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2024 Federal and Young Greens Council Elections

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

Phase 5 of 6
Voting tabulation and confirmation 14/11/2024 - 17/11/2024
Process phases
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YOUNG GREENS OF CANADA COUNCIL

Job Description: Co-Chairs

The Co-Chairs are, generally speaking, the coordinators/facilitators of the Council as a whole. They are the facilitators of YGC Council meetings, ensuring that Council discussions and decisions are in line with the principle of consensus-based decision-making. The Co-Chairs also ensure that YGC Council is acting in a manner consistent with applicable rules and regulations. Co-Chairs do not have any individual authority; they communicate the decisions of Council.

The two Co-Chairs should act in close partnership and regularly consult each other on decisions. They are elected separately but hold exactly the same position. It’s like one chair with two people sitting in it. All Co-Chairs are encouraged to follow this principle as they work together to organize the Young Greens Council. The advantage of having two Co-Chairs working together is a balancing of skills, abilities, capacities, and efforts; each person’s skill set complements the other’s.

And may be called upon to represent the YGC publicly at events and meetings with other organizations the YGC chooses to collaborate with.

The Co-Chairs will collaboratively work to:

  • Schedule, Plan, seek input, prepare agendas, and encourage YGC Councillors and YGC members to attend and participate in YGC Council meetings;
  • Act as Facilitators for Meetings of the YGC council and general meetings of the YGC (except where other facilitators are designated), maintaining a speakers list as necessary and making every effort to engage all participants in meeting discussions;
  • Make every effort to complete delegated tasks within a timely manner;
  • Provide opportunities to Councillors to provide feedback on Co-Chairs’ Performance;
  • Coordinating with Party Staff on behalf of the YGC; and
  • Fulfilling (and ensuring all other YGC Councillors fulfill) any other duties as assigned under the YGC Council handbook.

Job Description: Engagement Coordinator

The Engagement Coordinator is responsible to oversee and lead the development and implementation of an engagement plan for the Young Greens of Canada and to ensure that engagement initiatives and opportunities are considered and pursued on the other projects of the YGC.

The Engagement Coordinator will work to:

  • publicize the activities of the YGC, ensuring the YGC is present and visible in spaces, platforms, programs, and on apps where youth in Canada and YGC members are active, including collaborating with the Advocacy and Finance Coordinators to publicise those initiatives;
  • engage with youth in Canada and YGC members for the purpose of seeking their feedback and participation in YGC’s initiatives, including planning and organizing events for this purpose;
  • recruit youth in Canada and YGC members to volunteer opportunities within the YGC and those projects of the Green Party of Canada that align with the goals of the YGC; and
  • Coordinate with Young Greens attending colleges and universities throughout Canada to develop and support campus chapters of the YGC and provincial green youth wings.

Job Description: Finance Coordinator

The Finance Coordinator is responsible to oversee and lead the development, implementation, management, and reporting of a budget and financial plan for the Young Greens of Canada, and to ensure that funding needs and fundraising opportunities are considered on other projects of the YGC.

The Finance Coordinator will work to:

  • Collaborate with the Advocacy coordinator and the Youth Representatives to Federal Council to procure funding for YGC initiatives from the GPC, including developing and maintaining a fundraising system that allows the YGC to fundraise donations to the GPC specifically for YGC initiatives;
  • Ensure that the YGC is properly equipped with the financial and equipment resources it needs to be successful in its projects and initiatives; and
  • Ensure that YGC members are properly and transparently informed about the financial activities and needs of the YGC.

The Finance Coordinator will also be recommended by YGC Council for appointment to the Finance Committee of GPC Federal Council.

Job Description: Advocacy Coordinator

The Advocacy Coordinator is responsible to oversee and lead the development and an advocacy plan for the Young Greens of Canada and to ensure that advocacy initiatives and opportunities to advocate for the needs and values of the YGC and youth in Canada are considered and pursued on the other projects of the YGC.

The Advocacy Coordinator will work to:

  • Represent and advocate for the needs, interests, and values of the YGC, YGC members, and progressive youth in Canada more broadly to the GPC, political candidates, government entities, and other organizations;
  • Monitor and plan responses to issues and events which affect or relate to youth in Canada or the YGC, ensuring the YGC is visible and vocal in advocating for youth-oriented solutions;
  • Build and maintain relationships with like-minded organizations, especially youth organizations, for the purpose of collaborating on issues and initiatives in the interest of the YGC and to encourage youth activists to become engaged with or join the YGC;
  • Ensure that the YGC plays an active role in in the development and implementation of the GPC’s political and administrative policies and that the needs and interests of youth in Canada and the YGC are reflected in these policies; and
  • Collaborate with the Engagement Coordinator and the Youth Representatives on Federal Council to ensure that youth are empowered and assisted to be active as volunteers and candidates within all areas of the GPC and that the needs and safety of youth volunteers in the party is maintained.

