WE Charity Controversy: a reminder of the importance of Green values and principles

WE Charity Controversy: a reminder of the importance of Green values and principles

I joined the Green Party because of its commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethics. Our commitment to evidence-based decision-making, participatory democracy, cooperation, and positive politics are hugely important. These values bind Greens together, in our leadership race, across Canada, and around the world.

These values are especially important as the Ethics Commissioner launches another conflict of interest investigation in Ottawa. We will learn later this year whether the Prime Minister has broken the law by participating in a decision that essentially awarded a sole source $43.53 million contract to the We charity. Both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister apologized this week for participating in that decision. 

Sadly, due to this scandal, students willing to volunteer for good causes during the pandemic are now facing huge delays in receiving support promised by the government.

And all of this is a reminder that it’s very important for the Green Party and for our leadership campaign to stay true to our core values. Let’s continue to “Walk the Talk” every day. I am deeply committed to returning power to the Green Party grassroots, to evidence-based decision-making, and to ensuring that ethics and integrity guide us.

Canadians are looking for leaders who lead by example. We are looking for a party of integrity. Thank you to everyone on our campaign who is leading by example and modelling integrity. If all the leadership candidates put Green values first, we will all move forward together as a united party at the end of our leadership race.

NOMINATIONS

The Green Party requires all candidates to gather 150 signatures before September 1st. Here’s how you can support my campaign, in less than 5 minutes:

  1. Click the “Nominate” button below;
  2. Name of contestant: select “David Merner”;
  3. Consent to the candidacy: check the box;
  4. Fill out the rest of the form and submit;
  5. Check your email after submitting, since you should receive a confirmation email; and
  6. Reply to the email to confirm your nomination.

NOTE: if you have Gmail, the Green Party confirmation email may not go into your main inbox. Please check your “promotions” tab to ensure you don’t miss the email. Your reply email to the Green Party can be as simple as follows:

Hello,

I would like to confirm my intent to be a nominator of:

David Merner

Thank you,

(Insert your name)

NOMINATE

DONATIONS WELCOME

As I listen to Greens from coast to coast to coast, it is clear that people see the need for deep change as we face a global climate emergency, social and economic injustice, and a pandemic. We are looking for strong leadership to ensure a just and sustainable future. We want an effective Green Party that will ensure the concerns of Canadians are heard and our government takes action before it’s too late. 

I’m running for the Leadership of our Party because I believe my professional experience in achieving deep change is directly relevant to the challenge ahead. With my experience in dispute resolution, I can unite our Party, starting with the nine wonderful candidates now running for the Leadership. As I work to reach out across Canada, I sincerely appreciate your financial support to continue my campaign. Anything you can donate will help. Together we will make a difference to the Green Party, our country, and our planet.

DONATE

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Blair Robertson  graduated from McMaster University this year with an undergraduate degree in commerce, specializing in accounting and minoring in political science. He played varsity football in his first two years at Mac before leaving the team and becoming fully engaged with the Green Party. Last summer, he joined the campaign in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke as part of a youth program that brought 25 Young Greens together from across Canada. Now, he’s our National Zoom Tour Organizer and Financial Agent on our leadership campaign. 

“I was a part of the ‘Paint the Island Green’ internship with David on Vancouver Island. It was my first experience in an actual campaign, and I was able to see first hand how driven, focused, and intelligent David is as a candidate. It was a clear choice for me when it came to deciding who I wanted to help become the next Leader of the GPC.”

JOIN OUR TEAM

Join the movement to elect a true grassroots Leader of the Green Party of Canada. Someone who will unite the Green Party and empower Members to elect a strong Green caucus to Parliament! 

As we expand David’s campaign across the country, we need volunteers to help with everything from media and communications, to outreach, fundraising, event planning and research. Training and guidance will be provided. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in a winning leadership campaign and to learn how to campaign at the national level. 

To volunteer for David’s campaign please email us at:  vote.merner@greenparty.ca

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK

 

Speaker Series: ‘Ionizing Radiation in our Healthcare System’

July 25th – 1:00pm Eastern Time

Click here

North Townhall Leadership Debate

July 27 – 7:00-8:30pm Central Time

Click here to register

Dufferin-Caledon, Ontario

July 28 – 7:00pm Eastern Time

Click here

BC Townhall Leadership Debate

July 28 – 7:00-8:30pm Pacific Time

Click here to register

Barrie & Surrounding Area, Ontario

July 29 – 7:00pm Eastern Time

Click here

Ontario Townhall Leadership Debate

July 30 – 7:00-8:30pm Eastern Time

Click here to register

Also, join me on Zoom every Saturday at 11:00 AM Pacific / 2:00 PM Eastern for our weekly chat. All event details are at www.davidmerner.com  – click on “Events”.

HOW TO HELP 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow our campaign on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with events, Green Party policy, and campaign updates! 

Thank you again for your support. We all have until the September 3 “cut off date” to encourage our family members, friends, and neighbours to join the Green Party of Canada! 

Sincerely,

David 

David Merner