We just held the most successful convention in Green Party history. It was Green in so many ways.
We held it in a town that welcomed us with open arms. Small, locally owned businesses in Pictou, Nova Scotia benefited and “Welcome Green Party Delegates” banners were to be found in front of pubs and eateries all over the historic old town. We walked the talk on our use of recycled, 100% post-consumer FSC paper and with fair trade organic coffee and locally sourced food. We reduced reliance on paper by urging people to use their laptops for information instead of binders. We had workshops in church halls (with local church women making muffins and biscuits for us and serving fair trade coffee and tea) as well as in the Fire hall. We also distributed Green 100% organic cotton serviettes to eliminate paper napkins. (One thing that drove me round the bend is that a lot of delegates forgot to bring their own mugs…. Ah well.)
Many delegates came by train and we had Green party buses to collect our arriving delegates from the airport and train station. We kept the registration fees less than half of what it cost to attend the 2006 convention which was held in the Ottawa Convention Centre – the antithesis of “green.”
Of course, nothing is ever perfect and we will take lessons from this convention for the 2010 BGM.
The speakers were amazing and all received standing ovations! I cannot do justice to the brilliance of the presentations, but urge you to watch them on line. For information on the tar sands, both Andrew Nikiforuk and Dr. John O’Connor were outstanding. Greens must take up the challenge Andrew Nikiforuk laid before us of demanding a full accounting of what the tar sands have cost and what benefits they have brought, in strictly economic terms. Comparisons with Norway, land of the carbon tax and a dedicated fund for revenue from their off-shore oil (now a staggering $400 billion fund for future generations of Norwegians), may do more to discredit the scandalous and rapacious growth of tar sands operations than any number of National Geographic feature articles. CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, Avrim Lazar (and yes, he too got a standing ovation) delivered a thoughtful and provocative address challenging those who think the Green Party has nothing to say about economics.
On climate change, Dr. Jim Bruce, who shares in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Al Gore and IPCC scientists (but who shares his Office of Canada award with no one!) delivered a sobering address on the recent science. Holly Dressel gave a tour de force demolition of arguments against public single-payer health care. Her address is also on the Green Party web site as text as well as video.
All of these presentations inform our candidates and our policy making. We also had food for the spirit in laughter from the brilliant Greg Malone and music from local performers, Shaun McLean, gypsy jazz band Mishra’s Dream and a kitchen party with the Stanfields.
The 250 delegates from all parts of Canada were positive and hard working through over 100 policy resolutions. We had a renewed (or maybe first time?) spirit of unity and energy for a better future -- not just for us in conventional terms as a political party, but for Canada and the whole planet.
We emerged stronger than ever, renewed, refreshed with batteries recharged. As candidate and council member Peter Bevan-Baker commented, “This is the first time I have ever been to a Green Party convention and left feeling buoyant!”
I did love the experience of the 2006 convention. After all, it was over-whelming to win the leadership race. But the 2008 (held in 2009!) Pictou BGM was far better. It was a turning point for the party. We really reached deep within ourselves, touched base with our values, embraced each other across differences and decided on our future course. It leads us straight to Parliament.