Vision Green 2020 1 Table of Contents Introduction Part 1: The Green Economy 1.1 Principles guiding the Smart Economy, the Green Economic Plan 1.1.1 Reducing waste and pollution: Enhancing social justice and genuine prosperity 1.1.2 Get the prices right 1.2 Applying these principles to economic decision making 1.3 Reporting the well-being of the nation more accurately 1.4 Fair taxes – fiscal reform 1.5 Balanced budget – debt reduction 1.6 Removing corporate subsidies: Distorting the market 1.7 Income trusts 1.8 Labour 1.9 Open source computer software 1.10 Small business loans and entrepreneurial incentives 1.11 Co-operatives 1.12 Railways – re-establishing the national dream 1.13 Green urban transportation 1.14 Infrastructure and communities 1.15 Agriculture and food 1.16 Genetically engineered organisms 1.17 Fisheries 1.18 Green forest vision 1.19 Expanding cultural tourism and ecotourism 1.20 Mining 1.21 Energy industry: No to nuclear Part 2: Addressing the challenge of the Climate Crisis: Enhancing economic performance while safeguarding our future 2.1 Making real reductions in GHG emissions 2.1.1 Climate and Energy Policy 2.1.2 Government operations 2.1.3 Buildings 2.1.4 Efficiency 2.1.5 Renewable energy 2 2.1.6 Transport 2.1.8 Industry 2.1.9 Forestry 2.1.10 Agriculture 2.1.11 Fossil fuels 2.1.12 Global 2.2 Adapting to climate change within Canada Part 3: Preserving and Restoring the Environment 3.1. Air quality 3.2 Water protection and conservation 3.3 National Parks 3.4 Species at risk 3.5 Toxic chemicals and health risks from radiation 3.6 Environmental science support: Restore federal science capacity 3.7 Zero waste 3.8 Commercial seal hunt 3.9 Commercial whale hunting 3.10 Animal welfare 3.11 Arctic strategy 3.12 Measuring and protecting Canada’s natural accounts Part 4: People 4.1 Family-focused program 4.2 Relief for the middle class 4.3 Child care 4.4 Seniors 4.5 Physician-assisted death: Living and dying with dignity 4.6 A fair deal for youth 4.7 Healthier people – healthier health care 4.8 Health promotion 4.9 Ending the war on drugs 4.10 Rights, respect, and dignity 4.10.1 Women’s equality 4.10.2 People with disabilities 4.10.3 Immigration and new Canadians 3 4.10.4 Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights 4.10.5 Protecting access to excellence in post-secondary education 4.11 Striving for justice 4.11.1 True justice, Real security 4.11.2 Protecting rights of sex trade workers 4.11.3 Cracking down on organized and white collar crime 4.11.4 Anti-terrorism and border security 4.11.5 Corporate accountability 4.11.6 Access to justice 4.11.7 Gun control and ownership rights 4.12 Eliminating poverty 4.13 Reforming the Employment Insurance system 4.14 Ending homelessness 4.15 Fair and respectful policies for veterans 4.16 Arts and culture: Beauty and integrity Part 5: The Planet Needs Canada (and Vice Versa) 5.1 Canada’s role as global leader in peace-building, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection 5.2 Making poverty history 5.3 International Financial Transaction Tax 5.4 Press for the elimination of all nuclear weapons 5.5 Reform the United Nations 5.6 Defence policy 5.7 Africa 5.8 Rebuild Canada’s traditional diplomatic muscle 5.9 The Israel – Palestine Conflict 5.10 Iran 5.11 Maintaining a healthy relationship with our closest neighbour 5.12 Latin and South American partnerships 5.13 Haiti 5.14 Trade and sovereignty 5.14.1 Investor-State Agreements (FIPAs) 5.15 North American Union (NAU) by increment 5.16 Science and Innovation Part 6: Good Government 4 6.1 Indigenous Peoples 6.2 Democratic renewal and proportional representation 6.3 Increasing government accountability and ethical conduct 6.4 Affirming the right to collective bargaining 6.5 Making government a leader in ethical purchasing 6.6 Allowing charitable societies to advocate for change 6.7 Supporting the free flow of information 6.8 Open Government Data 6.9 Reducing concentration of ownership of the media 6.10 Ensuring Canadian ownership of vital resources and industries 6.11 Restoring public confidence in the RCMP 6.12 Emergency preparedness and public safety 6.13 Rebuilding federal/provincial/territorial relations 6.14 Quebec’s place in Canada Conclusion 5 Foreword In 2006, my then Deputy Leader Adriane Carr and I set out to create a foundational policy document for the Green Party of Canada. Working with the members of our Shadow Cabinet, we compiled and explained the policies approved by Green Party policy conventions over the years. Our goal was to make it easier for the public and members alike to find out where the Greens stood on major public issues. I remember when Adriane came up with the