2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada
Where GPC membership collaborates to develop our policies
Submitter Name
Anita Brideau
This proposal was discussed in the workshop during Phase 2 of the VGM. However, there was not enough time for this proposal to be voted on in plenary by the members during Phase 2. Therefore, this proposal will not be included in the ratification vote.
Proposal
To add a seventh core value to the GPC Constitution under Article 5 Values as follows:
5.1.7 Economic Wisdom
And to include the following description of this value within Appendix A:
Economic Wisdom
We acknowledge that all human beings of working age wish to achieve fulfilment through meaningful participation in the economy.
We acknowledge that the economy includes Nature’s economy, the social economy, the market economy, and the public economy.
We acknowledge that the economy is a realm both of creative contribution and of power, in which some individuals, businesses, corporations and governments strive to exercise abusive economic power over others, to the detriment of Nature and of those who wish to contribute in a fair, respectful, cooperative manner.
Objective
This proposed constitutional amendment would remedy a weakness in the six core values, which is their lack of economic substance.
Benefit
This amendment would benefit all Green Party policy making, inviting the same value and importance as the Green Party gives to its six other fundamental principles.
Supporting Comments from Submitter
I believe it is self-evident that the economy is important and deserving of attention in the Core Principles.
Green Value(s)
Ecological Wisdom, Sustainability, Participatory Democracy, Social Justice, Respect for Diversity, Non-Violence.
Relation to Existing Policy
Add to existing policy.
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4 comments
What is meant by each of "Nature’s economy, the social economy, ... and the public economy". Perhaps some examples might make this less esoteric. Or flesh each out with definitions
I appreciate the sentiment, but I would argue that economic wisdom is a product of the other values, not a value in and of itself; i.e. a fair, sustainable, non-violent, etc economy should be the outcome. Our current economy fails because it is none of these things. How can we be economically wise? By improving applying Green Values to our existing economies.
I also do not think our Six Key Values need to be added to. This is a good concept, that sees expression in almost every policy Greens produce, and is evident in many of our lifestyles. In many ways, I wish we still had just the Four Pillars of the German Greens. The Six Key Values do not get referenced nearly enough by Greens. We need to get better at providing solid and consistent messaging on the ones we have. Then, debate this idea at the Global Green level, then adopt.
The climate crisis and the pandemic have eroded the public's largely unquestioning view of the economy as an engine for progress—arguably the best product of those pressures. The proposal frames economic wisdom as the interplay of clearly differentiated elements, which itself is worthy. This is a Green way of looking at the economy, for which we should be proud.
The most difficult aspect of this proposal in my view is that it's likely to deepen the resistance of many members to 'going socialist': it's sort of a Trojan horse. Economic wisdom is the logical link between Social Justice and Ecological Wisdom, so I'm in favour of this proposal as written.
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