Green Party of Nova Scotia

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Green Party of Nova Scotia
Image:Gpns-logo.gif
Active Provincial Party
Founded 2006
Leader Ellen Durkee
President Noreen Hartlen
(female president)
Raymond Sheppard
(male president)
Headquarters Halifax, Nova Scotia
Political ideology Green
International alignment Global Greens
Colours Green
Website greenparty.ns.ca

The Green Party of Nova Scotia is a green political party in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It received official party status in the province in April, 2006.[1] The party has not won any seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

Contents

[edit] Leadership

Nick Wright of Halifax, Nova Scotia won the contested leadership nomination race over Green Party of Canada candidate and organizer Sheila Richardson of Wolfville, Nova Scotia.[2]

In his acceptance speech Wright declared that the Party would run a full slate of 52 candidates in the then upcoming Provincial election to ensure that every Nova Scotian had the opportunity to vote Green. The pronouncement caused controversy as many said that it could not be done and that such a statement was beyond the mandate of the leader as regional division approval was required. The party was successful in recruiting a full slate of candidates.

In May 2007, Wright was replaced by Ken McGowan, who had won over 50 per cent of the vote at a convention. In the midst of a constitutional dispute with the party executive, revolving around unelected rival Ellen Durkee's presence on that executive, McGowan and both of his deputy leaders resigned in protest in January 2008 - only to be replaced by Durkee as interim leader. [3]

McGowan had called on the party to uphold its constitution and hold a convention as soon as possible so that a legitimate leader and executive could prepare for the Nova Scotia general election, 2008.

[edit] Conventions

[edit] Founding convention

The party's first convention was held on March 4 - March 5, 2006.[4]

At the convention the Party unanimously approved its constitution which divided powers in a way fairly conventional among worldwide Green Parties: an executive controlled regional relations, regions retained control of their local policies and candidacies, and a policy committee took control of the overall platform and positions taken even during an election. The leader's role was to act as spokesperson and organize his or her most trusted critics as a Shadow Cabinet or (once elected) a Caucus.

Members also voted to support the six principles of the Global Green Charter, elected an executive and chose a Party logo.

[edit] Upcoming Annual Convention

The 2008 annual conference of the party will be held June 27th - 29th at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill. It will host executive elections as well as elections for the leadership position. The executive positions will be open to all members of the Green Party of Nova Scotia.[5]

[edit] Leaders

[edit] Electoral record

General election # of candidates # of elected candidates # of ridings  % of popular vote # of votes
2006 52 0 52 2.33% 9,411
By-election Date Candidate name  % of popular vote
Cole Harbour—Eastern Passage October 2, 2007 Beverley Skaalrud-Woodfield 4.68%

[edit] Election campaigns

In its first provincial election, less than three months after the founding convention, the party had a full slate of candidates[6] and went on to win 2.33% of the popular vote (9,411 votes).

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links