Green Canada Vert - Spring-Printemps 2005

Solidarity in the Americas The dangerous situation faced by Green politicians in South America was further revealed following the attempted assassination of Flor de Maria Hurtado Valdez - leader of the Peruvian Green Alternative PartyOn Febrary 18th 2005. The attempt on Ms. Hurtado's life was likely a result of her efforts to protect Peruvian Amazon forests and indigenous communities from illegal loggers whose reckless practices are proving detrimental to this critical region.

The party is calling out to Green Parties throughout the Americas and around the world to support efforts to ensure the protection of activists, politicians and citizens opposed to illegal logging. The problem is compounded by the fact that the Peruvian

government is turning a blind eye to this injustice.

The party is calling out to Green Parties throughout the Americas. . .

The Green Party of Canada urges the Peruvian government to improve its function in maintaining the safety of its citizens and democratic processes. It is impossible to have legitimate laws and governing systems, when key political actors are threatened with violence and when essential conservation laws are constantly violated.

Quelques mots de Verts du Maroc pour partager avec nous…

Democratie participative Lors de notre premier congrès de Mohammedia, du 2 Septembre 1992, placé sous le thème Démocratie et développement durable pour tous les citoyens (nes), nous avons tracé les grandes lignes de nos convictions qui tendent à briser les inégalités du savoir, des richesses et de pouvoir qui entravent l’émergence de la démocratie participative et les prises de décisions des jeunes des personnes âgées, et de l’ensemble homme et femmes qui doivent exprimer dans toute la transparence leurs votes qui reflètent et respectent leurs choix politiques, lors de toute les élections qui ne doivent exclure aucune formation politique. Les Verts oeuvrent pour les politiques multiculturelles basées sur la diversité culturelle, l’éducation adéquate en dialectes pour promouvoir par l’innovation l’écologie politique telle décrite dans la charte globale des Verts, quant l’élaboration de laquelle les Verts du Maroc ont participé à Canberra 2001.

Green Canada Vert

The official newsletter of the Green Party of Canada / Le bulletin de nouvelles officiel du Parti Vert du Canada Managing Editor/Redactrice en chef Tania Briceno tania.briceno@greenparty.ca

Designer/Graphiste Peter Lenardon

The protection of natural habitats in a sustainable and socially just manner is a matter of global thinking, cooperation, and action. The state of the environment is a concern to citizens in every corner of the world - its health and fair treatment is everyone's responsibility as a global citizen and parent to future generations. The Green Party of Canada supports green movements around the world promoting the sustainable and just management of habitats and life sources.

Elio Di Iorio International Secretary For more information visit: http://www.greenparty.ca/index.php

Thank You!

The Green Party of Canada would like to thank Raphaël Thierrin for his very hard work and involvement as managing editor of the Green Party’s official newsletter, Green Canada Vert. It is a very difficult task to manage points of view and edit other people’s work and still be so well liked. It is unfortunate that Raphaël is officially leaving his post as chief editor but his continued dedication and interest in the magazine and the party are greatly valued.

Merci!

Le Parti Vert du Canada aimerait remercier Raphaël Thierrin pour son travail dévoué et sa participation en tant que rédacteur du bulletin de nouvelles officiel du Parti Vert.

C’est tout un défi de rassembler et de rédiger des textes d’une multitude d’auteurs tout en gardant le respect de ceux-ci. Nous disons au revoir à Raphaël qui quitte son poste en tant que rédacteur en chef et nous le remercions pour son intérêt et son dévouement au parti.

Green Canada Vert

Bâtissons une démocratie

Green Party of Canada Parti Vert Du Canada Spring 2005 Printemps 2005

écologique ensemble.

ISSN 1490-0777

Let’s get connected. Let’s build a Green democracy.

Direct and Protect

Diriger et Protéger

Seated in an oval arrangement of desks with individual microphones, we noted such factors as our political legitimacy and the resounding message that provides a strong basis for the Party.

Assis dans une forme ovale constituée de bureaux avec des microphones individuels, nous avons reconnu que notre légitimité politique ainsi que notre puissant message unificateur donnaient au parti une fondation en béton.

“Direct and Protect!” These words resonated through the North York City Hall Council Chambers, Toronto in early March as Green Party of Canada (GPC) staff, guests and Federal Council shared a one-day training session, ‘On Board for Leadership’, designed to maximize the effectiveness of people and the Party through leadership.

We also acknowledged issues that frustrate efforts and undermine progress. The necessary task, for example, of unifying ideological differences of our members is both complex and time-consuming.

