in the aisle. Outside the window New Brunswick is passing by, there is a view of the highway here and there barely visible through the ice storm. This is a very civilized way to travel.
Speaking with Karl Dias Manager, Customer Experience Eastern Services I learned that Via is becoming quite adventurous with innovative ways to enhance rail travel. The Exchange of Services Agreement program has resulted in a variety of pleasant surprises of rail service. There have been wine producers offering wine and cheese tastings, an oyster entrepreneur shucking his product, musicians and other forms of entertainment. People have even held their wedding on the train.
Monika has given out a variety of spoons and clackers to the other passengers and while she’s playing a reel two have locked arms and are dancing in the aisle. Outside the window New Brunswick is passing by, there is a view of the highway here and there barely visible through the ice storm. This is a very civilized way to travel.
Elizabeth May
Elizabeth May has enjoyed a warm endorsement of her leadership throughout this convention. She has admitted that there were mistakes made in the election, she has explained how the media had twisted her comments beyond spin, they wrote the opposite of what she had meant. During the resolution approval process her input into the debates was welcomed, headed and applauded. Her speech at the closing of the meeting left us cheering, tearful and enthused. She seemed strong,we were pumped. It was great to travel with her to Montreal where she changed trains for Ottawa. I think her wait for the next train was longer than ours.
It’s 33 hours since we left Nova Scotia. We are waiting to board the #1, the train that leaves Toronto for Vancouver. First stop is mine at Washago. We are spent. I can’t read another newspaper, have tired of reading the book I’m enjoying, have talked the other greens and strangers until my mind is numb. I just want to get some rest. We look up, and who just got off another train and is walking across the station but Elizabeth May. After the wow’s and greetings she explains how she had two good hours in Ottawa, is here in Toronto to catch the next train to Kitchener, back to Toronto the next day, off to North Bay, then back to Toronto, over to Kingston, then has a day off next Saturday in Toronto. Her energy has me completely dumbfounded. That’s leadership I guess.
It’s 33 hours since we left Nova Scotia. We are waiting to board the #1, the train that leaves Toronto for Vancouver. First stop is mine at Washago. We are spent. I can’t read another newspaper, have tired of reading the book I’m enjoying, have talked the other greens and strangers until my mind is numb. I just want to get some rest. We look up, and who just got off another train and is walking across the station but Elizabeth May. After the wow’s and greetings she explains how she had two good hours in Ottawa, is here in Toronto to catch the next train to Kitchener, back to Toronto the next day, off to North Bay, then back to Toronto, over to Kingston, then has a day off next Saturday in Toronto. Her energy has me completely dumbfounded. That’s leadership I guess.
Eastern People Rock
Peter Ormond, Susan Turcek, Dea Clark and Barbara Maccaroni still have food from home that they are generously sharing on the return trip back. Peter ran in the riding of Ancaster Dundas Flamboro Westdale (Hamilton On). They ventured out a little bit after the convention and spent a night in Truro N.S. Finding a large B&B wasn’t hard, getting directions to a thrift shop was a little harder, the stranger on the street from whom they were asking directions simply said ‘you know what, just take my car. I don’t need it for another hour.’ The host of the B&B picked them up at the restaurant they were in and shuttled their baggage back to the train station the next day, but not without leaving them some muffins for the trip.
The people of Pictou were all smiles and friendly. National conventions should be held in small places like this. It sets up a rhythm like breathing. The group met as a whole, spread out for rest and replenishment, then condensed again several times over the three days like inhaling and exhaling. Many of the best meetings and contacts are made walking to and fro or sharing time in a local restaurant/pub.
This also speaks to why the convention simply could not work virtually-digitally.
The people of Pictou were all smiles and friendly. National conventions should be held in small places like this. It sets up a rhythm like breathing. The group met as a whole, spread out for rest and replenishment, then condensed again several times over the three days like inhaling and exhaling. Many of the best meetings and contacts are made walking to and fro or sharing time in a local restaurant/pub.
