2023 Federal and Young Greens Council Elections

Electing the representatives of the Green Party of Canada's members

Phase 4 of 4

Election closed 27/09/2023 - 28/09/2023

Process phases

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Carey Rutherford

Official candidate

08/08/2023 23:42

I mention stubbornness and optimism as an apt description of my personality, which must be central to what I do in a political field. Because politics is about people, and not simply about policy.

our intention is to use policy to improve the world in ways that makes sense to us: it may not make sense to everyone else. Hopefully one day, it will be a consensus.

I insist upon honesty with myself and those who hear me. Then the work is easy, because my learning gives me views that tend to be green, and I've found a place to put myself where people share my ideas. If this changes, then one of us needs to adjust!

We hope, through elections, to make adjustments elsewhere: for this we don't need luck we need stubbornness and optimism! as a relative novice in the political arena, a green Green, I rely upon the knowledge of those more experienced with these activities to optimize a world for our next seven generations. It's a phrase that still has validity: they will pay the price for what we miss.

until now, I relied upon my behaviour to represent the world I want to leave behind me. This is no longer enough: as the wildfires cause an exodus from a Territorial capital, and as we reach the hottest month in recorded history, what we do needs to be done with empathy and kindness, and not with a sense of righteousness.

Love is all you need.

- Candidate Statement, August 26

Candidate Introduction

Deputy Leader Pedneault commented, in a March email to Green albertans, “As you know - because you’re one of those thorny Wild Green Roses - it takes a lot of political courage to be a Green in Alberta. And I am a big admirer of political courage.” After 58 years here, I would stress more sheer stubbornness, holding onto eco-concerns through the Klein years, and then the Kenney years, and now . . . But the positive responses I received during my 2021 federal candidacy, and even greater receptivity during my participation in Ravenmoon Crocker’s byelection this summer, gives me hope far beyond the rational!

The best part is, living currently in a city quadrant populated by new arrivals and young families and adults, I can hear the changed need for listening which has been so lacking in Alberta in general and Calgary specifically: I’d almost believe the times are a ’changin’. Which is also an admission of my occasionally sputtering but stubbornly protected optimism.

This frankly sounds like a mandate for the Green Party of Canada going forward: optimism in spite of the obstacles. Not only because of our thick skin, but ALSO because, as I repeat continuously when asked why I’m in the GPC, I’m doing it because no-one else is.

Except for you folks! thanks for that.

Part of my own need to catalyze change has been my focus and learning around citizen’s assemblies (I presented a learning summary during the last VGM) and summarizing the IPCC reports for general consumption (10 videos published on Youtube so far). My social justice focus has connected me to First Nations and Inuit activists who inspire me to try and include more of their energy and wisdom into what we do as a political party; long-term goals that don’t ignore the individuals around us.