It is also draining on staff and volunteers.

Furthermore, we reconfirmed that Council’s historical role as a working group that made decisions and implemented them is not applicable to the demands of a Party ready to be the Opposition or Government.

In another activity, key success factors for an effective Council were presented through the use of the word GOVERNANCE: G = Group size that allows for diverse perspectives and efficient decision making O = Owner driven Council to direct and protect the interests of the members V = Voice of Council is singular outside of the Council Meetings E = End-results focused R = Refine policy rather than prescribing action (Council stays out of operations) N = Note operational limits to empower staff A = Accountability of the Executive Director is to the entire Council N = New Council members meet predetermined qualifications C = Committees of Council only gather information versus making recommendations E = Explicit lines of communication, authority, accountability, and services.

From this, we created a vision of a Governance Council. Council makes all decisions on such aspects as values, mission, visions, outcomes, success indicators and key result areas. While there is obligatory communication with the membership, Council sets the agenda and makes these decisions between Annual Meetings. The

See ‘Direct’ on page 2

«Diriger et protéger!» Ces mots résonnent dans la Chambre de conseil à la mairie de North York à Toronto lors de la formation «On Board for Leadership» des employés et du Conseil fédéral du Parti Vert, une formation conçue pour maximiser l’efficacité des gens et du parti à travers le leadership.

Nous avons également reconnu certaines tâches qui semblent se transformer en obstacles au progrès et qui frustrent les acteurs au sein du Parti Vert. Par exemple, la tâche d’unifier les différences idéologiques de nos membres est complexe et elle consomme beaucoup de temps et d’énergie des employés et des bénévoles.

Qui plus est, nous avons encore une fois confirmé que le rôle traditionnel du Conseil en tant que groupe de travail qui engendre des décisions et en fait l’application ne correspondait pas au rôle traditionnel d’un parti qui se sent prêt à former l’opposition ou un gouvernement.

Les facteurs-clés du succès pour un Conseil efficace ont été présentés lors d’une activité qui détaillait le mots, en anglais, GOVERNANCE: G = La taille d’un Groupe qui permet d’avoir des perspectives diverses ainsi que des prises de décisions efficaces.

O = Owner (Propriétaire). Un Conseil qui est dirigé par les intérêts de ses membres et protège ceux-ci.

V = La Voix du Conseil est singulière à l’extérieur des réunions du Conseil.

E = End (Fin). Le Conseil doit se concentrer sur les résultats finaux.

R = Raffiner les politiques plutôt que de distribuer des tâches (le Conseil se doit de ne pas intervenir dans le opérations quotidiennes).

N = Prendre Note des limites opérationnelles pour responsabiliser les employés.

A = Accountability (Imputabilité). Le Directeur exécutif est imputable au Conseil.

N = les Nouveaux membres du Conseil doivent être à la hauteur d’exigences prédéterminées.

C = les Comités du Conseil ne font que rassembler de l’information au lieu de faire des recommendations.

E = des lignes Explicites de communication, d’autorité, d’imputabilité et de services.

Voyez ‘Diriger’ sur page 2

Governance in the Green Party of Canada The purpose of a political party is to obtain and wield power to achieve a stated aim -sustainability in our case. To earn the respect of voters as a potential government of Canada, the Green Party should govern itself in a responsible and effective manner that is consistent with our stated principles and values.

The appropriate governance structure will recognize and define who has power and how it should be used. Clearly defined executive and administrative mandates will avoid the misallocation or abuse of power, and enable the organization to respond quickly and effectively when decisions need to be made.

The GPC currently operates with a working council as it sets policy and then executes decisions either directly or through working committees. A working council holds the strategic power of governance and the executive power to execute its own decisions. Council members are elec-

ted to specific functional portfolios such as administration, communications, and membership.

Councillors participate directly on working committees and the lines are blurred between policy decisions and operations.

A working council is typical of a small young organization. The key volunteers build the organization, make the decisions and do most of the work. But as an organization grows in size, scope, and complexity, the working council no longer matches the needs of the organization.

Almost all organizations including NGOs, community groups, political parties, and businesses struggle with governance and the burnout of leading members. As their group grows, they invariably move from a working board of directors to a governance board.

A governance council sets the medium to long term priorities, monitors performance, creates

Direct continued. . .

Executive Director and Staff manage the day-to-day duties.

We agreed that Council’s role is to direct and protect the interests of members. To achieve this, we noted the need for a defined structure with clear lines of direction, authority, accountability and communication roles.

