And Good Sunday Morning! It is a very good morning for me! Yesterday was great fun at the Pender Fall Fair. Thanks to the excellent Pender Highlanders pipe band and the whole wonderful Pender community of volunteers who organize an annual highlight. Today is the first day of six days off. I am hiding out in Saanich – Gulf Islands, but not anywhere near WiFi or cell service. IF I tried to find internet, John would kill me. (well not really. He may have worked as a cowboy, but he is quick to denounce the Hollywood “shoot-em-up” portrayal of the people who move herds of herbivores around for a living. Besides he is a Buddhist! I could rephrase and say he would be none too happy with me!) John and I are with my daughter, her partner and baby Lily – and of course our wonderful little dog Xo! I am so blessed.
This week has been another very hard one for those who took my advice last week in refusing to look away from Gaza. As Netanyahu expands illegal action in trying to take over Gaza City, the people of Israel are increasingly rising in protest. When I listen to the news, I often wonder if Canadians can imagine the horrors of occupation. The tour we took as MPs in the Canada Palestinian Parliamentary Friendship Group in spring 2018 made me far more aware of the scale and scope of the land theft and forced relocation of Palestinians living on land that was accepted as their own. The term ‘settlements’ does not bring to mind the reality of the state-run giant infrastructure project, building enormous gated communities for thousands, verdant with irrigation from stolen Palestinian groundwater, with fast and segregated highways for Israeli license-plated cars and walls through ancient Palestinian communities like Bethlehem and Hebron. Next to the fortress-like ‘settlements’ with military security are the refugee camps in place since occupation began. As we traveled it was pointed out to me how you could spot buildings where Palestinians live. There were rain barrels on their roofs. None were on Israeli roofs. But what really stuck with me was how I felt personally intimidated by the so-called ‘settlers’. They are not what I thought they would be. The men walk with weapons slung across their shoulders, openly carrying guns on their belts, confident and menacing. No Palestinians are allowed to own guns. Even Israeli soldiers cannot discipline or control the ‘settlers’. They spit on clerics and commit routine acts of assault. They are thugs and above the law. This was what our parliamentary delegation saw in 2018. It is so much worse now. The ‘settlers’ are paid by the Netanyahu government to occupy lands that do not belong to Israel. Leader of the Green Party of Israel Stav Shaffir has led rallies against occupation from the vantage point of Israeli youth whose costs of housing and education are through the roof, while public funds go to subsidize those willing to live on stolen lands and entrench theft through illegal occupation. These ‘settlers’ harass and bully those in other religions who go to Jerusalem – the Holy City of the three theist religions. I was shocked by how they attacked Christians in Jerusalem, ripped up the olive groves owned by nuns. Meanwhile Muslims cannot visit holy sites without having to go through checkpoints with armed guards in areas that are not within the legal boundaries of Israel. That is why I feel Canada will be called on to do more to help the Israeli police, and potential future peace-keepers, control these very dangerous extremists.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/christians-jerusalem-face-restrictions-violence-amid-holy-celebrations
Among the growing horrors this week was new action by US President Trump in sanctioning international jurists, judges on the International Criminal Court, including one Canadian. This brief note is from Amnesty International:
“The latest shameful US sanctions against 2 ICC judges and two prosecutors over the Court’s efforts to investigate & prosecute Israeli nationals, including Netanyahu & Gallant for crimes under international law in Palestine, further escalate Trump administration’s direct attacks on international justice.”
The Canadian judge sanctioned by Trump is Kimberly Prost, a University of Manitoba graduate. Mme Justice Prost worked for twenty years with the federal Department of Justice before moving to international work.
The Globe and Mail story follows:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-canadian-icc-judge-trump-sanctions/
While Minister of Global Affairs Anita Anand has not made a public statement, it is widely reported she spoke directly to Marco Rubio to protest the sanctions. Judge Prost could be barred from travel to the US. And any assets she may have there could be seized. Neither the United States nor Israel ever adopted the treaty that created the International Criminal Court. Back in the early 2000s, the Bush White House actually complained to Ottawa that Canada’s lead negotiator, stellar diplomat Paul Heinbecker, should be fired as he worked on behalf of Canada to create the ICC. Former prime minister Jean Chretien kept Heinbecker in place. The Trump White House objects to the court finding that the actions of US troops in Afghanistan can be investigated. Trump’s contempt for the rule of law is on full display.
