Green Party of Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
The Green Party of Saskatchewan is a left-leaning Green political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan
.
It was founded in 1998 as the New Green Alliance (NGA) by environmental and social justice activists frustrated by the social democratic Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
's move to the right under Roy Romanow
. Unlike many Green parties in Canada, the NGA was decidedly left wing, favouring, for example, progressive taxation, workers' rights and the elimination of poverty. NGA supporters believed that the Green Party of Canada
and Green Party of Ontario
were essentially eco-capitalist parties because they favour regressive consumption tax
es and oppose taxes on incomes and corporations. The NGA also opposed privatization
of Crown corporations. As a Green party, the NGA supported ecological agriculture, balanced ecological forestry and forest use, and promote a soft energy path. The NGA was committed to peace and non-violence, and in contrast to the Green Party of Canada, took a strong stance against the U.S. war in Iraq.
The NGA ran candidates in Saskatchewan elections, but was unable to win any seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
. In the 2003 election, the NGA nominated 27 candidates who received only 2,504 votes (about 0.5% of the vote), compared to 189,000 for the NDP. This was a decline from the 1999 election
, when the party received 5% of the vote in the 16 ridings where it ran candidates.
The Green Party failed to win any seats in the provincial election of 2007.
At the party's 2005 convention, its members voted to change the party name to the Green Party of Saskatchewan because "Green Party" is more recognized by voters and because the "Alliance" part of the old name could cause confusion. The party now appears to be affiliated with the Green Party of Canada.
declared that the NGA was "40 years out of date". The press commonly described the NGA as an attempt to revive the old CCF. Given the dwindling support for the NDP reflected in all the public opinion polls, the formation of a new party on the left could not be ignored.
In early March a conference was held in Saskatoon, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Coalition for Social Justice: "The Saskatchewan NDP in Power: A Critical Appraisal". Around 150 political activists attended. There was widespread criticism of the Romanow government, and three political options were identified. First there were those who felt that the left should continue to operate within the NDP. This had the weakest support at the conference. The second thrust was to continue to work in popular groups like the SCSJ and the Council of Canadians, which was expanding in Saskatchewan. The third position was to join the New Green Alliance. The conference revealed that many on the left, despite their dismay over the political direction of the NDP, were still not willing to join a new political party.
The second convention of the NGA was held in Saskatoon near the end of March. The constitution was approved in principle. But the primary focus of the convention was the forthcoming election. As required under the constitution, the party platform was adopted at the convention.
The early election caught the NGA by surprise. In all, the party only was able to field 16 candidates. Another eight nominations were in sight but failed to get the necessary support to complete the required formal paperwork by the cut-off date. The NGA were all but shut out by the mainstream media during the general election. The CBC refused to allow Neil Sinclair
, the leader of the NGA, to participate in the television debates, and refused to let party members in the studio during the debate. On election night television stations did not put the NGA on their boards recording votes in the ridings. The NGA did relatively well. Where they ran candidates, they received on average five percent of the votes.
The Green Party of Saskatchewan had three new leaders between the 2003 and 2007 elections. Neal Anderson, Victor Lau, and John Kern
stepped up and stepped down from the GPS leadership in just two years. John Kern was forced to resign due to personal circumstances. Victor Lau later became a candidate in the 2007 Saskatchewan election.
The Green Party of Saskatchewan ran a much stronger campaign during the 2007 provincial election
running a virtual full slate with 48 out of 58 ridings with Green candidates. The GPS were able to capture 2.0% of the vote with candidates receiving anywhere between 1.23% to 6.24% or the vote. The highest was in the riding of Cumberland
where the Green candidate placed ahead of the Liberal candidate. During the campaign, the GPS was led by Sandra Finley
who ran in the riding of Saskatoon Nutana
capturing 4.1% of the vote. Only three candidates were able to achieve a higher result.
In April 2008, the Green Party of Saskatchewan elected a new executive including deputy leader Tory McGregor and president Kelly Patrick. A by-election in Cumberland
was called for June 25, 2008. The party announced that deputy leader Tory McGregor was nominated as the candidate and placed third behind the Saskatchewan Party
.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
It was founded in 1998 as the New Green Alliance (NGA) by environmental and social justice activists frustrated by the social democratic Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s...
's move to the right under Roy Romanow
Roy Romanow
Roy John Romanow, PC, OC, QC, SOM is a Canadian politician and the 12th Premier of Saskatchewan ....
