SAMINA ESHA
BIZ/TECH REPORTER
In the cocktail of left, right and centre, the Green party hopes to mix up Canada’s political system for future generation.
“I am just really fed up with our politics.” said Ross Johnson, riding candidate of West Nova Scotia.
“Like the song says, “sometimes change is good” and we are due for change. Green is a combination of all of the spectrums that can help create a better Canada.”
Johnson is an alumni of Humber’s Applied Arts and Technology for the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Course, and was inspired to join the Green party after listening to a radio interview of party leader Elizabeth May.
Founded in 1983, the Green party has a multi-issue political platform that mirrors its core values: ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, and non-violence.
Jason Mote, a Humber graduate from Business Administration is the Green party Toronto regional representative.
“Up until six or seven years ago I used to be a conservative supporter,” said Mote. “There are Greens (Green party supporters) from different background and views. But our uniting element is the hope for a better future.”
Mote believes Canada needs a green economy that doesn’t degrade the environment.
“I live in Milton and my home is near Humber College. It is not possible to commute from home to work without a car. We need to get people out of their cars and into the transit like, high-speed rail,” said Mote.
The biggest advantage Green party has is its youth following.
“I think right now we are pulling somewhere between eight and 10 between the polls. With the youth, the poll is much higher. The young people have more time and energy to make a difference and we are the platform for that difference.”
Jocelyn Molyneux, co-chair of the Young Greens Council of Canada and a graduate student of Ryerson University’s environmental science and management program, said it is the party’s progressive views that attract youth.
“Just who we are, what we stand for is very much in line with what the young people are looking for,” said Molyneux.
Greens pride themselves their youth support. According to the 2008 Ekos research poll the Green party increased its popular vote from 2.33 per cent to 6.80 per cent, attracting nearly 280,000 new votes.
“We probably get five students a day wanting to get involved. The young green has an active Facebook and tweeter group. We don’t have a lot of money so social media really comes in play when it comes to being involved and spreading the word,” said Molyneux, “We know that student voting is very low – if more young people voted then the Green party would actually have seats in the house. It is just a matter of getting them to vote.”
The Green party has a candidate in each of the 308 federal ridings for the May 2 election.
Hi Jocelyn, My hubby and I would like to contact you (as you are the one in Toronto) Mostly questions, and some ideas.
We are boht GPC members. Since your new elections are taking place we were not able to get a contact number.Thanks, Gloria