Initial Thoughts
In my riding, there are only Conservative, Liberal, and NDP people running for an opportunity to serve Canadians. There are three other parties running for seats and opportunities as well. Even though the Green, BLOC Quebequois, and People’s Party of Canada do not have candidates in my riding, there’s still an opportunity to learn something. There’s also the off chance that someone may read this who has candidates for those parties in their own riding. There is still an opportunity here. From what I know about the Greens they are the “environment or bust” party. That’s it. I’m bound to learn a lot in this post. At least their website works. It’s good that they let children design it.
Judging from their “Our Team” page on their website, the Greens actually have Co Leaders instead of just one.
I have actually heard of her.
For a party platform I would initially expect them to only have Climate Change as a worry, but let’s see what else I learn.
Party Platform – From the cool people at CBC. So much free advertising.
Climate Change
It would invest in an east-west national electric grid. It would respect Quebec’s opposition to pipelines. It would remove barriers to inter-provincial energy trade. It would stop giving public money to oil and gas companies and invest it in clean energy instead. It would stop all new fossil fuel projects. It would create a new national emergency response agency.
Cost of Living
The Greens would raise the amount of untaxed income to $40,000. They would create a guaranteed livable income. The party plans to expand paid leave to elder care, miscarriage and other family needs. It wants to create universal early learning and child care that every family can afford, although the Green Party has not provided details of how the plan would work. It wants to make college and university free.
Defence
The Greens have not committed to meeting the NATO defence spending target of two per cent of Canada’s GDP by 2032. They would suspend the contract for U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets and consider acquiring French Rafale or Swedish Gripen fighters instead and secure production and maintenance jobs in Canada. They would increase domestic artillery and ammunition production and boost investments to create ammunition reserves. They would join the Norwegian-German Type 212CD submarine development process. They would strengthen Arctic and coastal security with more patrols and better equipment. They would revise the Canadian Military Doctrine to account for the U.S. threatening Canadian sovereignty. They would stop selling weapons to countries that “abuse human rights.”
Foreign Policy
The Greens would support Ukraine by “demonstrating economic and moral support.” They would stop selling weapons to countries that abuse human rights. They would support the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. The party would recognize a Palestinian state. They would offer the UN an alternative headquarters in Canada. They want to form a coalition with European and Pacific allies to boost funding for places and programs that the USAID is no longer serving, in light of funding cuts by the Trump administration.
Government Spending
The party has yet to share its campaign promises on this issue.
Housing
The Greens plan to stop corporations from buying single-family homes. They would use covenants to ensure housing built with public money stays affordable “forever.” They want to close loopholes to prevent the use of real estate for money laundering. They would eliminate unfair tax advantages for real estate investment trusts (REITs). They would push for the creation of intergenerational co-housing.
Immigration
It would co-ordinate immigration levels with the provinces and set targets based on Canada’s capacity to welcome newcomers. It would suspend the Safe Third Party Agreement with the U.S. and work with provinces and territories to build the infrastructure needed to screen, process and settle new arrivals. It would change refugee provisions in order to extend access to scientists, activists, civil servants, journalists, judges, lawyers, doctors and other categories of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have felt targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Infrastructure
The Greens would undertake clean energy projects and build stronger infrastructure to protect drinking water. They say they would ensure AI centres run on clean technology. They would ramp up investments in shipyards to increase rapid production capacity as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
US Relations
The Greens would work to ally with other democracies to create joint retaliatory economic measures against the U.S. They would bar U.S. President Donald Trump from the G7 summit in June. They would discuss with other Five Eyes allies the possibility of re-evaluating intelligence sharing with the U.S. They would re-examine the Criminal Code’s sections on treason and sedition to protect Canadians against “attempts to advocate or manufacture consent in favour of annexation under the duress of economic warfare.”
They have some things to think about, especially in the area of government spending. Again, they are not in my riding, so this one is a gift from me to you.