. Unlike many Green parties in Canada, the NGA was decidedly left wing, favouring, for example, progressive taxation, workers' rights and the elimination of poverty. NGA supporters believed that the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
and Green Party of Ontario
Green Party of Ontario
The Green Party of Ontario is a political party in Ontario, Canada. The party is led by Mike Schreiner. It has never held any seats in the Ontario Legislative Assembly; however, the party did see significant gains in the 2007 provincial election, earning 8% of the popular vote with some candidates...
were essentially eco-capitalist parties because they favour regressive consumption tax
Consumption tax
A consumption tax is a tax on spending on goods and services. The tax base of such a tax is the money spent on consumption. Consumption taxes are usually indirect, such as a sales tax or a value added tax...
es and oppose taxes on incomes and corporations. The NGA also opposed privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of Crown corporations. As a Green party, the NGA supported ecological agriculture, balanced ecological forestry and forest use, and promote a soft energy path. The NGA was committed to peace and non-violence, and in contrast to the Green Party of Canada, took a strong stance against the U.S. war in Iraq.
The NGA ran candidates in Saskatchewan elections, but was unable to win any seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
. In the 2003 election, the NGA nominated 27 candidates who received only 2,504 votes (about 0.5% of the vote), compared to 189,000 for the NDP. This was a decline from the 1999 election
Saskatchewan general election, 1999
The Saskatchewan general election of 1999 was the twenty-fourth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on September 16, 1999 to elect members of the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, when the party received 5% of the vote in the 16 ridings where it ran candidates.
The Green Party failed to win any seats in the provincial election of 2007.
At the party's 2005 convention, its members voted to change the party name to the Green Party of Saskatchewan because "Green Party" is more recognized by voters and because the "Alliance" part of the old name could cause confusion. The party now appears to be affiliated with the Green Party of Canada.
New Green Alliance
The New Green Alliance was the original name of the Green Party of Saskatchewan. In the year 1999 the NGA had been recognized as an official party. A convention was set for March to adopt the constitution and a platform for the 1999 election. Premier Roy RomanowRoy Romanow
Roy John Romanow, PC, OC, QC, SOM is a Canadian politician and the 12th Premier of Saskatchewan ....
declared that the NGA was "40 years out of date". The press commonly described the NGA as an attempt to revive the old CCF. Given the dwindling support for the NDP reflected in all the public opinion polls, the formation of a new party on the left could not be ignored.
In early March a conference was held in Saskatoon, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Coalition for Social Justice: "The Saskatchewan NDP in Power: A Critical Appraisal". Around 150 political activists attended. There was widespread criticism of the Romanow government, and three political options were identified. First there were those who felt that the left should continue to operate within the NDP. This had the weakest support at the conference. The second thrust was to continue to work in popular groups like the SCSJ and the Council of Canadians, which was expanding in Saskatchewan. The third position was to join the New Green Alliance. The conference revealed that many on the left, despite their dismay over the political direction of the NDP, were still not willing to join a new political party.
The second convention of the NGA was held in Saskatoon near the end of March. The constitution was approved in principle. But the primary focus of the convention was the forthcoming election. As required under the constitution, the party platform was adopted at the convention.
The early election caught the NGA by surprise. In all, the party only was able to field 16 candidates. Another eight nominations were in sight but failed to get the necessary support to complete the required formal paperwork by the cut-off date. The NGA were all but shut out by the mainstream media during the general election. The CBC refused to allow Neil Sinclair
Neil Sinclair
Neil Sinclair aka Sinky is a professional boxer. He usually fights at light middleweight or the divisions either side.-Amateur career:...
, the leader of the NGA, to participate in the television debates, and refused to let party members in the studio during the debate. On election night television stations did not put the NGA on their boards recording votes in the ridings. The NGA did relatively well. Where they ran candidates, they received on average five percent of the votes.
