Greetings
A New Year is always a time for reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the future. This is as true for organizations as it is for individuals. This issue of the SGI Newsletter features an update from Elizabeth, links to lots of gardening events, a hopeful book from CBC’s Bob McDonald and a report from your Executive.
Click here for a printer-ready PDF version of this newsletter.
Notes from Elizabeth
My first thoughts are to thank all of our local Green members who took the time to come out to one of eight wonderful Community Meetings. Between Sunday, January 8th, and the 15th, we had meetings on each of the Gulf Islands and three locations on the Peninsula. I am fortified and inspired by the insightful comments, questions, and suggestions. And I have new issues to add to my endless to-do list!
This weekend finds me traveling to the Maritimes for the first time since summer 2019. My partner (future co-leader, I hope!) and current Deputy Leader Jonathan Pedneault has been in Newfoundland and Labrador since last weekend. He has clearly fallen in love with the island.
This is a clip from his Instagram:
“Difficult not to smile when visiting St. John’s, Newfoundland. The place is as pretty as it gets and its people are at once hard-working, tough, and incredibly generous. Now… don’t even get me started on the Fish and Chips at the Ship Inn and the Duke of Duckworth.
“Meeting students, Green members, and media here, it became clear to me that the Green Party’s got lots to learn from Newfoundland and Labrador, and that we have much to offer in return.
“Honest, direct, prudent and salt of the earth: that’s how I’d describe Newfoundlanders.”
And based on reactions to JP’s media interviews, I think that love is mutual!
We will both arrive in Halifax on Sunday night. It will take JP longer to get there from St. John’s than it will take me from BC! I will fly. JP is on a bus from St.John’s to Port aux Basques, then ferry to North Sydney and bus to Halifax. Then we tour Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick together, before getting on the train late Friday from New Brunswick to Montreal.
I am so looking forward to seeing old friends and encouraging Atlantic Canadian Greens to plan to elect Green MPs. We know we can because we already have. Our Green seat in NB was an historic breakthrough. We can do it again.
Meanwhile, I am hoping to get more public support to force the Liberal government to repair their amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (S-5). I will be speaking at Dalhousie Law School (my alma mater) and at Fredericton’s St. Thomas University. Hoping for an increase in letters to the committee members.
I am in the midst of a clause-by-clause review as Parliament resumes on January 30th. I am hoping I can persuade Liberal and NDP MPs to support amendments to stop S-5 from messing up the system that has worked since 1988 – a list of toxic substances as the basis for regulation. Some of those “toxic” substances are not “toxic” in the sense of poisonous, but defined as damaging to the environment or human health within CEPA. The plastics industry has lobbied hard for this change and the Liberals caved. Details here in last week’s Good Sunday Morning.
I will be home the week of February 20th- Family Day. Please plan ahead to join the march and rally for old growth at the Leg in Victoria on February 25th.
Lots of love and thanks for your continued support!!
Elizabeth
Saanich-Gulf Islands EDA report
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
If it hadn’t been Charles Dickens who penned this, you would think the quote was about 2022. That was indeed a difficult year of hopes and dashed hopes for both people and organizations.
For the Green Party of Canada, it was working to bring itself back to full operating capacity after challenging times. A drop in memberships and donations had created a situation where the Party was experiencing financial restrictions.
Elizabeth May had just been elected as leader and approached the SGI EDA Executive with a request to help out the Party financially, so that it could shift from a state of “surviving” to “thriving.” The SGI Executive had two long and frank discussions with Elizabeth and the new Executive Director, Kevin Dunbar. There were many questions and concerns expressed on behalf of SGI members, and the EDA Executive was fully informed of the need to get Party fundraisers and communications people working, as well as pay off debts.
Fortunately, also in December, Elections Canada provided a refund of 2021 campaign funds in the amount of almost $83,000. This made it possible for SGI to give the Party a significant boost with a transfer of $80,000, with no repayment expected.
The SGI EDA is in a healthy financial position. All of the donations that SGI has received in 2022 are staying in the EDA’s bank account, and were not used in this transfer to the Party.
As a result of the open communications from GPC leadership and the fact that the financial health of the SGI EDA was quite sound, this transfer was made to the GPC.
A challenging decision was made by the Executive board, with thorough consideration of different views and concerns. In the end, that determination was unanimous.
A major concern of this EDA is that there always be a healthy bank balance to conduct an election campaign, as that is the primary purpose of this organization. That is assured, as the EDA could conduct a campaign at any time, considering that we have the financial resources and volunteers available to do that.
The Saanich-Gulf Islands EDA is fortunate to not only exist in one of the best parts of this country but also to be in a more advantageous financial position than most EDAs of the GPC. We want the Party to be as fully effective as possible, here and in EDAs across the country. If the Green Party of Canada is financially weak and merely surviving, every EDA is endangered as well.
This EDA is proud to be the home of the first Green MP and our present party leader. We know that our environmental future is uncertain, that economic disparity is increasing and that social justice issues abound. It is important that there be a strong political party to work on behalf of those who desire critical issues to be addressed.
There are no guarantees in life or politics, but a strong and capable Green Party of Canada offers not just hope, but policies to help all Canadians toward a better future.
With respect and gratitude to the members and supporters of the Saanich-Gulf Islands EDA.