This also speaks to why the convention simply could not work virtually-digitally.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Ben Hoffman, Peace Guerilla
Ben Hoffman PhD. ran in the riding of Renfrew Pembrook. He’s rather quiet and understated, has a brush cut, wears glasses, listens intently. Casual conversation revealed he has spent most of his time working in the field of conflict resolution. One’s mind thinks of a little desk off to the side of family court somewhere or perhaps he dealt with union issues at the local factory. No, he was President Jimmy Carter’s negotiator for International Conflict Resolution an to this day spends a lot of time in Western Africa. He has spent over thirty years on the cutting edge of violence prevention, peace building and conflict resolution. He as been to Sudan and seen horrors that were a little off colour for dinner. He has walked into the midst of child soldiers and knows first hand the nature of war in these countries. He has met leaders and worked in the centre of issues we read about after the fact in our news.
Ben left me a little gift entitled The Peace Guerilla Handbook written by himself and published by www.newmathforhumanity.com.
Ben left me a little gift entitled The Peace Guerilla Handbook written by himself and published by www.newmathforhumanity.com.
Willard, The Hermit of Gully Lake
Willard Kitchener MacDonald found himself on a troop train bound for the second world war in Europe. He wasn’t inclined to fight this one and jumped from the train with two others. They were caught, but he managed to enter the forrest, hunt and fish, eek out a living, build a crude log shelter, and survived another 60 years in the remote Cobequid Mountains. Alone.
Not quite alone. ATV’s opened up the back country and his existence became known to the local towns folk. They began leaving him the odd meal, and then library books. He still attempted to remain as alone as he could be. They built him a better cabin though he didn’t use it until his own burnt down.
In 2003 he was found by a lake, having died some months earlier. His picture and this tale are mounted in the hall of the La Coste Centre where our convention was held.
Not quite alone. ATV’s opened up the back country and his existence became known to the local towns folk. They began leaving him the odd meal, and then library books. He still attempted to remain as alone as he could be. They built him a better cabin though he didn’t use it until his own burnt down.
In 2003 he was found by a lake, having died some months earlier. His picture and this tale are mounted in the hall of the La Coste Centre where our convention was held.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
It's not over 'till ......
After the last thank yous, the meeting ended, the room clearing, you can find the most open people remaining. While a few of us were left watching the room deflate we were approached by Julie Barker.
Elderly,wearing her overcoat and carrying a bundle of papers she approached us meekly and with a gentle voice mentioned her concerns about Green Party policy regarding child care. Finding open ears and an interesting audience in two of us the story unfolded......
Julie and husband Dr. E.T. Barker M.D., Dr. Psych.FRCP(C) promote Empathic Parenting, something that needs to be endorsed by the GPC. It stresses that the first three years of brain development in a child are much more critical than we ever thought. In these years direct parenting trumps day-care of any quality by far. We need to not focus on universal access to day-care, handy as that might be to 20% of mothers today, but rather we should encourage the nurturing of 100% of our children through empathic parenting. More on this can be found at www.empathicparenting.org.
Julie's policy resolution was defeated in the convention but not for any reason that had to do with her intent. She hasn't given up, and continues with her message. Resolutions were defeated for all kinds of reasons during the rushed and intense meeting and that does not stop those who believe in their cause. Julie Barker jwb@bellnet.ca
Elderly,wearing her overcoat and carrying a bundle of papers she approached us meekly and with a gentle voice mentioned her concerns about Green Party policy regarding child care. Finding open ears and an interesting audience in two of us the story unfolded......
Julie and husband Dr. E.T. Barker M.D., Dr. Psych.FRCP(C) promote Empathic Parenting, something that needs to be endorsed by the GPC. It stresses that the first three years of brain development in a child are much more critical than we ever thought. In these years direct parenting trumps day-care of any quality by far. We need to not focus on universal access to day-care, handy as that might be to 20% of mothers today, but rather we should encourage the nurturing of 100% of our children through empathic parenting. More on this can be found at www.empathicparenting.org.
