Free Vote Policy
Preamble
WHEREAS we are a unique, progressive and inclusive party of shared values.
WHEREAS we are a party that respects the right of members and candidates to express differing opinion and beliefs in free and open debate and free from reprisals of any kind; and to make personal decisions in identified areas of moral uncertainty or of sufficient divisiveness, which may be different from other members.
WHEREAS there is a class of issues that:
- are significantly divisive or contentious, or non-inclusive; or,
- a clear consensus does not exist in the party; or
- relates to issues of conscience, in which serious moral uncertainty exists, and potentially exclusive of major voting, social or religious groups.
WHEREAS we are a party that empowers our members and candidates, to live our shared values and better represent their riding constituencies
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that certain significant “issues of conscience” or “issues without a clear consensus” or “issues sufficiently divisive”, as identified by the party and party members, are subject to free votes and free positions among party candidates and members.
BE IT RESOLVED that a free vote be defined as a vote in which members or candidates are trusted and free to apply GPC values as they deem appropriate to the identified issues.
BE IT RESOLVED that the GPC formalize and make public, this policy and identified issues as part of the GPC platform.
BE IT RESOLVED that candidates are free to express their free vote positions to the public and express how they would or would not support the identified issues.
Background
We are a party that claims to be progressive. We claim to be tolerant and inclusive. We do not want to be dominated by special interest groups or the loudest voice. We can at least be as progressive as other parties regarding issues of conscience and free votes. This motion is essential to who we are as a party, and an assertion that we are not a party of power politics as usual. We are a party that respects the right of members and candidates to express differing opinion and beliefs in free and open debate and free from reprisals of any kind; and to make personal decisions in identified areas of moral uncertainty or of sufficient divisiveness, which may be different from other members. This is the heart of democracy. If this is who you believe we are, or should be, as a party, then I encourage you to support this motion.
Code
Proposal Type
Submitter Name
Party Commentary
Preamble
WHEREAS we are a unique, progressive and inclusive party of shared values.
WHEREAS we are a party that respects the right of members and candidates to express differing opinion and beliefs in free and open debate and free from reprisals of any kind; and to make personal decisions in identified areas of moral uncertainty or of sufficient divisiveness, which may be different from other members.
WHEREAS there is a class of issues that:
- are significantly divisive or contentious, or non-inclusive; or,
- a clear consensus does not exist in the party; or
- relates to issues of conscience, in which serious moral uncertainty exists, and potentially exclusive of major voting, social or religious groups.
WHEREAS we are a party that empowers our members and candidates, to live our shared values and better represent their riding constituencies
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that certain significant “issues of conscience” or “issues without a clear consensus” or “issues sufficiently divisive”, as identified by the party and party members, are subject to free votes and free positions among party candidates and members.
BE IT RESOLVED that a free vote be defined as a vote in which members or candidates are trusted and free to apply GPC values as they deem appropriate to the identified issues.
BE IT RESOLVED that the GPC formalize and make public, this policy and identified issues as part of the GPC platform.
BE IT RESOLVED that candidates are free to express their free vote positions to the public and express how they would or would not support the identified issues.
Sponsors
Background
We are a party that claims to be progressive. We claim to be tolerant and inclusive. We do not want to be dominated by special interest groups or the loudest voice. We can at least be as progressive as other parties regarding issues of conscience and free votes. This motion is essential to who we are as a party, and an assertion that we are not a party of power politics as usual. We are a party that respects the right of members and candidates to express differing opinion and beliefs in free and open debate and free from reprisals of any kind; and to make personal decisions in identified areas of moral uncertainty or of sufficient divisiveness, which may be different from other members. This is the heart of democracy. If this is who you believe we are, or should be, as a party, then I encourage you to support this motion.
Party Commentary