Meanwhile this week my letter to Green Party members was in the news. I did not think it would make a big splash to say that I plan to step down as leader as soon as we could hold a leadership race and elect a new leader, or co-leaders. This is a bit from the letter.
“Since last November’s council elections I have been so grateful, on a daily basis, for the team of people on federal council as well as on the board of the party’s chief agent, the Green Party of Canada Fund, for extraordinary levels of dedication and collaborative spirit. There will be elections soon for those positions on council where terms have expired or vacancies have occurred. Since I was elected as leader in 2006, to 2019 when I resigned, and again from 2023 when I rejoined council as leader (working to co-leadership), this is the most united your governance bodies within the party have ever been. The team is disciplined, dedicated and professional. As is our staff. Though depleted in numbers, they are tireless. I want to express my deepest thanks and share with all of you, as members, how much we all owe to each and every member of federal council, the GPC Fund board, the volunteers on Shadow Cabinet and our staff team. My deputy leader Rainbow Eyes, still facing jail time as an Indigenous land defender, gives us such constant support. All are open-hearted, hard-working and dedicated.
“Earlier this summer, I shared with federal council that I will not be leader going into the next election. I think it is important that I share this with each of you as members, just as I ask you to vote YES in the leadership review.
“Succession planning in any political party is tricky, but as Greens we are determined to learn from past mistakes and make the transition to new leadership a positive experience that builds the party. I will step down once the new leader, or co-leaders, are elected.
“We have big plans for the fall 2025 session of Parliament. My voice as the sole Green MP is stronger in the House as leader. I intend to grow our parliamentary caucus before stepping down, just as I intend to keep a focus on the climate crisis, looming extinction of species, as well as justice and peace in conflict-ridden areas around the world.”
Since I wrote members this news, I have been answering a lot of emails about details. I thought this morning I should add some of those thoughts as background for regular Sunday readers:
In 2005, when Jim Harris announced he would step down as 8th leader of the Green Party of Canada as soon as a new leader was elected, he and Adriane Carr started trying to recruit me. They first asked in late November 2005. I was not even a party member and was executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada!
It took me until May 2006 to resign my position at Sierra Club and throw myself into running to become the party’s 9th leader. We need the same effort now to draw in new strong leadership.
But I am not going anywhere! We need to save this country and this planet together!
My reasons are not really about my personal life. And I do not see this as ‘retiring’. I am very VERY lucky to have survived a stroke in 2023 and remain in very good health, with high energy levels. I really have more than two full time jobs, seven long days a week as MP, AND seven long days a week as a volunteer for the Green Party. And somehow I manage, largely because my husband is very supportive.
Really, my reasons are that I think with the right leader we will do better in elections. In 2019 I stepped away too quickly. We did not take the time to start a vigorous leadership race with good candidates. And then COVID hit. We had a leader who was a very bad fit.
So I was persuaded to come back in the co-leadership model… Succession planning is very difficult in politics, so I hope this time we can get it right!
And now to the details!
The Federal Council of the Green Party of Canada has set the dates for a Leadership Review vote, which will open on September 15, 2025.
Leadership Reviews are a standard part of the Green Party’s democratic process. Article 2.1.5.5 of our constitution requires that a leadership review is held after each federal election. This gives party members the opportunity to vote on whether the current Leader or Co-Leaders should continue in their role.
Two bilingual national town halls will be held during the first week of September, offering members a chance to ask questions directly to Party Leader Elizabeth May.
LEADERSHIP REVIEW TIMELINE: (as set by Federal Council)
Reminder to Members
Early September
Townhall #1
September 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET
(4:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. AT)
link for members to register to attend
Townhall #2
September 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET
(7:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. AT)
link for members to register to attend
Voting Opens
September 15 at 6:00 p.m. ET
(3:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. AT)
Voting Closes
September 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET
(3:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. AT)
Results Announced
October 1
VOTING ELIGIBILITY:
To vote in the Leadership Review (and participate in the town halls) you must be a member in good standing at least 30 days before the closure of the voting period — if your membership has lapsed you must renew it by August 31st, 2025.
Renew Your Membership Now https://www.greenparty.ca/en/become-a-member
Thanks so very much for making sure you are a member and can vote. I do want the mandate – short as it will be – to remain leader until the next leadership race is over. For now, I am honoured to represent Saanich – Gulf Islands in Parliament! I hope this is not all too confusing. Please assure friends in SGI that I am not leaving the role of MP — unless I lose the next election!
Have a great week. I know I will!!
Much love and thanks,
Elizabeth