Julie's policy resolution was defeated in the convention but not for any reason that had to do with her intent. She hasn't given up, and continues with her message. Resolutions were defeated for all kinds of reasons during the rushed and intense meeting and that does not stop those who believe in their cause. Julie Barker jwb@bellnet.ca
Greens are Facinating
The next few posts will be about the people I've met through this convention.
-Mike Nagy nearly became the Deb Grey of Green politics in Canada.- Deb Grey was the first elected Reform Party MP who broke the ice and led the way for the reform party to take a firm hold in a subsequent election.
-In Sept of ’08 He was winning the by-election for Guelph, something that took nearly three years in the making through countless volunteer efforts by himself and others. The by-election was canceled at the last minute by the call of the general election in the fall of ’08. The issue of strategic voting became the deciding factor in Guelph and led to a liberal win and took away what was going to be an important first for Canada, an elected green party MP in the house of Commons.
-Beneath the surface of this public story is a heart stirring personal tale that Mike endured as well. He lost both of his parents and suffered financial loss through his focus on these elections. As it turns out Elections Canada penalizes any party that successfully raised a lot of money for the by-election which was canceled. Mike had job offers turned down and opportunities lost all by bad timing. Or was it just bad timing?
-The Green Party of Canada twice scheduled its bi annual general meeting. It was put off for the bi election in order that full support might be devoted to Mike's camgain, then by law for the general election.
-If one were a conspiracy theorist one might be tempted to accuse Stephan Harper of setting the by election to converge with the convention of an upstart party, then, finding that about to be lost, setting the general election. He could not have created a more costly and harmful set of circumstance for Mike Nagy and the Green Party of Canada.
One could understand if Mike were to come across as bitter, yet he does not. He's moved on and will enter into post graduate work next year.
Rather than blame others it might be more helpful to take a hit from Murphy’s Law and roll with the punches. The greens have come through some pretty dramatic ups and downs but if we keep our chin up, focused on what we believe to the right path, in time the gates that have kept us out will open and let us in. Mike is an example of green thinking found in this convention which does not dwell on the negative but rather reaches out to the next opportunities that set backs like this leave behind.
-Mike Nagy nearly became the Deb Grey of Green politics in Canada.- Deb Grey was the first elected Reform Party MP who broke the ice and led the way for the reform party to take a firm hold in a subsequent election.
-In Sept of ’08 He was winning the by-election for Guelph, something that took nearly three years in the making through countless volunteer efforts by himself and others. The by-election was canceled at the last minute by the call of the general election in the fall of ’08. The issue of strategic voting became the deciding factor in Guelph and led to a liberal win and took away what was going to be an important first for Canada, an elected green party MP in the house of Commons.
-Beneath the surface of this public story is a heart stirring personal tale that Mike endured as well. He lost both of his parents and suffered financial loss through his focus on these elections. As it turns out Elections Canada penalizes any party that successfully raised a lot of money for the by-election which was canceled. Mike had job offers turned down and opportunities lost all by bad timing. Or was it just bad timing?
-The Green Party of Canada twice scheduled its bi annual general meeting. It was put off for the bi election in order that full support might be devoted to Mike's camgain, then by law for the general election.
-If one were a conspiracy theorist one might be tempted to accuse Stephan Harper of setting the by election to converge with the convention of an upstart party, then, finding that about to be lost, setting the general election. He could not have created a more costly and harmful set of circumstance for Mike Nagy and the Green Party of Canada.
One could understand if Mike were to come across as bitter, yet he does not. He's moved on and will enter into post graduate work next year.
Rather than blame others it might be more helpful to take a hit from Murphy’s Law and roll with the punches. The greens have come through some pretty dramatic ups and downs but if we keep our chin up, focused on what we believe to the right path, in time the gates that have kept us out will open and let us in. Mike is an example of green thinking found in this convention which does not dwell on the negative but rather reaches out to the next opportunities that set backs like this leave behind.
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