Green Party of Nova Scotia

Green Party of Nova Scotia
Provincial Party
Leader Dr. Thomas Trappenberg
President Melanie Mulrooney
Founded 2006 (2006)
Headquarters Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ideology Green
Colours Green
Seats in House of Assembly
0 / 52
Website
www.greenparty.ns.ca

The Green Party of Nova Scotia is a green political party in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It received official party status in the province in April 2006.[1] The party has not won any seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

As of November 2015 it emphasized that "the Green Party embraces the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act (Nova Scotia) [2] and the Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index (GPI)..."[3] - . The GPNS executive is organized regionally. Leaders run with deputies on a "ticket" to ensure continuity in case of resignation, and so that leader judgement re people can be assessed before giving them this responsibility. This structure was designed to be more robust and prepared to contest elections under either a Single Transferable Vote or Mixed Member Proportional system than those of other parties, but might not under the instant runoff voting proposed by the provincial and federal Liberals [4]

In a Party blog June 2016 it was alluded that due to an inactive membership, and the absence of individuals willing to lead the party, the Party would de-register. However, this was heard as a rally cry, and Greens in Nova Scotia have responded with a renewed interest for party building. The interim leader Thomas Trappenberg has announced since that he is committed to running a full slate of candidates under the Green banner in the next provincial election.

Leadership

Nick Wright of Halifax, Nova Scotia won its first contested leadership nomination race over Green Party of Canada candidate and organizer Sheila Richardson of Wolfville, Nova Scotia.[5]

In May 2007, Wright was replaced by Ken McGowan, but resigned in protest with both his deputies in a constitutional struggle over unelected rival Ellen Durkee's presence on the executive - to be replaced by Durkee as interim leader.[6]

Ryan Watson was elected Leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia on Sunday June 29, 2008. Watson, from Halifax, was unopposed and contested the Nova Scotia general election, 2009. The party failed to file financial paperwork with Elections Nova Scotia by the April deadline, but when Watson resigned he denied this was the reason.[7]

On October 31, 2009, John Percy was announced as the new leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia following a leadership contest against Sebastian Ronin. Dawna Toews was Percy's running mate and thus became Deputy Leader of the party. However, Toews moved to Ontario in early 2010 and thus resigned her position. Kris MacLellan was chosen as Deputy Leader by Executive Committee vote in October 2011, prior to the AGM. Percy made a point of emphasizing politicians of other political stripes he admired including Joe Clark, Ed Broadbent, Stephen Lewis and Peter Stoffer.

After the Nova Scotia general election, 2013 in which it fielded only 16 candidates in 51 districts, the party was largely dormant and invisible in NS politics. John Percy is also Veterans Affairs Critic in the Green Party of Canada Shadow Cabinet,[8] and this was an active file during the Stephen Harper regime until its demise in the Canadian general election, 2015. Percy resigned in 2015 and was replaced by interim leader Brynn Nheiley.

The party was to hold a leadership convention on February 6, 2016 however no one came forward to run for leader.[9][10]


Conventions

Founding convention

The party's first convention was held on March 4–5, 2006.[11][12]

At the convention the Party unanimously approved its constitution which divided powers in a way fairly conventional among Green parties: an executive controlled regional relations, regions retained control of their local policies and candidacies, and a policy committee took control of the overall platform and positions taken even during an election. The leader's role was to act as spokesperson and organize his or her most trusted critics as a Shadow Cabinet or (once elected) a Caucus. Leaders and deputies would run together on a "ticket" for continuity and to assess leader judgement of persons before they are elected to the critical role.

Members also voted to support the six principles of the Global Green Charter, elected an executive and chose a Party logo.

Leaders

Election results 2006–2013

General election Green
Leader
 # of candidates Seats
won
 Seat
change
 Seats
place
 Popular vote % of popular vote
2006 Nick Wright 52
0 / 52
 Steady 4th 9,411 2.33%
2009 Ryan Watson 52
0 / 52
 Steady Steady 9,636 2.34%
2013 John Percy 16
0 / 52
 Steady Steady 3,698 0.89%

Election campaigns

In its first provincial election, less than three months after the founding convention, the party had a full slate of candidates[14] and went on to win 2.33% of the popular vote (9,411 votes).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity (EGSPA) | EGSPA | Nova Scotia Environment". Novascotia.ca. 2009-04-01. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  3. ↑ "The GPI ~ GPI Atlantic". Gpiatlantic.org. 1962-10-20. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Archived April 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Archived April 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1131671.html. Retrieved July 28, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ "Leadership « Green Party of Nova Scotia". Greenparty.ns.ca. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  9. ↑ "February will bring Your Opportunity for New Green Party NS Leadership « Green Party of Nova Scotia". Greenparty.ns.ca. 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  10. ↑ http://greenparty.ns.ca/2016/06/farewell-an-era-passes/
  11. ↑ "Search | The Chronicle Herald". Herald.ns.ca. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
  12. ↑ Archived March 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "GPNS Executive & Contacts". Halifax, Nova Scotia: Green Party of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Archived June 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
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