Canadian Democracy Tested

A lot has happened in the past few weeks.

First, Prime Minister Stephen Harper threatened to hold a general election - and despite many rejecting his reasoning of 'parliament is dysfunctional,' it happened anyway.

Federal election '08 was called September 7, Sunday morning at 9am.

There was a lot of hype about Elizabeth being in the debates, with Blair Wilson declaring himself a Green, the Green Party was officially in parliament.

Unfortunately, the Conservatives, NDP, & Bloc convinced the media consortium (Old Boys club who decides who will participate) that the Greens should not be included. So they weren't.

Fortunately, the public response was huge. In just one day, over 10,000 Canadians voiced their outrage, demanding Elizabeth be allowed into the debates. And she was.

So that leaves us full swing into a general election, with the threat of a Harper minority or even majority looming. But all is not lost.

Facebook groups like 'Anti-Harper Vote Swap' are connecting Canadians who understand no matter what party you traditionally vote, there are a number of key ridings that need to go Liberal.

Follow the election at cbc.ca

Launching the Green Party National Campaign at Guelph Office

Eco-Hunt & Frosh Week Fun

Thanks to all those who came out to the Arboretum today, and searched among the trees for clues.

Thanks to the local businesses, Thomas Video, Well Charged Music, The Flour Barrel, & Amrket Fresh for donating the prizes.


More photos on our Facebook page!

Canada has its first Green MP!

Greetings to all our supporters!

We have an amazing announcement!

Greens have changed the political landscape in Canada forever…

Canada now has its first Green MP! On the morning of Saturday Aug. 30, Blair Wilson, an Independent Member of Parliament, sat beside Party Leader Elizabeth May and announced that he is joining the Green Party. Blair is the sitting MP in West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country (yes – that is the name of the riding!).

To quote Ms. May:

"Today we make history. I am grateful for Mr. Wilson's principled belief that the Green Party deserves a voice in Parliament and for his firm commitment to democracy. With a Green MP sitting in the House of Commons, it will now be impossible to exclude the Green Party from the televised leaders' debates in the next election.”

Join Mike Nagy, Elizabeth May and all of us in welcoming Blair Wilson to the Green Party. Mr. Wilson and Elizabeth May will meet Mike Nagy for a rally in Guelph tomorrow at 4:30! Come out and support our new Member of Parliament!!!

Guelph Campus Greens welcome you to Guelph for your Fall 08 Semester!

You are coming into town at a very exciting time; the city of Guelph has the opportunity to elect Canada's FIRST Green MP, Mike Nagy.

Electing Mike will also guarantee that Elizabeth May, the Leader of the Green Party, will be included in the Televised Leader's Debate to bring forward a Green perspective on the social, environmental and economic issues important to all Canadians. This is a momentous opportunity for all of Canada, a time to make history!

Students have a stong voice in Guelph and now is the time to use it.Our campus population has an immense power to give this campaign the support it needs to elect Mike.

The campaign team is looking for volunteers to help with several different tasks throughout Orientation week, from biking around with green party signs to canvasing door to door, to hanging out downtown and handing our flyers. It's a great experience, and a chance to be a part of the greatest change seen in Guelph so far. If you want to volunteer from contact our volunteer co-ordinator Allison @ absolutelyalisoncampbell@gmail.com

There are other ways you can support the Mike Nagy campaign:join his Facebook Fan Page Check out Mike's Website Follow our campus activity throughout the week on our webpage.In the next few days, we will send you a copy of our Orientation Week schedule of events.
Guelph is Going Green! On September 8, VOTE Mike Nagy for Canada's first Green MP!
-Guelph Campus Greens Campaign Team

Green Party and Students

What does Mike think about students?
Tuition fees should never, ever be a barrier to education
Tuition fees should not be a debt sentence
Students from universities and colleges should have a healthy, sustainable future to look forward to
Students should be heard and not ignored in Ottawa
Universities and colleges are critical hubs of green innovation and creativity
Mike wants students to vote

What will Mike do for students?
Forgive 50% of a student’s loan when they complete their degree
Enable universities to increase spaces for student enrollment in exchange for tuition fee reductions
Restore and expand the federal government’s student summer job program
Increase research grants to support development of new green technologies
Create a fund for excellence in post secondary teaching in which funding is increased as the student to professor ratio decreases.