assertive preamble for each set of action items: “Green Party MPs will.” At that moment it was a leap of faith to know that Canada’s Parliament would have Green Party MPs. And to know what those Green MPs would fight for. On May 2, 2011, I had the enormous honour of being entrusted by the voters of Saanich-Gulf Islands to represent them in the House of Commons. They also made a leap of faith in casting their ballots to elect Canada’s first Green MP. Since that day, I have worked tirelessly, primarily in the interests of my constituents, and less so as the leader of the Green Party. I believe that is how it should be. In spring 2013, Greens in British Columbia made history again, with the election of that province’s first Green Party MLA, respected climate scientist Dr. Andrew Weaver. In December 2013, our federal caucus doubled with the decision by Independent MP, Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay-Superior North) to join me in Parliament and become Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada. And in September 2014, the leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick, David Coon, outdid us all, being elected but also forming the third party in the New Brunswick legislature, with official party status. In May 2015, David Coon’s success was matched by Prince Edward Island Green leader Peter Bevan Baker who became the only non-Liberal or Conservative MLA in Prince Edward Island – also achieving recognized party status. 2017 saw us go from four elected Greens, each sitting as lonely leaders in our respective parliaments, to seven elected Greens! In May, Adam Olsen and Sonia Furstenau joined Andrew Weaver in becoming Canada’s first elected Green caucus, later going on to hold the balance of power in the B.C. government. A year later, Mike Schreiner from Guelph, Ontario became the first MPP to represent a fourth party in Queen’s Park since 1961. In April 2019, P.E.I. elected the first ever Green official opposition in North America, jumping from two seats to eight (of 27), with a ninth added in July through a by-election. Mere weeks later, Paul Manly joined Elizabeth in Parliament, forming the first federal Green caucus in Canada’s history. And in October 2019, we elected three Green MPs as Jenica Atwin from Fredericton joined us. Now that we have Green MPs, we can add more to our list of commitments. Green MPs will: ● Set the standard for transparency and accountability (we were the first to scan all original receipts and post all expenses on our websites); ● Conduct ourselves respectfully in the House of Commons, through our commitment to never heckle; 6 ● Practice ‘high road’ politics, never using ad hominem attacks, but sticking to issues in debate; ● Work hard, placing the interests of our constituents and of Canada above those of our party; ● Be the only party with a policy of no whipped votes; and ● Strive to find common ground with other parties, working across party lines in the public interest. Vision Green, our hopes for re-building the Canada we want, is more real with every passing day. Please join us. Elizabeth May, O.C. Parliamentary Leader, Green Party of Canada 7 Introduction Since 2007, the Green Party of Canada has presented a comprehensive statement of our policies and programs. In every election, we distill our top priorities in an election platform which is thoroughly costed and accompanied by a budget. Vision Green is not an election platform. It is both too lengthy and detailed for an election statement of priorities. What it does is give any interested Canadian a more complete understanding of the full range of public policies Green Members of Parliament will work to implement. Periodically, we update and expand Vision Green to ensure we are ready to put forward a positive vision, grounded in current realities. Vision Green presents a well-researched analysis of critical economic, environmental, and social challenges facing Canadians from coast to coast to coast. In this document, we present practical solutions that can be achieved if there is the political will and leadership to take forward-looking action. It was developed by our Green Cabinet and was informed by experts, activists and citizens who participated in policy workshops held across Canada. Our vision is based on policies approved by the membership of the Green Party. Our solutions are realistic because they follow ‘best practices’ already in place in parts of Canada and around the world. These practices are cost-effective, deliver results, and benefit people, the economy, and the environment. The Green Party’s down-to-earth solutions will work in Canada because they have worked around the world.