Policies of the Green Party of Manitoba
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Policies of the Green Party of Manitoba Table of Contents Affordable Child Care...........................................................................................................................1 Crime Prevention...................................................................................................................................2 Democratic Reform...............................................................................................................................3 Educational Opportunity.......................................................................................................................3 Efficient Housing...................................................................................................................................4 Efficient Transportation.........................................................................................................................5 Energy Responsibility...........................................................................................................................7 Fair trade................................................................................................................................................9 Food Safety..........................................................................................................................................10 Health Care..........................................................................................................................................10 Human Rights......................................................................................................................................11 Local Economy....................................................................................................................................12 Natural Resources................................................................................................................................14 Pension Protection...............................................................................................................................17 Road Safety.........................................................................................................................................17 Sustainable Agriculture.......................................................................................................................18 Waste Management.............................................................................................................................21 Workers Rights....................................................................................................................................22 Affordable Child Care Manitoba Child Care Program (2013) WHEREAS: the availability of affordable child care is a key element in reducing and preventing poverty. Quality child care enhances a green and sustainable economy. Manitoba’s current child care system is inadequate: there is a licensed child care space for only one in five children who needs care; recent numbers show that more than 11,000 children are on the province’s centralized waiting list registry; fees are high and subsidies limited; child care workers’ wages Policies of the Green Party of Manitoba – as of March 28, 2015 Page 1 of 23 are low, so staffing is often unreliable. THERE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports the establishment of a publicly funded provincial child care program, with the intention that it become a part of any future national child care program. The program will offer affordable, high quality care. Crime Prevention The Green approach to crime focuses on causes instead of simply addressing symptoms. Controlled Substances (2001) WHEREAS: it is ultimately the choice of individuals to use controlled substances, although Greens do not encourage such use. Drug abuse is properly treated as a health issue. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party advocates that the federal government legalize marijuana and treat it as a controlled substance like tobacco and alcohol. Further, that the federal government decriminalize possession and use of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Distribution and sale of hard drugs should, however, remain a criminal offence. And further BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports the use of taxes raised from the sale of these substances, in part, to fund education and rehabilitative/health services to prevent and treat substance abuse. In developing these services, social and economic conditions underlying substance abuse are to be considered. Restorative Justice (2001) THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports a move away from retribution-based justice towards restorative justice within both provincial and federal jurisdictions. This includes increased rehabilitative options, community service sentencing (for non-violent crime) and reform of the penitentiary system. Victim impact statements and restitution options are to be weighed in sentencing. Policies of the Green Party of Manitoba – as of March 28, 2015 Page 2 of 23 Democratic Reform Democratic Voting (2004) BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports proportional representation. Fixed Election Dates (2004) BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party would fix the length of the governing party’s term at four years, unless the government falls in a non-confidence vote. Youth Suffrage (2005) BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports lowering the voting age to 16 for provincial elections. Educational Opportunity Education Philosophy (2004) BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports an educational policy that ensures: • children are equipped with the learning skills that will enable them to lead lives in which they can thrive, not just survive; and • education programmes provide a model of living, working, playing, and learning that accustoms everyone from childhood on to participate in a society that is sustainable, peaceful, and appropriately meets diverse needs; and • opportunities be available for lifelong learning; and • the full potential of all students is recognized and the motivations and strengths of both learners and teachers built upon. Aboriginal Education (2005) BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party will work toward mandating that Manitoba Education collaborate with the aboriginal community to prepare and implement a plan to improve the educational experiences of aboriginal students. Environmental Education (2004) BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports providing funding for an environmental educator for every school in Manitoba, whose duties would include designing and implementing environmental education programmes. Policies of the Green Party of Manitoba – as of March 28, 2015 Page 3 of 23 Efficient Housing Manitobans looking to reduce costs and decrease their energy footprint want a well-insulated, smaller home. Green renovations (2013) WHEREAS: The lack of adequate, affordable housing is frequently identified as a top priority for reducing poverty in Manitoba. The Province of Manitoba currently offers a number of financial incentives to improve and increase the stock of affordable housing units; And WHEREAS: Green building practices and materials offer cost savings in the long run through efficiencies, and healthier living spaces due to reduced indoor pollution. As a result, green construction and renovation contribute to the affordability of houses and apartments. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party supports offering significantly larger financial incentives for the renovation of modest residences, and making these incentives contingent upon the incorporation of clearly established green building standards. Laneway Housing (2011) WHEREAS: most Manitoba cities have a shortage of affordable housing and/or affordable rental accommodation. Encouraging the construction of lane-way housing units can reduce this problem. Lane-way housing also helps to reign in urban sprawl, allows for denser and more mixed neighborhoods, and decrease the per-unit cost of utility servicing. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party will work toward establishing policies to allow the implementation of lane-way housing where economically feasible. Energy & Housing (2011) WHEREAS: numerous events have shown that macro power grid systems are not 100 % reliable and prone to catastrophic outages (Quebec ice storm, Ontario power outage). Micro grid technologies are well established and affordable. Climate change will create an increase in demand and the cost of power will be increasing; Policies of the Green Party of Manitoba – as of March 28, 2015 Page 4 of 23 And WHEREAS: under micro power systems each house is an independent power producer, and a power thrifty home owner will never have to purchase power from a utility provider; And WHEREAS: micro power systems are available “off-the-shelf”, extremely reliable, and in most cases allow for a reliable supply of power to the building if a catastrophic macro grid power outage should occur. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Green Party will work towards mandating that any building permit for new residential housing units include the installation of a 3 KW capacity micro power system based on renewable energy sources. Efficient Transportation Transportation is expensive and is a major source of atmospheric pollution. Greens want to bring back rural bus service, shift freight off of highways and onto railways, and increase vehicle fuel efficiency. Intercity Bus Transportation (2009) BE IT RESOLVED: