Proposal Development

The Green Party of Canada seeks to maintain the grassroots nature of its proposal development process, while ensuring that proposals are well-written, well-deliberated and well-supported by the membership.

This proposal development process increases member participation by providing an online platform to submit, discuss, and amend proposals. It also provides guidance to ensure proposals meet the proposal submission rules and standards

At least sixty (60) days before the Annual General Meeting, all members will be notified that the Official Proposals can be viewed on the Annual General Meeting online platform.

Prior to the Annual General Meeting, all members will have the opportunity to categorize the proposals using a 3 colour-coded polling system known as the Bonser Method. 

At the General Meeting, the Official Proposals are presented to membership for discussion, debate, and possible amendment. Amendments proposed during the meeting cannot change the intent of the proposal under consideration. 

After the General Meeting, an all-member ratification vote is held. The Green Party of Canada’s Constitution mandates that constitutional or bylaw amendments adopted at the General Meeting undergo a vote open to all members. Members can extend the ratification vote to include directives to Federal Council and policy proposals adopted at the General Meeting. 

The Hothouse

• The General Meeting Committee sets a proposal submission timeline and invites members to submit proposals using the online submission form located on the WeDecide platform. 
• Initial proposals are posted by submitters directly in the Hothouse on the WeDecide platform. 
• Members are able to view and comment on proposals as well as sponsor any proposals they believe should move to the next step of the proposal process.

From the Hothouse to the Workshop

• Proposals which meet the sponsorship requirements and comply with the submission rules and drafting standards are moved from the Hothouse to the Workshop on the WeDecide platform.
• Proposals which are incomplete or were received after the submission deadline will not be allowed to move forward in the proposal development process.
• If separate members submit duplicate proposals, the submitters will be encouraged to work together to merge them into one proposal. 
• Proposal Shepherds are volunteers tasked with assisting proposal submitters in developing clear, concise proposals that meet the Party's drafting standards.

The Workshop

• The Workshop on WeDecide is an unofficial space that allows members and proposal submitters to use the comment feature to engage in discussions and debate about the proposals.
• Friendly amendment suggestions can be posted by members. A proposal submitter may agree to accept an amendment. In that case, the proposal submitter will edit the proposal to reflect the inclusion of the friendly amendment.
• Electoral District Associations (EDAs) are encouraged to engage their members in proposal discussions and to put forward friendly amendments through the WeDecide platform.
• Shortly before the 60-day notice of Annual General Meeting, Proposal Shepherds will work with proposal submitters to finalize the wording of the “Official Proposal” that will be presented at the Annual General Meeting. 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

• The Notice of Meeting is sent to members with instructions on how to view the Official Proposals. 
• Official Proposals are posted for member review on the Annual General Meeting platform. 

Pre-Annual General Meeting Workshop

• The Workshop on WeDecide now performs the same function as a workshop at an in-person General Meeting, developing friendly amendments to be presented at the Annual General Meeting. It is also a forum for continued discussion and debate. 
• If a proposal submitter accepts a friendly amendment suggestion posted in the Workshop, they will edit the proposal to reflect the inclusion of the friendly amendment. 
  

Categorization Using Bonser Method

• Prior to the General Meeting, all members will have the opportunity to categorize the proposals using a 3 colour-coded polling system known as the Bonser Method.
• The results of the Bonser Method are used to recommend the order that proposals are considered at the General Meeting.

General Meeting

• The General Meeting is a formal Meeting of Members, where the members gather to make decisions on matter of importance to the Party. During the general meeting, members are the highest decision-making authority in Party governance.
• Each Official Proposal is presented to membership for consideration of adoption by the Green Party of Canada.
• If applicable, proposal submitters will present friendly amendments for consideration. 
• Members will discuss, debate, and potentially amend the Official Proposal. Once this process has concluded, a deciding vote to adopt the proposal will be held by all members present at the time of the vote. 
• If time at the General Meeting runs out before every Official Proposal can be presented, the Official Proposals that were not discussed are sent back to the Workshop on the WeDecide platform so they can continue to be worked on and considered at the next General Meeting.

About Emergency Motions

• Emergency Motions are motions that were not submitted during the submission period, but which are moved from the floor of the General Meeting and that are considered to be of an emergency nature.
• If a proposal was submitted through the normal submission process but failed to collect sufficient sponsors before the deadline, it will not be accepted as an emergency motion.
• The submission process for emergency motions may open a few days before the General Meeting. If the call for emergency motions occurs before the General Meeting, members will be notified of the submission process by email. 
• Members will decide the date and time of the final deadline for the submission of emergency motions during the Annual General Meeting. 
• To be considered at an Annual General Meeting, an emergency motion shall require a 2/3 vote by members present agreeing to consider it. A discussion and vote on the emergency motion will then occur.

Post-General Meeting online ratification vote

• In accordance with Article 10 Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws, an all-member ratification vote is required for constitutional and bylaw amendments adopted at the General Meeting.
• Members may choose to pass a motion at the Annual General Meeting that all proposals adopted at the meeting will be included in the ratification vote. 
• Proposals adopted by the whole membership are made available on the WeDecide platform so they are accessible to all members.