Recent history
The Green Party of Saskatchewan has often been described as much more left than the federal party. The GPS during the 2003 provincial election with new leader Ben Webster focused on issues such as raise the minimum wage back up to the highest in Canada (as in the 1970s), increase social assistance rates to the Basic Needs Level which have been frozen since 1982, and of course the environment. However, even though the party ran more candidates in the 2003 election, the support fell by nearly 0.5%.The Green Party of Saskatchewan had three new leaders between the 2003 and 2007 elections. Neal Anderson, Victor Lau, and John Kern
John Kern (Canadian politician)
John Kern from Moose Jaw was the leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan. He was elected May 27, 2006, and after his resignation due to personal circumstances was succeeded by Sandra Finley of Saskatoon on Oct 14, 2006....
stepped up and stepped down from the GPS leadership in just two years. John Kern was forced to resign due to personal circumstances. Victor Lau later became a candidate in the 2007 Saskatchewan election.
The Green Party of Saskatchewan ran a much stronger campaign during the 2007 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 2007
The 26th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2007; the writ was dropped on October 10, 2007. The election determined the composition of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
running a virtual full slate with 48 out of 58 ridings with Green candidates. The GPS were able to capture 2.0% of the vote with candidates receiving anywhere between 1.23% to 6.24% or the vote. The highest was in the riding of Cumberland
Cumberland (Saskatchewan provincial electoral district)
Cumberland is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the largest electoral district in the province, and at the 2007 general election was the safest for the New Democratic Party...
where the Green candidate placed ahead of the Liberal candidate. During the campaign, the GPS was led by Sandra Finley
Sandra Finley
Sandra Finley is the former leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan. She was leader from 2006-2008.-External links:**...
who ran in the riding of Saskatoon Nutana
Saskatoon Nutana
Saskatoon Nutana is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is named for the neighbourhood of Nutana which is one of several within its electoral boundaries.- External links :*...
capturing 4.1% of the vote. Only three candidates were able to achieve a higher result.
In April 2008, the Green Party of Saskatchewan elected a new executive including deputy leader Tory McGregor and president Kelly Patrick. A by-election in Cumberland
Cumberland (Saskatchewan provincial electoral district)
Cumberland is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the largest electoral district in the province, and at the 2007 general election was the safest for the New Democratic Party...
was called for June 25, 2008. The party announced that deputy leader Tory McGregor was nominated as the candidate and placed third behind the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
.
Election results
| Election | # of Candidates | Total votes | % of popular vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Saskatchewan general election, 1999 The Saskatchewan general election of 1999 was the twenty-fourth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on September 16, 1999 to elect members of the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.... |
16 out of 58 | 4,101 | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 27 out of 58 | 2,323 | 0.55% |
| 2007 Saskatchewan general election, 2007 The 26th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2007; the writ was dropped on October 10, 2007. The election determined the composition of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.... |
48 out of 58 | 9,076 | 2.01% |
| 2011 Saskatchewan general election, 2011 The 27th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2011, to elect 58 members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan . The election was called on October 10 by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, on the advice of Premier Brad Wall... |
58 out of 58 | 11,461 | 2.89% |
Party leaders
- Ben Webster 2004–2005
- Neal Anderson 2005–2006
- Victor LauVictor LauVictor Lau is the current leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan, elected following the resignation of Larissa Shasko. He has been leader once previously, and was Deputy Leader under Shasko....
2006 - John KernJohn Kern (Canadian politician)John Kern from Moose Jaw was the leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan. He was elected May 27, 2006, and after his resignation due to personal circumstances was succeeded by Sandra Finley of Saskatoon on Oct 14, 2006....
2006 - Sandra FinleySandra FinleySandra Finley is the former leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan. She was leader from 2006-2008.-External links:**...
2006–2008 - Amber JonesAmber JonesAmber Jones is the former leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan serving in this office from 2008 until 2009. Jones is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan. She also unsuccessfully ran for the federal Green party in the 2008 federal election in the riding of Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar...
2008–2009 - Larissa ShaskoLarissa ShaskoLarissa Shasko is a Canadian politician and the former leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan, elected in April 2009 at the AGM. Shasko is a student at the University of Regina where she is studying Political Science. In addition to her work with the GPS she is also an active member of the...
2009–2011 - Victor Lau 2011 – present
See also
- List of political parties in Saskatchewan
- Politics of SaskatchewanPolitics of SaskatchewanThe Politics of Saskatchewan are part of the Canadian federal political system along with the other Canadian provinces. Saskatchewan has a Lieutenant-Governor, Gordon Barnhart, who is the representative of the Crown in Right of Saskatchewan, an elected premier, Brad Wall, leading the Cabinet, and a...
- List of Green party leaders in Canada
- List of Green politicians who have held office in Canada