Green Party of Nova Scotia

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Green Party of Nova Scotia
Provincial Party
LeaderAnthony Edmonds
Deputy LeaderJo-Ann Roberts
Founded2006; 18 years ago (2006)
HeadquartersHalifax, Nova Scotia
Membership (2021)<300[1]
IdeologyGreen politics
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing
ColoursGreen
Seats in House of Assembly
0 / 55
Website
greenpartyns.ca

The Green Party of Nova Scotia (French: Parti Vert de la Nouvelle-Écosse; Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Albann Nuaidh; Mi'kmawi'simk: Amolo'pekien Stoqna'muk weji No’pa Sko’sia) is a green political party in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It received official party status in the province in April 2006.[2] The party has not won any seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

As of November 2015, it emphasized that "the Green Party embraces the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act (Nova Scotia)[3] and the Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index (GPI)..."[4]. The GPNS executive is organized regionally.

Leadership[edit]

Nick Wright of Halifax, Nova Scotia won its first contested leadership nomination race over Green Party of Canada candidate and organizer Sheila Richardson of Wolfville, Nova Scotia.[5]

In May 2007, Wright was replaced by Ken McGowan, but resigned in protest together with both his deputies in a constitutional struggle over unelected rival Ellen Durkee's presence on the executive – to be replaced by Durkee as interim leader.

Ryan Watson was elected Leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia on June 29, 2008. Watson, from Halifax, was unopposed and contested the 2009 Nova Scotia general election. The party failed to file financial paperwork with Elections Nova Scotia by the April deadline, but when Watson resigned he denied this was the reason.[6]

On October 31, 2009, John Percy was announced as the new leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia following a leadership contest against Sebastian Ronin. Dawna Toews was Percy's running mate and thus became Deputy Leader of the party. However, Toews moved to Ontario in early 2010 and thus resigned her position. Kris MacLellan was chosen as Deputy Leader by Executive Committee vote in October 2011, prior to the AGM. Percy made a point of emphasizing politicians of other political stripes he admired including Joe Clark, Ed Broadbent, Stephen Lewis and Peter Stoffer.

After the 2013 Nova Scotia general election (in which it fielded only 16 candidates in 51 districts), the party was largely dormant and invisible in NS politics. Leader John Percy was also Veterans Affairs Critic in the Green Party of Canada Shadow Cabinet,[7] and this was an active file during the Stephen Harper administration until its demise in the 2015 Canadian federal election. Percy resigned in 2015 and was replaced by interim leader Brynn Nheiley.

The party was to hold a leadership convention on February 6, 2016; however no one came forward to run for leader.[8][9]

After this experience of near-collapse, Thomas Trappenberg was elected leader in November 2016. He and Deputy Leader Jessica Alexander led the party in the 2017 election, when the party ran 32 candidates and received 2.78 percent of the vote. This was the highest total ever achieved by the party, both in terms of total votes and percentage, though the party did not win any seats. Trappenburg resigned in April 2021 and was replaced by Jessica Alexander as interim leader. A leadership convention was then held in October 2021, resulting in Anthony Edmonds elected as Leader. The party did not win any seats in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election

Conventions[edit]

Founding convention[edit]

The party's first convention was held on March 4–5, 2006.[10][11]

At the convention, the party unanimously approved its constitution which divided powers in a way fairly conventional among Green parties: an executive controlled regional relations, regions retained control of their local policies and candidacies, and a policy committee took control of the overall platform and positions taken even during an election. The leader's role was to act as spokesperson and organize his or her most trusted critics as a Shadow Cabinet or (once elected) a Caucus. Leaders and deputies would run together on a "ticket" for continuity and to assess leader judgement of persons before they are elected to the critical role.

Members also voted to support the six principles of the Global Green Charter, elected an executive and chose a party logo.

Leaders[edit]

Election results 2006-2021[edit]

Election Leader Candidates Votes % Seats Place Parliamentary position
2006 Nick Wright
52 / 52
 9,411 2.33%
0 / 52
 Steady 4th Extra-parliamentary
2009 Ryan Watson
52 / 52
 9,636 2.34%
0 / 52
 Steady 4th Extra-parliamentary
2013 John Percy
16 / 51
 3,698 0.89%
0 / 51
 Steady 4th Extra-parliamentary
2017 Thomas Trappenberg
32 / 51
 11,073 2.78%
0 / 51
 Steady 4th Extra-parliamentary
2021 Jessica Alexander
43 / 55
 9,042 2.14%
0 / 55
 Steady 4th Extra-parliamentary

Election campaigns[edit]

In its first provincial election in 2006, less than three months after the founding convention, the party had a full slate of candidates[22] but won only 2.33% of the popular vote (9,411 votes).

The party did not win any seats in the 2021 provincial election.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Grant, Taryn. "Anthony Edmonds elected leader of N.S. Green Party". CBC News. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. ^ [1] New kid on the block at the Wayback Machine (archived September 27, 2007)
  3. ^ "Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity (EGSPA) | EGSPA | Nova Scotia Environment". Novascotia.ca. April 1, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  4. ^ "The GPI ~ GPI Atlantic". Gpiatlantic.org. October 20, 1962. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "CBC: Greens choose student as leader". March 6, 2006. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007.
  6. ^ "Watson quitting as leader of Greens". Retrieved July 28, 2009.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Leadership « Green Party of Nova Scotia". Greenparty.ns.ca. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  8. ^ "February will bring Your Opportunity for New Green Party NS Leadership « Green Party of Nova Scotia". Greenparty.ns.ca. September 26, 2015. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  9. ^ "Farewell: An Era Passes". Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  10. ^ "Greens hold first convention; The Chronicle Herald". Herald.ns.ca. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  11. ^ "Greens to redefine party in N.S." February 15, 2006. Archived from the original on March 14, 2007.
  12. ^ Alders, Chris (June 30, 2008). "Ryan Watson Takes The Helm As Leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia". Green Party of Nova Scotia. Green Party of Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  13. ^ "Green Leader Ryan Watson to resign". Bedford Beacon. July 20, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  14. ^ Boutilier, Alex (November 10, 2009). "Leader of retooled Greens sets ambitious goals for party". Metro Halifax. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  15. ^ "Green Leader: Ryan Watson". CBC News. May 5, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  16. ^ "Élections Nouvelle-Écosse 2009". radio-canada.ca. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "Businessman John Percy chosen new Green Party leader in Nova Scotia". Truro Daily News. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "The battle for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour and what's at stake for the NDP | CBC News".
  19. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Dartmouth—Cole Harbour (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  20. ^ Groff, Meghan. "Trappenberg named new NS Green Party leader". news957.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  21. ^ Grear, Krista (April 30, 2021). "Thomas Trappenberg Stepping Down as Leader of NS Green Party". greenpartyns.ca. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  22. ^ "Grits one candidate short of full slate". May 29, 2006. Archived from the original on June 22, 2006.

External links[edit]

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