Green Party candidates from around Montreal gathered in Leacock 232 last Friday for a town hall discussing policy-making, the upcoming election and what it means to be "ecology-stupid".
"As a political party, we have always been a little different," said Jessica Gal, a Green Party candidate representing the NDG-Lachine riding. "We are the real thing; we represent the community as opposed to people who merely want to advance their careers in politics."
The Green Party garnered 4.48 per cent of the popular vote in the 2006 election, campaigning on a platform of sustainability.
"We won't be gaining power for a while," said Brian Sarwer-Foner, the Châteauguay-Saint-Constant candidate. "If the Green Party were to actually win government, there needs to be a revisiting of how society is structured. This involves a lot of restructuring-like including more community participation. The public would definitely need to be involved in the change."
At the meeting, the candidates addressed green tax shifting. They proposed to cut taxes on income and transfer this burden onto carbon and pollution. According to the Green Party candidates, however, their green tax shift will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Not just an environmental party, the Green contingent also wants to encourage social reform.
"One of our main missions is to put tax money towards the aging population," Gal said. In addition, she explained that the Green Party's carbon tax shift may help lower-income Canadians and seniors.
2008 Woodie Awards
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