Job Description: Regional Representatives

The Regional Representatives bring the unique perspectives of their regions into discussions at the YGC Council

Regional Representatives will:

  • Represent all Young Greens in their region at YGC Council meetings;
  • Work to consult with the members of the YGC in their respective regions for feedback on the work and direction of the YGC;
  • Make every effort to attend all scheduled Council meetings;
  • Make every effort to complete delegated tasks within a timely manner; and
  • Notify the Co-Chairs by email at least two days in advance if they cannot attend a meeting (except in cases of emergency).

Job Description: Youth Representatives to Federal Council

The two Youth Representatives are selected by YGC Council from among the occupants of the positions listed above. They are full voting members of Federal Council, and fulfil those duties as laid out in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Party and in the Federal Council Handbook. This includes serving on at least one FC committee.

The Youth Reps will work together to:

  • Represent the interests of Young Greens on Federal Council
  • Raise and defend YGC initiatives that require some FC decision/involvement

Federal Council

What Does Federal Council Do?

Federal Council is the group that governs the Party between Annual General Meetings (National Conventions) of the membership. As the party also has a Leader and Shadow Cabinet to put the party's message before the public, Council's role is focused primarily on the Party's strategic and budgetary planning and development. As Party policy is set by the membership in general meetings, and the Shadow Cabinet is responsible for formulating the Party's platform for any given election, Federal Council does not create party policy nor the platform.

If you have media skills, or an interest in policy development or political strategy, your help would be better directed to Shadow Cabinet, supporting a local candidate, or running yourself!

Federal Council is looking for people with board management, legal, financial or Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) skills to build the Party.

Requirements

  1. A willingness to dedicate a few hours per month of personal time and effort to Council work, including attending meetings by teleconference, time between meetings preparing materials and reading reports, time spent serving on Council sub-committees, and attendance at one or two weekend Council retreats per year in Ottawa (costs paid for by the Party).
  2. The ability to effectively communicate in a team environment.
  3. The ability to perform at a governance level and display the leadership skills required of a Federal Council of this nature. Some governance training is provided.
  4. A strong belief in the purpose and six key principles of the Party, and a commitment to applying them to the management of the Party.
  5. A familiarity with Party policy, platform, and governance documents, such as the Party's Constitution, Bylaws, the Green Rules of Procedure, applicable Codes of Conduct, GPC Fund Bylaws — and a commitment to further the understanding of these documents.
  6. Access to the Internet and familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation programs, the ability to view such documents, and the ability to read and understand financial statements.
  7. A very high standard of personal ethics.

Councillors should:

  1. Always act in good faith and in a manner which is in the best interest of the Party and membership as a whole, contribute to discussions as part of decision-making, and respect Federal Council decisions on all issues.
  2. Respect the confidentiality of in-camera discussions and privileged and private information.
  3. Provide leadership to ensure that all party units are viewed as an integral to the Party, are treated fairly and equitably and enabled to uphold the members code of conduct.
  4. Make certain the Party has clear long, medium, and short-term plans and a budget that can be developed and measured realistically and reported on regularly.
  5. Project a positive image as a representative of the Party.
  6. Seek input from the membership and report openly on all aspects of the Party's activities (respecting confidentiality).

Essential Skills

  1. Significant prior experience on a board of directors is an asset.
  2. An ability to read and understand financial statements and experience in a treasurer or fundraiser role. Experience preparing annual budget reports, tracking income and expenditures, creating budgets and overseeing the implementation of cash management strategies that allow the Party to reach its financial goals is an asset.
  3. Experience in practicing law or an understanding of legal requirements and implications relevant to political parties, governing boards, and corporations, including the Canada Not for Profit Corporations Act, is an asset.
  4. Life experience reflective of Canada's diversity in both its people and landscape.
  5. A familiarity with Party policy, platform, and governance documents, such as the Party's Constitution, Bylaws, the Green Rules of Procedure, applicable Codes of Conduct, GPC Fund Bylaws — and a commitment to further the understanding of these documents.
  6. The ability to effectively communicate in a team environment.
  7. The capacity to author, edit or view electronic documents spreadsheets and presentation programs, ideally in the Google Suite (the official software presently used by the Party).
  8. An ability to communicate in at least 2 languages is an asset.

Other Valuable Skills

  1. Experience in financial management, work or experience with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), experience in a treasurer role.
  2. Experience in practicing law or an understanding of legal requirements and implications relevant to political parties, governing boards, and corporations.
  3. Governance experience. That is, a previous role on a nongovernmental organization (NGO), corporation, or political party's board of directors.
  4. Fundraising experience and/or demonstrated fundraising skills.
  5. An ability to promote consensus and team building, as well as conduct conflict resolution.
  6. A wide range of political knowledge and experience.
  7. Life experience reflective of Canada's diversity in both its people and landscape.

