2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada
Where GPC membership collaborates to develop our policies
G21-D009 Include Subject-Matter Experts in the Policy Development Process
Submitter Name
Michelle Bowman
Ratification Vote Results: Adopted
Proposal
Adopt a more holistic policy development approach by including multidisciplinary research expertise that reflects the six interdependent GPC core values.
Objective
Interdependencies among issues make policy development complex (for example, climate change). Translating evidence-based policy into public support and desired outcomes requires effective knowledge translation. The GPC should adopt a more holistic approach to incorporating the six interdependent GPC core values into policies by including subject-matter experts in the process.
Benefit
A more holistic policy process that includes researchers with a range of expertise (for example, both social and physical sciences) can strengthen environmental, social and economic outcomes, improve knowledge translation, minimize trade-offs among policy objectives, and improve actual and perceived policy standards.
Supporting Comments from Submitter
Stronger policy leads to better environmental, social, and economic outcomes while minimizing trade-offs among competing policy objectives we want to achieve.
The work of policy experts and researchers is increasing in complexity, so it is important to take a holistic approach and consult researchers during policy development.
Existing GPC policy process: “The process increases the representation of diverse viewpoints by seeking participation from across the regions of Canada, from groups who are affected by a particular proposal, from party members, and from policy experts.”
A similar proposal to include Green Party Member Knowledge Clusters and Critic Portfolio Brain Trust was included in Annamie Paul's leadership platform
https://www.annamiepaul.ca/shadow_cabinet and is included in her current approach to strengthening the Shadow Cabinet.
Green Value(s)
Ecological Wisdom, Sustainability, Participatory Democracy, Social Justice, Respect for Diversity, Non-Violence.
Relation to Existing Policy
Add to current GPC policy.
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Conversation with Sarah Gabrielle Baron
This motion seems to suggest that the Green members making policy proposals are not experts in their field or immersed in the 6 Key Principles. It's been my experience as a Green that the folks drafting policy proposals are deeply informed about their subject, and most are usually very holistically minded. That is why I feel this 2017-2021 move by HQ to limit our word count and curtail our specificity is wrong. If this directive motion was telling Federal Council to continue to work towards an ongoing Living Policy development process, whereby Shadow Cabinet and experts met continually with Members in subject-specific think-tanks, then you'd be asking the same thing we have all been asking at least since 2005. It's a good motion, but could be misinterpreted to further take policy production out of the hands of Members, (it is constitutionally enshrined as being Member-driven see, article 7.3.13).
Hi Sarah. Thanks for your comments.
Indicating which of the core principles this directive includes was a submission requirement.
Expertise gained through lived experience or formal education is different than being informed. We need all three to develop strong, practical policies.
I understand the call for lack of specificity UNTIL we have continuous policy process but agree the word limits and specific requirements left few words to actually explain the intent of the directive.
I’ll amend to clarify the directive is to encourage more rather than less input from members.
Best, Michelle
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