‘Education is the key to equity of opportunity, personal growth and enrichment, informed democratic debate and decision making, social mobility and the research and development that is essential to deal with climate change and a multitude of other challenges.’
Authorized by the official agent of Mike Nagy

Vote for MIKE NAGY and make history in Canada!!!

A by-election has been called for electing a new Member of Parliament in Guelph on September 8, 2008. This is the election that will witness that Guelph is Going Green.

WHAT IS IT WORTH for the Green Party to win in the upcoming by-elections?

In the 1988 federal election the Reform Party won 275,000 votes and no seats – and then in the subsequent 1993 general election, the party won 2.5 million votes and 52 seats, missing becoming the official opposition by just two seats. How could the party jump from no seats to 52 seats? And win almost 10 times more votes? One simple thing.

In between the elections the Reform Party won a single seat in a by-election. Deb Grey became the lone voice in Parliament arguing for the party's position. Then in the subsequent election Reform leader Preston Manning was included in the debates – millions of Canadians heard the Reform message and the party won almost 10 times more votes. We are on the precipice of that same shift. Simply winning a seat will guarantee that Elizabeth May will be included in the televised leaders' debates. The by-election presents a very real opportunity to win that first seat.

Make history this September and elect Mike Nagy as Canada's first GREEN MP!

Green is the Future - it is YOUR movement.

Keep in the Know @ mikenagy.ca

Momentum is building and good things are happening in Guelph.

Follow the campaign at Mike Nagy's Website

Support the campaign, and become a Fan on Mike's Facebook Page

Have any questions about Green Party policy?

Search your issue @ GreenParty.ca

The By-Election is On!

Election Day: September 8


UPCOMING EVENTS:

Office Kick-Off Party
Thursday at 8 pm
Office @ the corner of Gordon & Wellington

Young Greens of Canada Weekend
August 8-10
Register for the Friday meeting here, will update with weekend activities soon!


WHY THIS BY-ELECTION IS DIFFERENT
By: Jim Harris

No candidate has waited for the Guelph by-election to officially begin with greater anticipation than Mike Nagy. All signs indicate that this election will be a breakthrough for the Greens and that Guelph will elect Canada’s first Green MP.

Guelph is unique. The Green vote has steadily increased in every provincial and federal election since 1997. Just eight months ago, provincial Green candidate Ben Polley won 20 percent of the vote - 9,635 votes – just behind the Conservatives and almost 3,000 votes ahead of the NDP.

In last October’s provincial election the Green Party won in 44 polls compared to 11 for the Conservatives and only four for the NDP.

Since October, growth in Green support has continued. The Nagy campaign team starts out with over 200 registered volunteers, the first fully-funded campaign budget in the Green Party’s history, and the only candidate with experience from two other federal election contests.

The Nagy campaign will reflect Green Party values. It is fully volunteer-based. The campaign will have no paid staff, demonstrating a real engagement with the local community. The Nagy campaign is taking every opportunity to engage the local economy by supporting local vendors and service providers. As in the past, the campaign is monitoring and reducing its carbon footprint through use of public transit, cycling and purchasing carbon credits.

In this by-election, the strategic vote is a Green vote. Regardless of the outcome on September 8th, voters in Guelph will not change the government. But a Green victory will be heard around the world. Over the next six weeks, Mike Nagy will be working hard to convince voters that Guelph can have the biggest impact not by voting for an old-line candidate, but by truly shaking things up with a Green win.

Mike Nagy is the only candidate to have run before in a federal election. He is widely respected for his work as the Green Party of Canada's Environment Critic, and for his leadership in local environmental issues. He carries over 20 years in business experience and has a record of community service that includes over 50 donations of blood to the Red Cross and a citation for bravery from the Mayor of Toronto and Metro Toronto Police.

He notes, “Electing another Liberal, NDP or Conservative in Guelph will change nothing for Guelphites in Ottawa. In this by-election, I am confident that Guelph will show that Canadians are ready for change. Guelph’s Going Green”.