To end the Session, we each offered personal action plans and possible Council activities. Improved communication was a common theme. In addition, we proposed defined timelines, job descriptions and task completion requirements.

As we left the Chambers, there was a greater appreciation of governance. We had more clarity about the differences between staff and Council duties and most importantly, we each had a clear understanding of the role of Federal Council.

Bruce Abel, Chair GPC Federal Council

and amends the organizational structure, hires only the executive director, approves budgets, ensures that bylaws and directives are upheld. The governance council does NO OPERATIONAL WORK! The strategic planning and monitoring are enough work already. A governance council directs the organization’s work by approving organizational policy and monitoring its progress. But it avoids making management and operational decisions.

The executive staff wields and delegates administrative power (e.g. allocating the approved budget, implementing directives), hires and fires paid and volunteer staff, and makes operational deci-

sions. The executive director or general manager is hired, not elected, and is accountable to the council on behalf of the paid and volunteer staff for administration and operations. Departments and committees are responsible for the tactical implementation of activities in their mandate. They report to and are accountable to the executive director.

The Green Party of Canada is currently reviewing its governance structures to make the changes described above. The basic concepts are being implemented now, but there remain many issues to resolve. Members of the Party can contribute by visiting www.lp.greenparty.ca/tikiindex.php?page=gpc+governance+project, or contacting myself at 613-984-0489, or writing to me at PO Box 39, Berwick Ont K0C 1G0.

Tom Manley, Deputy Leader

Diriger continue. . .

Nous pouvons dès lors construire un Conseil selon les principes de GOVERNANCE. Le Conseil décide des principes, de la mission, de la vision, des objectifs, des indicateurs de réussite et des résultats clés du parti. Tandis qu’il y a une communication nécessaire avec les membres, c’est le Conseil qui détermine l’agenda et prend les décisions entre les réunions annuelles. Le Directeur exécutif et les employés gèrent le parti au quotidien.

Nous avons conclué que le rôle du Conseil est de diriger et de protéger les intérêts des membres. Pour y arriver, nous avons discuté du besoin d’avoir une structure définie avec des lignes précises de direction, d’autorité, d’imputabilité et de communication.

Pour terminer la session, chacun de nous a offert un plan d’action personnel et des activités potentielles pour le Conseil. Un thème commun était une meilleure communication. De plus, nous avons proposé un échéancier défini, des descriptions de tâches ainsi que des exigences pour compléter chaque tâche.

Lorsque nous sommes partis de la Chambre nous avons eu une plus grande appréciation des difficultés de gouverner. Nous avons reçu des précisions sur la différence entre les tâches des employés et celles du Conseil et nous avons maintenant une plus grande compréhension du rôle du Conseil fédéral.

Bruce Abel, Président du Conseil fédéral PVC.

The Economics of Future Electoral Success

With the instability of the minority Liberal government, our primary focus has been to make sure we are prepared for a possible spring election with the emphasis on again fielding 308 candidates. We have also been forming new Electoral District Associations (EDAs), which are the main vehicle for local member involvement.

EDAs play a critical role in recruiting candidates and putting together election teams including campaign managers, financial agents, and poll captains as well as outreaching to voters and recruiting new members.

We are working towards increasing our membership from the current 4,000 to 10,000 by the

Liberals Conservatives NDP Bloc Que. Green

end of this year. This is ambitious, but we can do it and our values deserve the boost this will bring. More members will lead to stronger candidates, stronger teams backing our candidates, policies which are more comprehensive and polished,

Although we now have about $1,050,000 of annual government funding as a result of the 582,247 people who voted for us, we are at a big disadvantage compared to the other parties. It is difficult to compete with political parties that have many

About 80% of the results of most elections is determined in the work done before an election is called. more credibility with the media and a stronger financial base.

About 80% of the results of most elections is determined in the work done before an election is called. The work that is going on now is critical. If you aren’t involved locally, consider doing so.

Central Expenditures

$16,604,528 $17,284,257 $12,018,931 $ 4,507,531 $ 498,179

times more resources, but we are doing precisely this!

In the last election, for example, we were outspent 24 times to one by the NDP at the central party level, but this helped them get only 3.7 times the votes our candidates achieved. The NDP spent $12 million which worked

Outspent Ratio

33.3 34.7 24.1 N/A 1.0

10% By-Election Showing is GPO’s 2nd Best Ever

In the second best showing ever in an Ontario election, Green Party leader Frank de Jong won 10 per cent of the vote in the March 17, 2005 in the Dufferin Peel Wellington Gray (DPWG by-election). The NDP won 14 per cent, the Liberals, running a local environmentalist, won 16.7 per cent and Progressive Conservative leader John Tory won 56.3 per cent.

