Abstract:
The Green Party of Canada, as a vital aspect of the Canadian
green movement, and its connection to international green
organizations can be examined primarily through the examp l es of
both the Canadian Greens and the Green party of Ontario , by using
original party documents and literature, information gained through
Green party meetings and discussions with members, and commentary
by Green theorists where app licable. As well, the influence on the
Canadian green movement by the German Green Party is out lined ,
again mainly through party literature, documents and critiques of
the party's experiences.
This study reveals several existing and potential problems fo r
t he Green Party in Canada, and the political fut ure of the Canadian
green movement in general. Some, such as the real i ties of the
Canadian political system are external to the movement, and may be
overcome with adjustments in goals and methods, and a realization
of the changing attitude towards environmental issues in a
political context . On the other hand, internal party disfunctions
in both organization and direction, caused mainly by the indefinite
parameters of green ideology, threaten to expl oi t t he al ready
problematic aspects evident in t he Green Party .
Aside from its somewhat slow beginnings, the Green Party in
Canada has developed into a strong grassroots social movement, not
however from its political visibility but from the steady growth in
the popul ari ty of ecological pol i t ics in Canada . Due to the
seeming enormity of the obstacles facing the Greens in their effort
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to achieve electoral success, it is doubtful that Parliamentary
representation will be achieved without a major re-orientation of
party organization and methods. UI timately the strength of the
Green Party in Canada will be based upon its ability to survive as
a significant movement, and its willingness to continue to
challenge political thought and practice.
