Growing the Green Movement in BC
These are exciting times for Greens across Canada as we mature into a significant political force in Canada. In BC, we are thinking more politically and strategically about how to transform our support into electoral wins. This reflects recognition that gaining credibility with the electorate means behaving in a way that reassures people that there is something in it for them when they vote Green.
I ran for the Green Party of Canada in the 2004 federal election and provincially in May 2005. The provincial level is where I wanted to focus but I realized that to be credible with the voters and to have a chance at winning, I needed to gain experience in governing. I decided that I would run in my municipality in the fall of 2005 to gain that elected experience and to enhance my reputation with the voters.
Success! After 18 months of campaigning, I topped the polls and got elected to Esquimalt Municipal Council. At the same time, Sonya Chandler was elected to Victoria City Council. Everyone knew I was Green but Sonya actually ran under the banner of the Greater Victoria Green Party. Across BC in 2005, Green Party members were elected to 17 municipal positions. In the November 2008 municipal elections, an equal number of Greens were elected across the province with two Green Councillors in Victoria and a Green elected to the Parks Board in Vancouver.
The election in Vancouver showed another potential for increasing the chances for electing Greens. Vancouver, like Victoria has parties at the municipal level. Three parties, Cope, Vision Vancouver and the Vancouver Green Party created a formal coalition to cooperate in the election. Vancouver Greens agreed not to run candidates for Council but appeared on a slate for the Parks Board and for the Regional District. They won one of the two positions.
My experience on Esquimalt Council gave me good experience. I learned important procedural lessons as well as the reality of matching too many needs to insufficient funds. It was an exercise in pragmatism.
Most parties find candidates from amongst the ranks of elected municipal officials and Greens should be no different. We now have several second term councillors and directors who will be star candidates when they are ready to move on to Provincial or Federal politics. I expect to see at least two of them in mayor’s chairs in an election or two and one or the other might be the first Green Premier in Canada.
If we want to be strategic, we will build toward having Greens on every local government over the next two elections. Then we can start tapping these people for the provincial and federal parties. Over the course of a generation, Greens will gain experience and develop personal reputations that will create winning conditions for the higher levels of government.
In BC, accompanying the May Provincial election, we have an historic opportunity to change our voting system to BC-STV (Single Transferable Vote). I hold great hope for success but the government has done everything it can to make the referendum fail by requiring two super majorities – 60% of the popular vote and over 50% in 60% of the ridings. When we voted in 2005, it got 57.8% on the first criteria and over 50% in 77 of 79 ridings. The government knows that it is almost unheard of for any referendum to get 60% but I think voters will surprise the traditional parties and vote for real change and fair results.
However, Greens have to build toward electoral success under whatever voting system is in place. Whatever the result for BC Greens and I sincerely hope we’ll take a few seats, May 12, 2009 is the first day of a long-term building process. If we do our job, at some point we will elect MLAs. Part of that job is getting more Greens elected at the local level so people get used to Greens in government; another part is finding out who votes Green by contacting every voter in the province so we gain the kind of intelligence common to other parties; another part is getting adequate finances to be competitive and that means making follow-up calls to everyone who votes Green and asking for money. Slowly and steadily we will get people elected and change the course of history for the better.
Jane Sterk is the leader of the Green Party of BC and a professor of business at University Canada West. She was elected to Esquimalt town council in 2005.
Newsflash : The Green Party of BC is in full election-mode!
On May 12, 2009 British Columbians will go to the polls for the 2009 General Election and Referendum on Electoral Reform.
Green Party supporters are encouraged to support the Green Party of BC by donating to the party or volunteering for the campaign. Click here to find out how to volunteer or donate.
Please note that any Canadian citizen can donate or volunteer for the Green Party of BC.
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