The Green Party continues to steeply climb in popularity. In the October 2003 Ontario election the GPO ran a virtual full slate (102 of 103 ridings) winning 2.7 per cent of the vote across the province. In the June 2004 federal election the GPC ran in all 106 Ontario ridings winning 4.5 per cent of the vote. And Ipsos Reid poll put the GPO at 9 per cent across Ontario. So in the course of

out to $5.65 for each vote they received while the Green Party of Canada spent nearly $0.5 million which worked out to just 86¢ per vote. It can be said that our message was a much easier sell than theirs (and those of the other parties) since for each vote the NDP achieved they had to spend 6.6 times as much as we did.

The efficiency of the Green Party can be seen in the figures below. How well would we have done if we had had as much money as the other parties and as much media coverage as they had!?

Wayne Crookes, Campaign Manager

Cost per Vote

$3.33 $4.30 $5.65 $2.68 $0.86

Efficiency Ratio

26% 20% 15% 32% 100%

just 18 months the party’s support has more than tripled in Ontario!

“We won by stealth,” said Richard Procter a Green Party member and former candidate for the riding, “because at all candidates debates the other parties were presenting Green Party ideas.”

Thanks to a long record of fantastic candidates, ideas, and results in the area, the political bases are so strong as to expect more breakthroughs in the next election.

Jim Harris, Leader

What is an EDA for?

I suggest that a Green Party Electoral District Association, (EDA), has 3 primary roles; develop membership, fundraise, and outreach.

Membership: As a grassroots organisation, with direct contact with the local community, EDAs are in an ideal position to reach potential new members on a daily basis. Increasing members will build capacity for the Party internally, and adds credibility and political weight to the Green goals of sustainability for Canadians.

to local issues, people develop that understanding and trust required in successful politics.

Taking a Green and holistic view, the 3 roles can be viewed as

equally vital, serving each other to further the aim of both the EDA and the whole Green Party; promoting public policy that supports ecological sustainability, community economics, social justice and participatory democracy.

The EDA is a new organizing creature for all political parties to grasp, with the legal and financial powers of the whole Party. It is important for Greens to understand their potential if we are to succeed. Creating and maintaining EDAs is the best way for members to become

involved and build the Party. The EDA is the grassroots of the Party with the ability to maintain the most direct contact with members and the local community, raising awareness and responding to local issues, while building effective election capacity.

For more information visit www.greenpartysgi.ca

Andrew Lewis Deputy Leader GPC Saanich Gulf-Islands candidate, 2004 Email: alewis@island.net

Une AC c’est quoi?

Je suggère qu’une association de circonscription (AC) du Parti Vert doit avoir trois rôles principaux: 1) agrandir l’effectif; 2) lever des fonds; 3) diffuser l’information.

Effectif: en tant qu’organisme communautaire avec un contact privilégié avec les gens de la

communauté, les AC se retrouvent dans une position idéale pour recruter des nouveaux membres à chaque jour. Un plus grand nombre de membres conférera un pouvoir d’action plus élevé à l’interne du parti et ajoutera une crédibilité ainsi qu’un poids politique à son objectif de viabilité auprès des Canadiennes.

Levée de fonds: avec la nouvelle loi 24 qui limite les dons individuels à un plafond de 5,000$, je crois que les AC doivent assumer le rôle principal de levée de fonds au sein du parti. Tous les partis développent maintenant des stratégies de levée de fonds basées sur des dons individuels.

Un AC vert, avec ses liens communautaires, est dans une position idéale pour solliciter des petits dons et de partager les fonds amassés avec le parti à l’échelle fédérale. N’oubliez pas que seul les AC peuvent demander des dons auprès des entreprises et des syndicats, et ce, jusqu’à 1,000$ par organisation.

Dans une perspective «verte» et holistique, les trois rôles de l’AC sont tous essentiels au bon fonctionnement et à l’avancement des objectifs de l’AC et du Parti Vert.

Nous comptons parmi les objectifs du Parti Vert: la promotion de politiques publiques qui appuient la viabilité, une économie sociale, la justice sociale et la démocratie paricipative.

