The month of Ramadan, in Canada, has come to include many efforts by members of Muslim communities to reach out to others by sharing Iftar (break-fast) and Eid (end of Ramadan) celebrations.  As Ramadan concludes this year, we applaud these activities for bringing us all closer together.

Rosh Hashana, the beginning of each lunar year in the Jewish community, is a time for individual reflection and for sharing good wishes.  The Green Party of Canada applauds the tradition of reflecting on one's past and future deeds, and would like to offer our wishes for L'Shana Tova, a good year.

OTTAWA - The Green Party of Canada is calling on the federal government to respect the recommendations made by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Panel (CEAA) to not accept plans for the development of an open-pit gold-copper mine 125 km southwest of Williams Lake, B.C.

 “This proposed project will result in the generation of tailings which will have a negative impact on fish habitat, navigation, and land use for traditional purposes by First Nations and will infringe on Aboriginal rights and title which are protected in the Canadian Constitution,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada

 “If the panel has concluded that the mine will have cumulative, high and irreversible impacts on people and endangered species, like grizzly bears, I don’t see how the government can ignore their recommendations,” said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs Critic for the Green Party of Canada.

 “This panel has acknowledged the cost of this mine will result in the loss of Teztan Biny (Fish Lake).  In this time of climate change, water is becoming increasingly scarce.  This is no time to sacrifice lakes for gold.  You can’t drink gold when you’re thirsty,” said Rekmans.

In the 20 years that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act has been in force, only two projects were deemed to have “significant adverse environmental effects.”

“The Green Party is calling on this government to respect the gravity of this development and not approve this mine,” said May.

“What concerns me and others is that this government has power under section 37(1) of CEAA to override an independent review panel's findings.  Our hope is that they will listen to reason and not approve the project for the sake of future generations,” said Rekmans.

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Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
C: 613.240.8921
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca

With the possibility of a fall election, the Green Party of Canada commissioned an independent poll by British Columbia-based McAllister Opinion Research in Leader Elizabeth May’s BC riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands.  On the heels of national opinion polls showing the Greens gaining ground and polling very high provincially in BC, this poll shows a tight two way race in this key riding.

“It has been a year since Elizabeth May announced she was running in Saanich-Gulf Islands.  The welcome has been warm, and supporters have been enthusiastic.  We expect to continue rising in the polls as more people have the chance to meet Elizabeth and realize she is the best MP they could have,” said Jonathan Dickie, May’s Campaign Manager.

“We have the momentum.  Support for Elizabeth is increasing and the race with the incumbent is essentially neck and neck,” said Dickie.

The poll shows May with 32% support from decided voters, only slightly behind Lunn with 34% of the vote, and within the margin of error of 4.8%, The NDP and Liberal candidates trail with only 17% of the vote, neither in striking distance of second place.

“I’m gratified by the support that Saanich-Gulf Island supporters have shown me in the past year,” said May.  “Electing the Green Party Leader as MP will send a strong message to Ottawa that the citizens here are ready for a different sort of political leader, one who puts the health of the community above all else, one who will work for the renewal of democracy, one who will have a powerful influence on environmental policy in this country, one who realizes Canada needs to be a leader in the green economy.  The citizens of Saanich-Gulf Islands are ready to make history.”

In the next federal election, Canadians will have the opportunity to repeat what just happened in the United Kingdom and in Australia this year: sending Greens to Parliament.

Contact :
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
media@greenparty.ca
c: 613.240.8921

OTTAWA -- “The Green Party of Canada is prepared to work with First Nations citizens and their representative organizations and leaders in consultation and negotiation to build a new relationship between Canada and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.
May welcomed the remarks from Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Shawn Atleo in his address to the AFN General Assembly.  “National Chief Atleo is calling for a nationally facilitated, regionally driven and community mandated approach to move forward into a better future for Canadians and the original peoples,” said May.

“This is something the Green Party is willing to support,” said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs Critic for the Green Party of Canada.  “The National Chief has outlined a plan that calls on the full support of the Canadian Government.  It is inclusive of First Nations citizens directly and it will lead us to much needed change constitutionally and institutionally,” said Rekmans.

“We can all agree that the Indian Act is an outdated instrument of oppression, control, paternalism and is long past its due date.  The imposition of a colonial regime on First Nations has had drastic results including poverty and rampant suicide.  It is a shameful instrument and we must eliminate it without delay,” said Rekmans.

 Atleo, has outlined a number of elements to an AFN plan that calls for building a new relationship between the Crown and First Nations including an effort to organize intergovernmental participation at the Council of the Federation.  He has called for a fully community-based engagement and decision making process to include grass-roots participation.

“Atelo’s plan is bold and courageous and is a much needed initiative to move Canada into the future.  The Indian Act should be an embarrassment to all Canadians.  It is a colonial dinosaur from the past and we need to put it behind us as soon as possible,” said Rekmans.

Contact information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
media@greenparty.ca
c: 613.240.8921