G21-B012 Strengthen GPC Bilingualism Requirements | VGM-2 Amended Version

Submitter Name

Jean-Charles Pelland

Ratification Vote Results: Adopted

Proposal

This is the amended proposal adopted by GPC membership at the VGM-2.

Bylaw X Bilingualism

X.1 The Party shall endeavour to represent Canada’s diversity in its governance, strategic decision-making, operations and deployment of human and financial resources.

X.2 Official written Party communications with all members, the media and the general public shall be of the same standard in both official languages. 

X.3 The Party shall provide Provincial and Territorial Organizations, Regional Associations and EDAs with the ability to reach their respective members according to their language of choice.

X.4 Services and support for members, EDAs, Regional Associations and Provincial/Territorial Organizations shall be offered by the Central Office in both official languages.

X.5 The working languages of the Party are English and French, and the Party shall endeavour to reflect Canada’s two official linguistic communities in its hiring of personnel.
 

Objective

Ensure that the Party is bilingual in its operations, communications, services and support to members and EDAs.
 

Benefit

Improve the reputation and credibility of the Green Party of Canada (GPC) among Francophone members of the population. Boost visibility of the GPC in the Francophone media. Increase the number of Francophone supporters, members and volunteers. Increase donations made to the GPC by Francophones. Increase the number of votes from Francophones. 
 

Supporting Comments from Submitter

As a bilingual country and political party (Article 4.1.7 of the GPC Constitution) and given that approximately 30% of Canadians are Francophone, we must demonstrate our commitment to bilingualism. The absence of this kind of commitment, undermines the reputation and credibility of the GPC, the visibility of the GPC in the Francophone media, the recruitment of supporters, members and volunteers, fundraising, and the percentage of votes obtained during the elections.
 

Green Value(s)

Social Justice, Respect for Diversity.

Relation to Existing Policies

Add to current GPC policy.