WR Greens Meeting Notes 2017-10-05

Waterloo Region Greens Meeting

Held

Thursday, 5 October 2017

Present

Matt Piggott, Betsy Daub, Teresa Cornwell, Sam Nabi, Marie Bridel, David Weber, Stacey Danckert, Cathe Campbell, Laurel Russwurm, Bob Jonkman.

• Sam and Julia volunteer to be the Volunteer Co-ordinators during the 2018 Ontario Provincial election campaign
  • Finding debate partners to accompany candidates
  • Door knockers
  • Phone callers

• How much time is needed to call an Annual General Meeting for a Constituents Association?
  • Need to appoint a Returning Officer at the AGM before holding Nomination Meeting
  • Amy Watson from GPO can help; will be CFO for candidate nominees who have no expenses

• Waterloo and Kitchener Centre are having their Nomination Meetings
  • When: Sunday, 22 October 2017 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
  • Where: Central Branch, Kitchener Public Library
  • Location: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
  • Both Waterloo and Kitchener Centre already have candidate nominees

• Kitchener South--Hespeler has new volunteers on their executive
  • KSH is planning an AGM
    • Bang Bui on EDA
    • Ryan Eagleson on CA

• Did You Know: There is no residency requirement to be a member of an Electoral District Association (Federal) or Constituency Association (Provincial)?

• BC Greens hold the "Balance of Responsibilities" (not "Balance of Power")
  • The BC Referendum on Electoral Reform has a good question
    • Referendum will allow mail-in responses -- good for serious thought on the question, and improved response
    • Referendum will pass with a regular majority (50% + 1), unlike the BC 2005 referendum requiring a super-majority (60% overall, with simple majority in 60% of districts)

• We have high hopes for Guelph:
  • If Mike Schreiner (GPO Leader) is elected in Guelph, it bodes well for neighbouring ridings in Waterloo Region
  • Long-term plans...
    • Even if WR elects no Green Party candidates this election, we will do well next (2022) election if Guelph does well

• Game plan for 2018 Ontario Provincial election:
  • Election day is Thursday, 7 June 2018.
  • Guelph Greens are already knocking on doors; raising issues, not electioneering.
    • Water taking permits.
    • Ontario Hydro: Nuclear review -- Greens advocate no nuclear power, use Quebec hydro generated electricity until Ontario builds its own renewable energy sources.
  • Issues we can address in Waterloo Region:
    • "Toll roads pay for transit" -- makes tolls more palatable when it's realized it will improve communter transit.
    • Housing strategy: WR is planning only 300 low-cost housing places over the next 5 years?
    • Phase 2 LRT: When does Cambridge get their transit? Provincial portion of funding.
    • GO Transit to Cambridge? Has been an election promise from other parties for over 15 years.
    • Highway 7 extension: Has been an election promise from other parties for over 15 years; better to use existing route and improve transit.
    • High Speed Rail: Another election promise from other parties.
  • What actions can WR Greens take before the election?
    • Door knocking!
    • Events
    • Nomination meetings
    • Phone Call parties
      • Kitchener Centre called members, supporters, friends from GVote (Green Party of Canada) for Green Party of Ontario introductions.
  • Cambridge needs a campaign team!
  • People may start to come forward as the election date nears. What can they do?
    • Phone call party!
    • Issue-based calling party
      • People will need training and education on issues
      • Scripts for making cold calls is needed
    • Education parties: History of the Greens; Green Values
    • Round Table Discussion
    • Film screening, eg. Whipped by Sean Holman
      https://vimeo.com/64337555
      
      • January or February at Kitchener Public Library?
  • But have a separate event for volunteer training
  • Use movie event for Nomination Meeting?

• How to get @gpo.ca e-mail addresses for CA exec and candidates?
  • Ask Amy Watson or Andrew Roblin (GPO office)

• Green Party of Ontario AGM (Jan or Feb 2018)
  • Not really an AGM, since there won't be Provincial Executive elections
    • There will be a real AGM after the June 2018 election for Provincial Executive elections
  • Learning and Building opportunities
  • Media training and skills building
  • A little bit of policy development
    • but not a full policy session
  • GPO has not yet published their policy book
  • There will be a long platform document

• Logistics for the Waterloo Greens 2018 Provincial Election Campaign
  • Office? Money? Staff? Volunteers? Space available?
  • Donation rules? Rebates? Discounts?
    • Teresa Cornwell (CFO for Mike Schreiner and Kitchener Centre) will check on this