Green Party of Canada

Transcription

1 Green Party of Canada Minutes for the Federal Council Meeting April 3, pm EDT 1. Call to order and roll call Voting Members P Elizabeth May (Leader) A David Peters (NL) A Stacey Leadbetter (ON) P Bob MacKie (interim Pres.) P Irene Novaczek (PE) P* Wesley Stevens (MB) P Don Scott (VP En) P Aaron Padolsky (NS) P Geoff Matthews (AB) P Kate Storey (Fund) P Stephanie Coburn (NB) P Marcus Madsen (BC) P Donovan Cavers (YGC) R Danny Polifroni (QC) P Julie Anne Ames (Ter.) Note: Saskatchewan, Francophone VP and one YGPC position are currently vacant. Non Voting Members P Bruce Hyer (Deputy Leader) P Daniel Green (Deputy Leader) P Emily McMillan (ED) Support P Craig Cantin (Recorder) P Romy Tiddel (Tech) Observers P Anna Keenan P Colin Griffiths P David Hunter P Harald Wolf P Jean Luc Cooke P John Redins P Mark Bigland Pritchard P Simon Rear P Stefan Klietsch [P = Present, R = Regrets, A = Absent, P* = Present but experienced technical difficulties] 2. Confirmation of meeting facilitator, recorder, and timekeeper Motion : That Bob MacKie facilitate the meeting, Craig Cantin record and Aaron Padolsky keep time. Seconder: Julie Anne Ames 1

2 3. Adoption of agenda To adopt the agenda as presented. Mover: Julie Anne Ames 4. Adoption of past meeting minutes To adopt the minutes of the February 28, 2016 meeting as presented. 5. Reports Seconder: Donovan Cavers 5.1. Leader s report 5.2. Deputy Leaders reports 5.3. Interim President s report 5.4. Executive Director s report To accept the reports as presented. Mover: Aaron Padolsky 5.5 Federal Councillor Report Donovan Cavers on Young Greens 5.6 TTTT Timely, Topical and Thoughtful Ten Minutes 6. New Business 6.1. Reconstituting Ethics Committee That the Ethics Committee be reconstituted with Wesley Stevens as chair. Mover: Seconder: 2

3 Tabled by interim President Executive Motion Ratification: Reconstituting the Resolutions Receiving Committee That Federal Council ratifies the following: That the Resolutions Receiving Committee is reconstituted, with Erich Jacoby Hawkins as chair. Seconder: Aaron Padolsky Amendment: Change resolutions to motions. Passed by consensus as amended. Action Item: Return motion to Executive to change name of committee back to resolutions Executive Motion Ratification: Expanding Mandate of Convention Oversight Committee That Federal Council ratifies the following: That the mandate of the Convention Oversight Committee be expanded to overseeing governance matters at the convention, dispute resolution and other convention associated matters. Mover: Kate Storey 6.4. Executive Motion Ratification: Addition to the Convention Oversight Committee That Federal Council ratifies the following: That Lorraine Rekmans be added to the Convention Oversight Committee. Seconder: Elizabeth May 6.5. Executive Motion Ratification: Reconstituting Constitution & Directives Receiving Committee That Federal Council ratifies the following: That the Constitution and Directives Receiving Committee is reconstituted, with Kate Storey as chair. Seconder: Marcus Madsen 3

4 Campaign Debrief Background: The Campaign Debrief document is a long one, filled with observations, complaints, criticisms and useful ideas to improve the next Federal Election Campaign. It would be useful to have members of Federal Council review a draft of this document and provide questions, suggestions and other feedback for the final report. Action: Any member of Federal Council that would like to review a copy of the Campaign Debrief document can let the Executive Director know and it will be supplied by Friday, April 8. Feedback would be required by Friday, April 15 for a final report provided to Council by Friday, April 22 in time for the April 24 FC meeting Committees Review Background: In order for the members of the Green Party of Canada to understand and to participate in the workings of the party; it is important that they understand the operation of the various Committees of the Federal Council. In order to improve that understanding prior to the BGM in August; staff and the interim Federal Council President will review the committees to make their purpose and contact information clearer to GPC membership. Action: Report to Federal Council by May 21, Abolish Ethics Committee Preamble: Whereas the ethics committee is currently mandated to handle interpersonal disputes between Green Party members; Whereas the previous chair of the ethics committee, an ethics scholar, has already described the ethics committee mandate as ''an outlet for the airing of trivial interpersonal grievances.'' Whereas the ethics committee has been used to bully anyone who dared criticize some FC members and some staff. Whereas the ethics committee should play a substantive part in the Party's development of policy. Be it resolved that the ethics committee be abolished; Be it further resolved that any interpersonal disputes between party members be forwarded to the Ombuds committee. Mover: Danny Polifroni 4

5 Seconder: This motion is as proposed by Danny Polifroni by on March 11. Note that 6.7 above means a Committee Review report will come to council by May 31. Also note that passing 6.1 renders this motion redundant. Tabled by interim President. 6.9.Federal Council Expenses Federal Council members of the Green Party of Canada should be able to travel and meet with GPC members without incurring personal expense. The suggestion is that starting in 2017, all federal council members have an expense allowance of $3600/year to be used for travel and meetings with GPC members (for example town halls and other meetings to connect with members, potential members and EDA s). Further and to ensure transparency; that each expense receipt is made available to all GPC members in the members area of the web site. For discussion only Leader Endorsements of Federal Council Candidates Federal Council (FC) members and some GPC members have been ing about Federal Council election fairness and GPC Party leader endorsement of or nomination of FC member candidates. This was apparently discussed some years ago but we can discuss it again; particularly with effect to how best to give voting members the information they need to vote for a particular candidate. If the consensus is that the previous FC motion needs to be reversed then we need to devise other ways to supply GPC members with valid information. For example, the next group of Tuesday webinars after May 10 were tentatively planned for candidates to talk to members. If FC agrees we can let potential candidates know that in the noted in 6.8 above. For discussion only. 7. Confirmation of next meetings TBD 8. Adjournment To adjourn at 4:30 pm EST. Mover: Stephanie Coburn 5