Endorsements for Federal Council

The Green Party Federal Council elections are on! GPC members should have received their ballots and voting instructions by e-mail yesterday.

The Green Party’s Federal Council must be an effective, productive and accountable body. We all know that, but Council is only as strong as the individuals on it. The GPC desperately needs champions of accountability and to do away with representatives of nepotistic lineage. It needs advocates of ethical conduct and independent decision making, not “yes-people” ready to blindly roll out the red carpet when called upon. It needs individuals who are sensitive to the realities and challenges the party faces but who also have a thick skin to persevere amidst adversity. The GPC needs a Council that can help this party achieve its objectives of electing Elizabeth May, supporting Green candidates and EDAs across the country and building on the party’s momentum and place in politics.

Federal Council is not unlike what the Canadian Senate is supposed to be – a chamber of “sober second thought.” To ensure it is a place of sober and constrcutive ideas and plans, the Green Party needs to elect sober, free-thinking and committed individuals.

Here are the people that I hope you will seriously consider supporting. I know most of the individuals running for Council but I believe that the combined experience and passion of the individuals below would best serve Council. Each is an individual we can entrust with the immense responsibility of achieving greatness for the party.

Robert Routledge – Ontario Representative

Robert is the ultimate political professional. He is one of those people that you consistently hear described as “on the ball”. That’s exactly what Federal Council needs and it is exactly what Ontario needs in a representative on Council. The GPC would benefit tremendously from his diverse experiences in the Green Party as well his work for the Obama campaign. Camille Labchuk, daughter of Organizing Director Sharon Labchuk, is also running. She is currently the Ontario representative after being appointed last winter. Neither candidate for Ontario rep is originally from the province, but I know both of them well, and Robert represents and understands our vision most closely. The choice for Ontario representative on Council is clear. Council needs fresh ideas and new perspectives.

Email: robert_routledge@hotmail.com
Facebook: Robert Routledge for Federal Council
Website/Blog: www.robertroutledge.com

Huguette Allen – Councillor at Large

I have had the pleasure of working with Huguette on a number of occasions. She is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the best candidates the Green Party has ever had and promises to be a star in the GPC for years to come. Huguette became a candidate in 2007 and quadrupled the support in her riding of Okanagan Shuswap, from 4% to 17.3%. Huguette says that “I believe I have the skills, the experience and the motivation necessary to help us work together to succeed in making Green policies become Canada’s policies.” I believe so too. Her work ethic and commitment is unparalleled and the only better thing than having Huguette on Council would be having 2 Huguettes.

Email: huguette@OkShuswapGreens.ca
Website: www.OkShuswapGreens.ca
Phone: 250-547-0272

Rob Ewaschuk – Councillor at Large

I cannot say enough about Rob’s work ethic and commitment to the Green Party . He took time off from Google, where he works full-time, to volunteer for the Federal Election in 2008. Rob would consistently be among the last workers to leave the office, often very late at night. His political experience and technical savvy would serve the party well on Federal Council. Politics is not the old sport it used to be. It takes creativity and a commitment to new, interactive mediums. Rob also fully understands what the Federal Council is: “first and foremost, a practical body — it does not decide policy, but implements the will of the membership.  It decides how to best put forward the sustaining principles of the Green Party.”

Email: rob@infinitepigeons.org
Phone: 1-646-239-3188
Website: http://robewaschuk.org

Lynne-Champoux Williams – Councillor at Large

In the last Federal Election, the Green Party took major steps in Quebec. Unfortunately, however, they were steps backwards. The results in Quebec were a huge disappointment. That is why we need someone of the caliber of Lynne-Champoux Williams on Federal Council. She is most impressive. At the Green Party Convention in March, Lynne spoke passionately about the importance of having a stronger Green presence in Quebec. She has worked consistently on Green campaigns in la belle province and understands what to do to ensure that support in Quebec grows. I have no doubt that she would bring that same level of passion and commitment to Federal Council.

Email: lynnecw@greenparty.ca
Website: www.politenvr.blogspot.com

Mark Taylor – Councillor at Large

Few can claim the same level of commitment and passion to the Green Party as Mark Taylor. What he brings to the table is his immense commitment to accountability. While it may not always appear in the most diplomatic language, his advocacy for responsibility and accountability is sorely needed in Federal Council. His zero-tolerance for ethically questionable conduct and his pursuit of transparency could shake things up and can play a major role in ensuring that Council is effective.And like Mark says, “It’s time to get serious about electing Greens in our current political system.”

Phone: 306-296-7554
Email: gpc.marktaylor@gmail.com
Website: http://ReportOnGreens.blogspot.com

Sonny Day – Councillor at Large

Sonny Day understands what a well-functioning successful EDA requires. He is currently the CEO of York South-Weston. His experience building EDAs and his understanding of their needs must be represented on Federal Council. He says that “healthy, strong, and vibrant EDAs are one of the keys to continued gains in votes, so I’d like to ensure that EDAs are given all the tools they need to succeed and get candidates elected.” He couldn’t be more right and Federal Council needs his perspective.

Email: sonny.day@greenparty.ca
Phone: 416-244-0456

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Please join me in supporting these candidates for Federal Council. I truly believe that they can help establish a Federal Council that represents our views, fights for our vision, and re-energizes our hope and passion for the GPC.

Make sure to cast your vote before August 15, 2009!