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2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada
Where GPC membership collaborates to develop our policies
G21-C002 Change the Composition of Federal Council | VGM- 2 Rejected by membership
Submitter Name
Kate Storey
The proposal was rejected by membership at VGM -2 with 90% of members in attendance voting to reject
Proposal
Create a Federal Council of Equals by replacing Constitutional Article 9 with:
“The Federal Council shall be composed of:
- The Leader,
- One (1) representative from each of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland-Labrador, and the Territories of Canada,
- Two (2) representatives from each of Ontario, Quebec and BC, and
- Two (2) Youth representatives”
And replacing Bylaw 2.1.2.1 with:
“Twenty (20) members of the Party in good standing residing within the province shall be required to nominate for the position of Provincial Representative for their respective provinces, except for Newfoundland and Labrador and the Territories, which shall require five (5) to nominate for their representatives.”
And replacing Bylaw 2.4.5 with:
“All Article 9 members of Federal Council may vote”.
And adding: “Federal Council shall appoint co-chairpersons, secretary and Fund representative from among Article 9 members of Federal Council.”
And delete all references to the Executive Council, President, Vice Presidents French or English or Fund Representative found in the Constitution or Bylaws, including in 2.1.4.3, 2.1.4.4, 2.1.4.6, 2.4.5, 2.4.8, 9.4, 10.1.7, and 12.2.
Rescind Article 9, Bylaw 2.1.2.1 and 2.4.5. and all Bylaw clauses regarding the Executive Council, including 2.1.1, 2.1.1.1, 2.1.1.2, 2.6, 2.6.1.
Objective
Better Federal Council decisions by eliminating the hierarchy of the “Executive Council" and the title "President", with the result that the diverse perspectives of all federal councillors are considered in decision making. Co-chairs will be appointed from the elected councillors and serve as a support for Council.
Benefit
Realign Council with the principles of participatory democracy. Good decisions depend on the collective wisdom of the entire group of federal councillors. Use the broad range of skills that exist among elected councillors and minimize disruption should an individual become unable to fulfill their duties.
Supporting Comments from Submitter
“Diversity and independence are important because the best collective decisions are the product of disagreement and contest, not consensus or compromise.” “…we know that the more power you give a single individual in the face of complexity and uncertainty, the more likely it is that bad decisions will get made.” James Surowiecki, 2005, The Wisdom of Crowds, Anchor Books.
GPC Constitution, Article 6, Accountability: “All Units and individuals within the Party are accountable to … the Federal Council when the membership is not in General Meeting … Unless otherwise specified by this Constitution, the Bylaws, or by the membership as the case may be, Federal Council, on behalf of the membership, is responsible for the overall implementation of actions as called for in this Constitution, the Bylaws, or in other decisions of the membership in General Meeting."
Green Value(s)
Participatory Democracy, Respect for Diversity.
Relation to Existing Policy
This proposal would rescind and replace Article 9, Bylaw 2.1.2.1 and 2.4.5, all Bylaw clauses regarding the Executive Council, including 2.1.1, 2.1.1.1, 2.1.1.2, 2.6, 2.6.1, and delete all references to the Executive Council, President, Vice Presidents French or English or Fund Representative found in the Constitution or Bylaws, including in 2.1.4.3, 2.1.4.4, 2.1.4.6, 2.4.5, 2.4.8, 9.4, 10.1.7, and 12.2.
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5 comments
This will fix the problem of a totally opaque "executive council". Transparency is mentioned many times as a prerequisite to Participatory Democracy. The Executive Council has zero transparency (zero). Time to be bold and make a serious change! The Executive Council has become a vehicle for hierarchical control, totally anathema to Green values and heritage.
I think of the struggle we had recently and just how important it was to have a party president function in checks-and-balance capacity to a leader that had either didn't know what the parameters of her mandate were or just didn't care. A factious and divided council was enabling this overreach. Cusmano as interim president exercised executive authority prudently and in the interest of the party. I believe that role was indispensable and removing the role of president and diminishing councils authority is ill advised and opens up the party to governance abuse for other angles.
WHy can't youth simply run with a reverse ageism clause?
This change was meant to address the transparency challenges between Council and the Executive. There may be a better way to achieve transparency so I suggest that this idea go back to the members for more consideration. I think that a new version can be presented to a future general meeting.
22-03-27 > VGM2 votes to withdraw this proposal (90% in favour) re request by K Storey to do that
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