Young Greens Come to Guelph

To make sure the green word is heard throughout the city, the Young Greens of Canada are hosting a Youth weekend, August 8-10.

Learn More & Register Here

If you cannot make it but would like to help, give us a shout

guelphcampusgreens@gmail.com

Young greens Izzy, Denis, James, Brandon, Kim, Sara, Jason, & Mike Nagy

Planning O-Week Events

Hey Green Team :)

Over the next 2 weeks, we have a task:

brainstorm the logistics for O-Week events at Guelph.

(Our group is already registered to participate)

Some ideas include:

* Screening a film

* Scavenger Hunt in the Arboretum

* Downtown tour at night

* ?

Post a 'Comment' with your ideas, and I will e-mail the team at the end of next week.

Let's get creative!

Greens Excluded from Debate Talks

April 02, 2008
Brandon Kidd

Dear Editor - An election was really close this winter. Close enough that the Canadian Broadcasters Consortium sat down -- behind closed doors -- to discuss the next televised leaders' debate with representatives from "the four major political parties": Conservative, Liberal, NDP, and the Bloc Québécois.

The Green party was not invited.

What does this tell us? That these broadcasting executives care more about giving voice to the Bloc -- a party that only runs in Quebec -- than the Greens, who run all across the country and consistently poll ahead of the Bloc.

In some places the Greens are even ahead of the New Democrats.

You may not like the Greens --you may hate them -- but you'd have to be pretty pigheaded to say they shouldn't be heard. We have the right to hear them. They get millions of tax dollars, can't we hear what we're paying for?

What else does this tell us? If you want to hear Green party Leader Elizabeth May in the debates, whether you plan on voting Green or not, you'd better start making noise now. It's too late once an election is called, the consortium will have already made the decision to exclude her.

But don't just write an e-mail --call up the CBC, CTV, Global, the CRTC, and talk to someone. Let them know what they'll lose if you aren't satisfied. Tell them you'll boycott the debates -- tell them you'll boycott all their news programming if you feel that strongly.

Surveys consistently show that the vast majority of Canadians want to hear from Elizabeth May, but apparently that's not good enough for these broadcasting execs.

Enough is enough! It's time to remind this old boys' club that they don't own the airwaves -- we do.

-- Brandon Kidd, Guelph

Final Week of Classes Hoorah!

To celebrate, we have planned a full week of events.

Wednesday night Guelph Campus Greens will be hosting a Green Collaborative Jam, open for all (19+) musicians, beginning at 9PM at the Stage (old Salsateria).

The jam will be powered by Bullfrog, 100% clean energy (solar+wind).


For directions and details, check out the Events Calendar

More photos on Facebook.

World Water Day a Success!

Thanks to all those who showed support for this most important cause :)

If you haven't already, spend 1 minute and sign this letter to our PM:

KEEP WATER PUBLIC!


Next week, Guelph Campus Greens will be hosting a number of campus events, to spread awareness about oil (Fossil Fools Day April 1), get musical greens jamming (9 PM @ The Stage, April 3), and inform students about what it means to vote green.

Be sure to check the Events Calendar (right) next week - it's bound to be a blast.

By-elections Prove Greens are Force

The trend continues: growing green support across the nation.

Although no greens were elected, the by-elections proved the Green Party is doing something right -Jack Layton has a tough time accepting this.

Read what Elizabeth May thinks, and check out the official by-election results here!


Contact us guelphcampusgreens@gmail.com

Elizabeth May at the Chris Tindal Cocktail Rally, March 2008

GUELPH CAMPUS GREENS NEED YOU

If you have

IDEAS

GOOD WEBSITES

CONNECTIONS

TIME

we would love to hear from you!

Email guelphcampusgreens@gmail.com

Join the Facebook Group

Try some online activism

What is green?

*Grassroots Democracy

*Social Justice

*Respect for Diversity

*Peace & Non-violence

*Sustainable vision

*Ecological Wisdom


Greens understand the holistic relationship
between human action and the environment.

Green is about using creativity
and new ideas
to find sustainable solutions

to protect our health,
our country,
and our future.

Green is Now.