2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada
Where GPC membership collaborates to develop our policies
Submitter Name
Corrina Serda
Proposal
Increase the size of Federal Council by three seats: one for a Métis representative, one for an Inuit representative and one for a First Nations representative.
Add clauses 9.1.10 to 9.1.12 to Article 9 of the GPC Constitution, such that it reads as follows:
9.1 Composition of Federal Council
The Federal Council shall be composed of:
9.1.1 A President.
9.1.2 The Leader.
9.1.3 One (1) representative from each Province of Canada.
9.1.4 One (1) representative representing the Territories of Canada.
9.1.5 A Fund Representative.
9.1.6 The Executive Director.
9.1.7 Two (2) Youth Representatives.
9.1.8 A Vice President English.
9.1.9 A Vice President French.
9.1.10 One (1) representative from within each of three Indigenous Groups: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
Add the following clause to Bylaw 2 Federal Council as follows:
2.1.X Indigenous Representatives
2.1.X.1 Nominations shall be by twenty (20) members of the Party in good standing.
2.1.X.2 All Members of the Party in good standing shall be eligible to vote for these positions.
Amend the following clauses of Bylaw 2 Federal Council to read as follows:
2.1.4.3 In odd numbered years the representatives of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, the representative from the Territories, the First Nations representative, the President and the Vice President French shall be elected.
2.1.4.4 In even numbered years the representatives of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Vice President English, the Inuit representative, the Métis representative, and the Fund representative shall be elected.
2.1.4.6 Ballots for elections of the Executive Council, Provincial Representatives, Indigenous Representatives and the Territorial Representative shall have beside the name of each candidate on the ballot, the Province or Territory and the bioregion where the candidate resides. Indigenous Representative candidates shall be provided an option to have the ballot include the name of their respective Nation(s) and the Indigenous Territory where they are based.
Objective
Enable direct Indigenous input to the inner workings of GPC. Begin the process of true reconciliation by holding space for Indigenous peoples within the Green Party of Canada, respecting that a First Nations representative does not want to speak for Métis nor for Inuit and vice versa.
Benefit
The Federal Council of GPC will be enriched and make decisions that are more fair and inclusive by recognizing the inherent rights of Métis, Inuit and First Nations peoples within Canada. True reconciliation includes holding space for Indigenous people to participate in Canadian governance via GPC.
Supporting Comments from Submitter
Given that GPC is committed to the United Nations Declaration on Rights for Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Article 5 is relevant to this proposal. "Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State." https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf
It is important and respectful to tangibly recognize that a First Nations representative does not want to speak for Métis nor for Inuit, an Inuit representative does not want to speak for Métis nor for First Nations and a Métis representative does not want to speak for Inuit nor for First Nations. Each of these Indigenous groups should be represented on Federal Council to improve the potential for the Original peoples of Turtle Island to help GPC understand ecological, spiritual and ancestral origins, while decisions are made to optimize sustainable pathways to the future, across Canada.
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100032275/1529354547314
In 2011, Census Canada reported there were 60 different Indigenous linguistic groups evident in Canada. A nation is defined as a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory. Considering that language, land and culture are determinants of Nationhood, these 60 distinct languages may reflect more nations than the 50 reported by Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. In 2016, more than 1.67 million people in Canada identified themselves as an Indigenous person.
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/rt-td/ap-pa-eng.cfm
https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1370438978311/1370439050610
Indigenous communities are varied and diverse in many ways. At present First Nations, or Indians* in accordance with the Indian Act, are grouped by First Nation (Indian Act Band). Within the First Nation community there are people who live on-reserve or off-reserve in urban or rural settings. Some Indians are registered under the Indian Act and are granted Status, however due to the discriminatory nature of the Indian Act, some Indians are not granted Status and are considered non-status Indians. Aside from those communities there are also Indigenous communities that are un-recognized, or un-registered. Aside from the communities recognized by the State of Canada, there are traditional original national governance systems that exist outside of the Indian Act. The Metis and Inuit people also have similar circumstances. In effect, Indigenous people are not one homogenous group. Given the history and experience of each of these peoples, it is impossible to expect one person to represent all Indigenous national perspectives. Ideally, in a nation to nation relationship, consideration would be given to each nation fairly. Therefore, a request to add three Indigenous seats to Federal Council is the minimum number of Indigenous seats that can be considered to be “representative”.
Green Value(s)
Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Respect for Diversity.
Relation to Existing Policy
Add to current GPC policy.
