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Amending our Constitution: Instituting Co-Leadership

Jonathan Pedneault

10/08/2023 18:02

Proposal text

Article 9 - Co-Leaders

Preamble:

In the 2022 leadership race, the membership had a choice between two co-leadership teams as well as two individual leadership candidates. The members voted for Elizabeth May as Leader with the platform commitment to appoint Jonathan Pedneault Deputy Leader while working toward a constitutional amendment to move the GPC to co-leadership, in preparation for the next federal election. If this constitutional amendment for co-leadership is approved, then the membership will be asked to both confirm and ratify that change and to approved Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault as the party's first Co-Leaders as part of the transition. Following the next federal election, and when the next leadership contest occurs, the leadership race will be for Co-Leaders to run as slates.

9.1 There shall be two spokespeople for the Green Party of Canada, known as Co-Leaders.

9.2. Purpose

9.2.1 The Co-Leaders will follow the principles of “servant Leadership". They shall be the primary public faces of the party, responsible for presenting Green Party policy and promoting its electoral activity and campaigns to the public on a daily basis.

9.2.3 They will be called to inspire, motivate, mobilize and help grow the Green movement and to influence public opinion and decision-making in the Parliament of Canada. The Co-Leaders are expected to run in federal elections.

9.2.4 Prior to an election, the Co-Leaders will jointly decide on a primary spokesperson - filed as ‘Leader’ pursuant to the Canada Elections Act - tasked with attending the National Party Leaders’ debates.

9.3 Duties and Powers

9.3.1 The Co-Leaders shall:

9.3.1.1 Act in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws and Principles of the Green Party of Canada;

9.3.1.2 Speak for the Party concerning political issues and be guided in so doing by the Party’s member-made policies and platform;

9.3.1.3 Share one vote on Federal Council and the Executive Committee;

9.3.1.4 Chair the Caucus and Shadow Cabinet;

9.3.1.5 Appoint or remove a Deputy Leader as needed;

9.3.1.6 Appoint or remove members of the Shadow Cabinet;

9.3.1.7 Attend to any other duties and responsibilities pursuant to the Canada Elections Act;

9.3.1.8 Be an integral part of discussions and decision-making about the Party’s Electoral Strategy.

9.3.1.9 Report to the Party membership at every General Assembly

9.4 Election of Co-Leaders

9.4.1 The Party Co-Leaders shall be elected in accordance with the Bylaws and shall always include:

9.4.1.1 At least one woman; and one person of any gender;

9.4.1.2 Both co-leaders shall demonstrate functional proficiency in both official languages upon their election or appointment. Indigenous co leaders are exempt from this requirement.

9.4.2 Co-Leadership candidates must have been Members of the Party in good standing at least 3 months prior to an election;

9.4.3 Co-leadership candidates shall run as a team.

9.4.4 Two hundred (200) Members of the Party in good standing shall be required to nominate a Co-Leadership slate;

9.4.5 Voting shall be exercised using a form of the single transferable vote (STV) requiring a majority of votes cast for election.

9.5 Vacancies

9.5.1 Should one or both Co-Leaders resign or their positions becoming vacant, Federal Council is to proceed as highlighted in Bylaw 2.1.8

9.6. Accountability and Leadership Review

9.6.1 Co-Leaders are accountable to the Members assembled as General Meeting.

9.6.2 A Co-Leadership review where all Members in good standing may vote, shall be held:

9.6.2.1 Within six months after a Federal Election, unless one of the Co-Leaders becomes Prime Minister or is appointed to Cabinet as part of a Coalition Government;

9.6.2.2. Should at least 50% of the Membership petition Federal Council to hold a Co-Leadership Review;

9.6.2.3 Should a resolution approved by at least the two-thirds (2/3) of Federal Council and the two-thirds (2/3) of Caucus at an extraordinary Federal Council meeting calls for a Co-Leadership Review.