Fundraising: I believe EDAs need to be the fundraising engines of the Party, especially with Bill C-24 in effect which limits individual donations to a maximum of $5000. All political parties will now have to develop fundraising programs that will depend upon many small donations. The Green EDA, again with the grassroots connection, is in an ideal position to reach out and attract many small donations, and ultimately share the success with the whole Party. Note also, that only EDAs can solicit donations from business and Unions, up to a limit of $1000 per organisation.

Outreach: This is where Greens can think globally, and act locally. EDAs can be a voice for local issues that the whole Party cannot reach. My experience is that many people may understand the broad principles of the Green Party, but do not understand what we would actually do in Government. By relating Greens

Diffusion: les verts peuvent pensez globalement et agir localement en ce qui concerne la diffusion de l’information. Les AC peuvent prendre position sur des enjeux locaux qui seraient hors de la portée de l’organisation fédérale du Parti Vert. Selon mes interactions avec les gens, la plupart comprennent les principes de base du Parti Vert mais ont de la difficulté à cerner qu’est-ce que le parti fait exactement au niveau fédéral. En associant les verts à des enjeux locaux les gens pourront mieux comprendre le rôle du Parti Vert et établir une relation de confiance avec le parti; un élément essentiel pour atteindre de meilleurs résultats politiques.

L’AC est une nouvelle forme d’organisation que tous les partis politiques doivent apprivoiser et qui détient tous les pouvoirs juridiques et fiscaux du parti au niveau fédéral. Il est primordial que le verts comprennent le potentiel des AC si nous voulons réussir. La création et le maintien des AC est la meilleure méthode de s’impliquer et de bâtir le parti.

L’AC est l’outil communautaire du parti offrant: l’opportunité d’une communication directe avec ses membres et les communautés locales, la possibilité de conscientiser l’électorat et de répondre rapidement aux enjeux locaux ainsi que l’occasion de bâtir une organisation électorale efficace.

Pour plus d’information, veuillez consulter le lien www.greenpartysgi.ca

By relating Greens to local issues, people develop that understanding and trust required in successful politics.

En associant les verts à des enjeux locaux les gens pourront mieux comprendre le rôle du Parti Vert et établir une relation de confiance avec le parti; un élément essentiel pour atteindre de meilleurs résultats politiques.

Andrew Lewis Député Chef PVC Candidat de Saanich Gulf-Islands, 2004 Courriel: alewis@island.net

Membership May

increases its membership by the largest percentage will be refunded all membership contributions as well as receive an extra $10 per membership.This is an interParticipate in Membership May, the Green Party of Canada’s first nal version of a Green Tax shift national membership drive, and help increase our membership! where we reward the best perforIncreasing our membership is key to a Greener political climate in mers while encouraging overall Canada and improves our chances for continued electoral success. improvements. There are incentives to perform and in the end, Details: an increase in members benefits • The top 10 EDAs will be refunded all membership contributions us all. Running a full-slate of candidates brought us to national • The top 3 will receive and additional $10 per membership attention, now let’s keep that • The EDA with the largest percentage membership growth will be attention by increasing our base refunded all membership contributions and receive an additional of support. The best message we can send to voters, and the other $10 per membership political parties, is that we have a lot of Canadians who are stanWhat is Membership May?One drive alongside EDAs. For ding up to be counted as Green of the goals for the Green Party signing up new members throuParty members. We have a of Canada is to double our mem- ghout May, EDAs can qualify to strong message and concerned bership by 2006. In order to receive transferred funds. The audiences, so it is up to us to accomplish this, the national ten EDAs who sign up the most amplify ourselves to be heard office is taking steps to empower members will be refunded all across the country.In mid-April local EDAs to recruit new mem- new membership contributions the national office will be distribers and strengthen the grassbrought in. The top three EDAs buting new membership and roots level of the party. For the will receive an extra $10 per new contribution forms for all Green month of May the national office membership brought in throuParty of Canada EDAs. These will be conducting a membership ghout May. The EDA that will look similar to a receipt

booklet in that there will be multiple carbon-copies and each form is individually numbered for easier tracking and record keeping. The multiple copies mean there is an instant receipt for the contributor or new member, a record for the EDA and a copy for the national office.

Depending on the success of this membership drive it may develop into an annual event. For more details as well as the rules and regulations for the May membership drive, please go to www.greenparty.ca and click on the Membership May link or contact the national office of the Green Party of Canada at (toll-free) 1-866-868-3447 or office@greenparty.ca

Jonathan Cormier, National Organizer

Greens in Saskatchewan The place from which we’ve come

In April of 1983, a group of peace and environmental activists founded the now long defunct Saskatchewan Ecology Party, the second Green Party to be registered in North America, after the B.C. Greens. In the following months, Green groups began meeting in Saskatoon and Regina. I attended my first Green Party meeting in Saskatoon in late November, 1983. The Saskatoon group met somewhat sporadically until the summer of 1984, when we came together with new energy and ran two candidates in the 1984 federal election. Over the next three years, the Saskatoon Greens met regularly and involved themselves in a variety of peace, social justice and ecological issues, until numbers dwindled and the group faded out in late 1987.