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7 comments
This is a great initiative from our members. This opens up our party and makes space for Indigenous People in Canada in a deliberate and overt way. The profound shifts in todays governance will take brave and dedicated Indigenous people to guide this process from the "belly of the beast" .
As a political party we need to make that space available and meaningful.
Next week, when greensconnect becomes an official resource for the GPC, I hope the comments and replies flourish here (greensconnect has a moderator function to keep this space safe :).
Some may ask, "Why three Indigenous members, why not just one?" Here's what our government says:
_________________________________ start of quotation_________________
"Indigenous peoples" is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. Often, "Aboriginal peoples" is also used.
The Canadian Constitution recognizes 3 groups of Aboriginal peoples: Indians (more commonly referred to as First Nations), Inuit and Métis. These are 3 distinct peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.
More than 1.67 million people in Canada identify themselves as an Aboriginal person, according to the 2016 Census. Aboriginal peoples are:
> the fastest growing population in Canada – grew by 42.5% between 2006 and 2016
> the youngest population in Canada – about 44% were under the age of 25 in 2016
________________________________end of quotation________________________
source: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100013785/1529102490303
Ignorance about the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada is something Greens can attack by supporting this proposal. The Party has a great opportunity in G21-C003 to show that we are trying to become allies with Indigenous peoples everywhere.
This is a wonderful and timely proposal - not only does this make Federal Council and the party as a whole more fair, equitable and representative, it will strengthen the party to include the voices of Indigenous communities and peoples, and their distinct experiences and knowledge. Adding three Indigenous representatives (rather than just one) helps to acknowledge the diversity of Indigenous cultures
Excellent worthy initiative. However, somehow when previously reading this proposal I never noticed:
" Add the following clause to Bylaw 2 Federal Council as follows:
2.1.X Indigenous Representatives
2.1.X.1 Nominations shall be by twenty (20) members of the Party in good standing.
2.1.X.2 All Members of the Party in good standing shall be eligible to vote for these positions. "
It is "2.1.X.2 All Members of the Party in good standing shall be eligible to vote for these positions. " that CONCERNS me, but it is too late for an amendment. I think it makes more sense for a Representative to be voted in solely by the community for whom they will represent, and not by All Members of the Party. (As we do with provinces and territories.)
That being said, let's Ratify and Implement this improvement of the composition of Federal Council as soon as possible AS IS, and later (soon) consider further amending that clause to Bylaw 2, to ensure that these three Representatives genuinely reflect the will of their respective peoples.
Conversation with Colin Griffiths
This is a very disappointing modification to our constitution. It changes our concepts of proportional representation. And it is not good. With this change indigenous peoples will have greater representation on federal council than the people of Ontario. That is not an equitable and fair distribution of representation.
Hi Colin
Thanks for sharing your concerns.
Our constitution makes two references to proportional representation. First, in Bylaw 2/Federal Council:
2.1.4.1.1
Where the election calls for Party Members to be elected to two or more seats in the same position, voting shall be exercised using a multi-seat proportional representation form of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) and subsequent election to those seats shall be simultaneous.
This would not change if this proposal passes the final/ratification vote. The proposal includes the following additions:
2.1.4.3 In odd numbered years the representatives of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, the representative from the Territories, the First Nations representative, the President and the Vice President French shall be elected.
2.1.4.4 In even numbered years the representatives of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Vice President English, the Inuit representative, the Métis representative, and the Fund representative shall be elected.
Note that by your logic there would be more indigenous peoples on Federal Council than for any single province or territory, not just Ontario. It's as if the indigenous people on Federal Council would represent three groups, which is the goal: separate representation of Native, Métis and Inuit. Even the federal government recognizes the need for those groups to have separate representation for those three groups.
In itself, limiting the number of groups representing indigenous peoples to three groups is a travesty, convenient from our colonialist/settler point of view but unfair to the many nations not represented.
The proposal is good, not not good. The only unfairness is that it does not go far enough. But it's a start.
When this is passed, Federal Council will have at least three members who can contribute their knowledge of how to collaborate respectfully based on time-tested, sophisticated, subtle and respectful practices refined over many generations.
It's not possible to describe the practices of all indigenous peoples living in this country because they are separate and diverse, but a common phrase to sum up the indigenous ways is "all my relations". Harmony with others—certainly within the FC—will increase when this proposal is enacted. In this, the GPC will set a great example for politics in Canada.
I agree with Shel Goldstein that indigenous representatives should somehow have the endorsement of the communities they represent. I hope that the next Federal Council will define a way to make that happen.
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