9.6.3 The date of the Leadership Review vote will be set by Federal Council and may coincide with a General Meeting.

9.6.4 The Co-Leaders’ terms shall end if Members in good standing do not pass a resolution endorsing the Co-Leaders by at least sixty percent (60%).

9.7 Dispute Resolution

9.7.1 Candidates to Co-Leadership and Co-Leaders will commit to:

9.7.1.1 Flagging any apparent disagreements early and openly to one another;

9.7.1.2 Keeping any disagreements or dispute private and confidential between until resolved;

9.7.1.3 Attempting compromise and the search for consensus if and where disagreements exist;

9.7.1.4 Pursuing mediation from a mutually agreed upon mediator skilled in dispute resolution should one of them feel the disagreement requires it;

9.7.1.5 Avoiding adversarial, legalistic solutions at all costs.

9.8 Consistency

9.8.1 This Constitution and Bylaws, as well as all other existing internal and external literature will be amended to reflect Article 9 and refer to Co-Leaders instead of Leader.

Transitional Provisions

1. If this amendment is adopted, it must be ratified by the membership. That ratification ballot will include a second vote to ratify that the current Leader and Deputy Leader shall serve as the party's first Co-Leaders.

2. Following this transitional period, in recognition that the leadership race of 2022 elected a Leader, whose campaign presented a partnership with the current Deputy Leader, with a joint platform that set out the process for the transition, the next race for co-leadership will proceed as per the amended Constitution.

Bylaw 2.1.8 Where one or both of the Co-Leaders’ terms end or become vacant:

2.1.8.1 If one Co-Leader position becomes vacant within two years of a Federal Election, the remaining co-leader will nominate, and Federal Council shall appoint an interim co-leader until after the Federal Election. Within six months after the federal election, baring one or both Co-Leaders joining Cabinet, a co-leadership contest takes place in which both the Co-Leader and interim Co-Leader are allowed to run.

2.1.8.2 If one Co-Leader position becomes vacant more than two years from a Federal Election, a co-leadership contest takes place within six months of the vacancy, in accordance with the bylaws. In the interim, the remaining Co-Leader continues as interim Leader and is allowed to run as a slate in the co-leadership contest.

2.1.8.3 If the two Co-Leader positions become vacant, Federal Council, in consultation with the legislative caucus, will appoint an interim Leader until a co-leadership contest is held in accordance within six months of the vacancies, as per the constitution and bylaws. If the appointment takes place less than one year from a Federal Election, Federal Council may decide to organize the co-leadership contest after the election.

Type of Proposal

A constitutional amendment to change the constitution or bylaws

Objective / Benefit

The 2022 Leadership Contest saw four candidates running on a Co-Leadership platform. Together, they gathered more than 88% of the vote at the first round.

As we prepare for the next elections - which could take place sooner than 2025 - this party needs to move fast on this promise to members and Canadians and institute co-leadership.

If your proposal replaces an existing policy or policies, which one does it replace?

The following proposal would amend the GPC Constitution to add a new Article - right above the one referring to Federal Council - to move on the promise of Co-Leadership and define the purposes, duties, powers and election of the Co-Leaders as well as the measures to ensure they remain accountable to the party membership.

It also modifies all Articles and bylaws that refer to the « Leader".

List any supporting evidence for your proposal

The Green Parties of New Zealand, Germany, England & Wales have espoused co-leadership years ago and succeeded in building strong political movements that challenge status quo in their respective nations. At home, Québec Solidaire also operates with a dual leadership that has shifted the conversation about leadership in the province and allowed them to make significant gains.

Does this proposal affect any particular group and what efforts have been made to consult with the group or groups?

Members have had a chance to interact with two pairs of candidates proposing co-leadership throughout the 2022 leadership campaign and have since November had the opportunity to observe the collaboration between Elizabeth and I, as well as to share supportive feedback and comments during numerous town halls and community events throughout the country.

Jurisdiction: Is this proposal under federal jurisdiction?

Unsure or Not applicable (e.g. directives and constitutional changes)

Please indicate the language the proposal is being submitted in.

English