In those three years, those of us who had not been politically involved before came to learn about a variety of issues, as well as interesting ideas: issues around uranium mining, chemical spraying of forests, chemical agriculture and the organic alternative, and ideas like bioregionalism, LETS systems and steady-state economics. Most of all, perhaps, we learned that Green Politics is not about a set of head-heavy ideas being imposed from above, but about the issues and concerns that are burning at the grass roots.

For the ten years following 1987, there was no organized Green Party activity in Saskatchewan.

Many of us who had been involved in the first wave of Greens became active in various issues and struggles as they unfolded:

the fight against free trade in 1988, solidarity with the Mohawk during the Oka stand-off in 1990, opposition to the first Gulf War in 1991, support for a seventeen month anti-clear-cutting blockade in northern Saskatchewan in 1992-93, and a decade-long fight against various faces of the nuclear industry, stopping the proposed construction of nuclear reactors and nuclear waste dumps in Saskatchewan and opposing the further expansion of uranium mining.

Paying Attention: Canada’s Well-Being

society, a stronger criticism of capitalism and economic imperialism, and an awareness that sometimes green leaves must turn red in the fall.

So today we stand, in Saskatchewan, whether we call ourselves left Greens, progressive Greens or social Greens. We bring to the GPC table our own perspective, which combines ecology with a deep commitment to social justice and the empowerment of oppressed peoples.

By 1998, when the new provincial Peace and Justice Everywhere Dave Greenfield, Saskatchewan party, the New Green Alliance, was formed, those of us who had Representative lived through the previous fourteen years were ready for a new Green Party in Saskatchewan, with a stronger awareness of issues of power and oppression in

When Canadians ask what experience our Party has with governing, our one legislative success speaks volumes.

The Canada Well-Being Measurement Act (CWBMA) emerged from an All Candidates Meeting in Leeds-Grenville during the 1997 election. Green Candidate, Peter BevanBaker, explained our policy to institute a Genuine Progress Index (GPI). Joe Jordan, the Liberal who won that seat, was inspired

by Peter’s remarks about the need to measure social and environmental aspects of wellbeing, along with traditional economic indicators. He saw that it is misleading to tally the costs of environmental deterioration and social distress and then to add them onto the GDP and call it progress!

To effectively steer our country through the times ahead, we need to know how circumstances, policies and actions are affecting, our health, education, community bonds, food security, economic security, the opportunities of future generations, the balance between paid work, unpaid work and leisure time and the quality of our air, water, forests, oceans and soils.

Under Mr. Jordan’s sponsorship, well-being

measurement pioneers from across the country pooled their talents to draft the CWBMA. The Act received first reading in the House of Commons and became the focus of a public education and lobbying campaign.

Green Party members and other concerned citizens from coast to coast raised the issue locally and encouraged their MPs to support the Act. On June 2, 2003, after five years of promotion, the introductory paragraph of the CWBMA came up for discussion as Motion M-385

“That, in the opinion of this House, the government should develop and report annually on a set of social, environmental and economic indicators of the health and well-being of people, communities and ecosystems in Canada.”

The next day the first vote ever to be taken in the House of Commons on a Green Party policy passed overwhelmingly, 185 to 46.

Neither Jean Chretian nor Paul Martin have moved to accept the recommendation from the House. Nevertheless, the issue is far from dead. The Atkinson Charitable Foundation

has picked up the ball and has engaged many of those who drafted the Act. Stay tuned for details regarding the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), to be announced some time before we reach the second anniversary of the House of Commons vote. There is political hay to be made from this motion originating from the Green Party.

“Indicators are powerful.” says Ron Colman, co-chair of the Atkinson project. “What we count and measure reflects our values as a society and literally determines what makes it onto the policy agenda of governments. As we enter the new millennium, these indicators tell us whether we are making progress, whether we are leaving the world a better place for our children, and what we need to change.”

Mike Nickerson

More details at:http:// www.SustainWellBeing.net/well-being.shtml 2799 McDonald’s Corners Rd. RR #3 Lanark, Ontario K0G 1K0 sustain@web.ca