Your Executive Committee
Saanich-Gulf Islands Electoral District Association
Green Party of Canada
Please address any comments about this or any other issue in an email to: info@sgigreenparty.ca
Minutes of the SGI Executive Board are available at: https://sgi.edagreens.ca/executive-committee-meeting-minutes/
BC Greens News and Events
The BC Greens are hosting a Day of Action on Saturday, January 28th. This province-wide event will be used by riding associations to connect with people in their communities and to promote their upcoming virtual Healthcare Townhall on February 1st. The townhall will feature Adam Olsen, Leader Sonia Furstenau, Deputy Leader Dr. Lisa Gunderson and an expert panel of healthcare practitioners. It’s definitely an event to note in your calendar!
If you would like to connect with your local BC Greens team, you can find contact details for your Riding Association here. If you are not sure which riding you live in, you can check that here.
BC Greens events listings can be found here.
Would you like to learn more about the BC Greens policy development through a series of online conversations that will explore the prospect of hope that a “New Politics” will bring? You can find out more here.
You can follow breaking news from the BC Greens by viewing their Twitter posts on their website. Scroll down to the bottom right hand side of that page to see them.
Gardening Events and Information
It’s the time of year when those of us who plant food and flower gardens look excitedly through our seed supplies and dream, and then we look at the seed catalogues! Gary and Nancy are taking a well-deserved break. In place of their article, we are offering a variety of gardening related events.
Seedy Saturdays: Here is the link to find upcoming Seedy Saturdays. Please note that the Saanich Seedy Saturday took place January 14th. Supported by Seeds of Diversity, Seedy Saturdays all but disappeared during the pandemic and are now back!
The Victoria Horticultural Society is hosting Nancy Turner on Tuesday, February 7th at 7:00 pm via Zoom to talk about “Wild Cultivation, Traditional Plant Management Systems of Northwestern North America.”
Emeritus Professor, Nancy Turner is an ethnobotanist whose research integrates the fields of botany and ecology with anthropology, geography and linguistics, among others. She is interested in the traditional knowledge systems and traditional land and resource management systems of Indigenous Peoples, particularly in Western Canada.
Normally, this seminar would only be available to VHS members, but they have generously offered our readers a drop-in fee of $5. Please e-transfer this fee to membership@vichortsociety.org by Feb. 6, 2023. If you decide to join the Victoria Horticultural Society that evening or the next day, this fee will be applied to your $30 VHS membership fee. Check out the benefits of membership at their website.
When you send the e-transfer, be sure to include your Zoom name if it is different from your name, your email address (so they can send you the link) and phone number.
They will send you the link on the day of the meeting, Feb. 7, 2023, and they ask that you do not join the meeting before 7:45 PM. If you have trouble accessing this zoom link please text/call 250-360-1400.
UVic Continuing Studies is offering a single-session course called Gardening with Native Plants. Gardening with our local native plants gives you a water-saving, low-maintenance garden that brings colour all season long without the use of pesticides or fertilizer. Learn how to make your garden a haven for pollinators and soil dwellers no matter what your garden conditions. It’s not until May 3, but registration is open now and this will fill up quickly!
Saanich Native Plant Salvage Program: Concerned about the loss of biodiversity when land is developed in Saanich? Join the Native Plant Salvage Program. The program works to restore natural systems/habitats, encourage naturescaping, and increase community cooperation. The District will provide training and education about native plants and access to areas where property owners have consented to plant salvage.
More on Native Plants! If you would like to see native plant gardens in the area and get a sense of what might work in your own garden, the Native Plant Study Guide provides an excellent list.
Of Green Interest
From CBC’s Quirks and Quarks Bob McDonald
Many of you are, like us, already fans of Quirks and Quarks. Now Bob McDonald has a new book, The Future Is Now: Solving the Climate Crisis with Today’s Technologies. It is hopeful and practical – just what we need right now! Here’s a Tyee interview with Bob in which he outlines the basics of what we can do with what we already know and have.
Regional information
Unceded Lekwungern Territories/ Victoria – 168 organizations across British Columbia have issued a declaration called United We Stand for Old-Growth Forests, calling on Premier David Eby and his government to fulfill their commitments on old-growth.
In support of Old Growth, Elders for Ancient Trees, Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth & Wilderness Committee are planning a march and rally on Sunday, February 25th from 12 noon – 3:30 pm. Details are here.
Saanich
People, Pets and Parks Strategy Public Open House will be a chance to connect in person with members of the team and others from the community to review data, discuss park use and identify diverse needs to include in the strategy. The issue of dogs in public spaces is a contentious one and this is a chance to be a part of the solution.
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Cedar Hill Park Golf Clubhouse (1400 Derby Road)
3 to 7 p.m. (Drop-in anytime)
Door prize draw for those who attend
Light refreshments will be served
Children’s Craft table
Sorry – no pets or dogs allowed in this facility
Southern Gulf Islands
Salt Spring Island Seedy Saturday!
Saturday, February 25, 2023, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Salt Spring Farmers’ Institute, 351 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island, BC
This year is Salt Spring’s 28th annual Seedy Saturday event! We will be hosting seed and plant sales, food vendors, presentations, workshops, and a seed swap table. Join us to reconnect, stock up, and get inspired to grow in this new year.
Admission is by donation.
Contact: ssiseedysaturday@gmail.com
For further information, see their Facebook page.
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