Job Description: Provincial and Territorial Representatives - Federal Councillors

Provincial and Territorial Representatives (Federal Councillors) play a vital role not only in providing input to the governance of the GPC but also in acting as a conduit between local members in their jurisdiction and Council. Using as a base the GPC Constitution, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, Federal Councillors will:

  1. Represent Party members and EDAs in their respective provinces or territories on Federal Council. Provincial and territorial representatives report to, and receive input from, their regional members and EDAs on a regular schedule determined in consultation with the relevant EDAs and members.
  2. Contribute as equal members of Federal Council in making responsible decisions, exercising due diligence regarding the governance of the Party.
  3. Be an active member on at least one of the Council committees.
  4. Contribute to the annual and long term strategic planning of the Party.
  5. Be members of the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  6. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council.

Job Description: First Nations Representative

The First Nations Representative (Federal Councillor) plays a vital role not only in providing input to the governance of the GPC but also in acting as a conduit between GPC First Nation members and Council. Using as a base the GPC Constitution, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, Federal Councillors will:

  1. Represent Party members from the First Nations Community and report to, and receive input from, First Nations members.
  2. Contribute as equal members of Federal Council in making responsible decisions, exercising due diligence regarding the governance of the Party.
  3. Be an active member on at least one of the Council committees.
  4. Contribute to the annual and long term strategic planning of the Party.
  5. Be members of the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  6. Become a member of the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Circle.
  7. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council. 

Job Description: Inuit Representative

The Inuit Representative (Federal Councillor) plays a vital role not only in providing input to the governance of the GPC but also in acting as a conduit between GPC members from the Inuit community and Council. Using as a base the GPC Constitution, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, Federal Councillors will:

  1. Represent Party members from the Inuit Community and report to, and receive input from, Inuit members.
  2. Contribute as equal members of Federal Council in making responsible decisions, exercising due diligence regarding the governance of the Party.
  3. Be an active member on at least one of the Council committees.
  4. Contribute to the annual and long term strategic planning of the Party.
  5. Be members of the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  6. Become a member of the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Circle.
  7. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council. 

Job Description: Métis Representative

The Métis Representative (Federal Councillor) plays a vital role not only in providing input to the governance of the GPC but also in acting as a conduit between GPC members from the Métis community and Council. Using as a base the GPC Constitution, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, Federal Councillors will:

  1. Represent Party members from the Métis Community and report to, and receive input from, Métis members.
  2. Contribute as equal members of Federal Council in making responsible decisions, exercising due diligence regarding the governance of the Party.
  3. Be an active member on at least one of the Council committees.
  4. Contribute to the annual and long term strategic planning of the Party.
  5. Be members of the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  6. Become a member of the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Circle.
  7. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council. 

Role of the Executive Council (or Executive)

Using as a base the GPC Constitution and Bylaws, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, the Executive Council shall:

  1. Act as the interim decision making body on behalf of Federal Council, with the overall goal to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Council.
  2. Ensure that Executive activities are transparent and accountable.
  3. Ensure that the interim decisions reflect the will of Federal Council at Federal Council meetings. 

Job Description: President

Using as a base the GPC Constitution and Bylaws, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, the President shall:

  1. Act as the Chair of Federal Council and ensure that Federal Council and Executive Council meetings are organized and facilitated in accordance with the Party's Rules of Procedure, including the appointment of process people.
  2. Ensure that decisions of the Party, Federal Council, Executive Council and committees of Federal Council are duly carried out.
  3. Represent the Council with staff, volunteers and members as may be required to ensure efficient and professional execution of decisions.
  4. Be a member of the Executive [as defined by Bylaw 2.6.1 of the Party's Bylaws].
  5. Be a member of the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  6. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council.
  7. Contribute as an equal member of Federal Council and Executive Council in making responsible decisions regarding the governance of the Party.
  8. Call upon the Vice President Francophone and Vice President English to support the execution of these roles.
  9. Be elected for a two-year term by the membership.

Note: the President is the Chair of Federal Council.

Job Description: Vice Presidents

Using as a base the GPC Constitution and Bylaws, the Party Rules and Procedures, and the Federal Council Code of Conduct, the Vice President’s French and English shall:

  1. Assist the President in ensuring that the President's responsibilities and decisions of the Party, Federal Council, Executive Council and committees of Federal Council are duly carried out.
  2. Be a member of the Executive [as defined by Bylaw 2.6.1 of the Party's Bylaws].
  3. Be a member of the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  4. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council.
  5. Contribute as an equal member of Federal Council and Executive Council in making responsible decisions regarding the governance of the Party.
  6. Be elected for a two-year term by the membership.

Job Description: Fund Representative

Using as a base, the GPC Constitution and Bylaws, the Party Rules and Procedures, the Councillors Fiduciary Responsibility and Code of Conduct, and the Fund Certificate of Continuance and Bylaws, the Fund Representative shall: 

  1. Represent the Green Party of Canada Fund [as defined by Articles 7.3.8 and 12 of the Party's Constitution].
  2. Be a member of the Executive [as defined by Bylaw 2.6.1 of the Party's Bylaws].
  3. Be a board member of and represent Federal Council within the Green Party of Canada Fund.
  4. Carry out other duties as agreed by Federal Council.
  5. Contribute as an equal member of Federal Council and Executive Council in making responsible decisions regarding the governance of the Party.
  6. Be elected for a two-year term by the membership.

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