Green Party of Quebec
Encyclopedia
The Parti vert du Québec/Green Party of Quebec or PVQ is a Quebec
political party
whose platform is the promotion of green values
. It has not elected any members to the National Assembly of Quebec
. It has received between 2% and 4% of the popular vote in Quebec elections since 2007.
The party disintegrated in 1994 due to its leader, Jean Ouimet
, and many of his colleagues leaving for the Parti Québécois
. Ouimet, a strong sovereigntist
, maintained a party wholly independent of the federal Green Party
during his leadership. Members of the Green Party of Canada
formed an organization called the Green Party of Canada in Quebec, a predominantly anglophone entity that nominated federal candidates only. There was open antipathy between Ouimet and the GPCQ's leader, Rolf Bramann. (Neither was affiliated with Montreal's municipal Green Party of the time, Écologie-Montreal, led by Dmitri Roussopolis.) At the same time as the PVQ began to collapse due to Ouimet's departure, Rolf Bramann was removed from his position. This led to a precipitous decline in federal organization in the province contemporaneous with the collapse of the provincial Greens.
It lost its recognition as an official political party in 1998 when it ran no candidates in the 1998 Quebec general election
. (Quebec law at the time required parties to run at least 20 candidates to maintain their official status. The Supreme Court of Canada
ruled minimum candidate laws unconstitutional
in 2003.)
than they had expected. The founding meeting, in the basement of the Montreal Biodome
, was attended by about 20 people, and it contested the 2003 provincial election
with few candidates and almost no money.
In 2002, three leftist political parties (Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste
, Parti de la démocratie socialiste
and Parti Communiste du Québec) merged to form the Union des forces progressistes
. The PVQ pledged to try to avoid running candidates in ridings where there was a UFP candidate, although it reserved the right to run anywhere it wanted to (even ridings with a UFP candidate), and did not merge with the UFP. In May 2006, the Party pledged to stay independent after several appeals to join Québec solidaire
, the UFP's successor.
Scott McKay was elected as party leader in 2006. The party had its most successful showing ever in the 2007 Quebec general elections, placing 4th with just under 4% of the popular vote. Unlike the previous version of the party, the new version did not adopt a position on whether Quebec should become sovereign
. As a result, it was most competitive in western Montreal where there was a drop in Liberal Party support but little enthusiasm for sovereigntist
alternatives such as the Parti Québécois
. The Green Party placed second or third in the popular vote in some western Montreal ridings
.
In 2008, the PVQ held a leadership review, during which Guy Rainville
defeated Scott McKay. McKay then joined the Parti Québécois
and was elected as an MNA in the 2008 election, while the Green Party itself fell to 2% of the popular vote, fifth place among political parties and the only one of the top five parties not to win a seat in the National Assembly
.
On September 10, 2010, Rainville announced that he would not seek another 2-year term as leader. Claude Sabourin
narrowly defeated party president Paul-André Martineau for the position.
Party did not exist between 1998 and 2001.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
whose platform is the promotion of green values
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
. It has not elected any members to the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
. It has received between 2% and 4% of the popular vote in Quebec elections since 2007.
First Green Party of Quebec (1985-1998)
A first version of the Green Party of Québec was founded in the 1980s and had candidates in the 1985, 1989 and 1994 Quebec general elections. The 1989 elections results were at the time the strongest showing for any Green Party in Canada. On average, candidates collected 5.55% of votes in contested seats. Although the party had a small budget, it attempted to run a province-wide campaign with organizers from Montreal, Québec City and Sherbrooke, as well as some relatively independent local campaigns in rural ridings. Many meetings were held at Le Commensal restaurant in Montréal, a strong supporter. Attempts were made to involve the various environmental groups, but most shied away from officially supporting the PVQ in order to maintain political neutrality and protect financial interests. In the party structure of 1989, sovereignty and economical neutrality were promoted rather than left-wing policies, under the slogan of "not left or right but forward". This caused some strife within the party, as many members were more left-leaning.The party disintegrated in 1994 due to its leader, Jean Ouimet
Jean Ouimet
Jean Ouimet is a Québécois politician and the president of Naviga-Cité, a multimedia company...
, and many of his colleagues leaving for the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
. Ouimet, a strong sovereigntist
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
, maintained a party wholly independent of the federal Green Party
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
during his leadership. Members of the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
formed an organization called the Green Party of Canada in Quebec, a predominantly anglophone entity that nominated federal candidates only. There was open antipathy between Ouimet and the GPCQ's leader, Rolf Bramann. (Neither was affiliated with Montreal's municipal Green Party of the time, Écologie-Montreal, led by Dmitri Roussopolis.) At the same time as the PVQ began to collapse due to Ouimet's departure, Rolf Bramann was removed from his position. This led to a precipitous decline in federal organization in the province contemporaneous with the collapse of the provincial Greens.
It lost its recognition as an official political party in 1998 when it ran no candidates in the 1998 Quebec general election
Quebec general election, 1998
The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of...
. (Quebec law at the time required parties to run at least 20 candidates to maintain their official status. The Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
ruled minimum candidate laws unconstitutional
Figueroa v. Canada (Attorney General)
Figueroa v. Canada , [2003] 1 S.C.R. 912 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on the right to participate in a federal election under section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms...
in 2003.)
Current Green Party of Quebec (2001-present)
The second (and current) version of the PVQ was founded in 2001 by members of the Green Party of Canada in Quebec after receiving more support in Quebec in the 2000 federal electionCanadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
than they had expected. The founding meeting, in the basement of the Montreal Biodome
Montreal Biodome
The Montreal Biodome is a facility located in Montreal that allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. The building was originally constructed for the 1976 Olympic Games as a velodrome. It hosted both track cycling and judo events...
, was attended by about 20 people, and it contested the 2003 provincial election
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
with few candidates and almost no money.
In 2002, three leftist political parties (Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste
Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste
The Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste or RAP originated as the Rassemblement pour l'alternative politique, a social movement founded in 1996 as an attempt to unite the progressive and leftist forces in Quebec, Canada...
, Parti de la démocratie socialiste
Parti de la démocratie socialiste
The Parti de la Democratie Socialiste was a political party in Quebec, Canada.The early origins of the PDS can be traced back to the Fédération du Commonwealth Coopératif , later renamed Parti social démocratique du Québec...
and Parti Communiste du Québec) merged to form the Union des forces progressistes
Union des forces progressistes
The Union des forces progressistes was a left- wing political party in Quebec, Canada from 2002-2006. Four parties merged to form the UFP in 2002 out of desire to unite Quebec's political left:* the Rassemblement pour l'alternative progressiste ,...
. The PVQ pledged to try to avoid running candidates in ridings where there was a UFP candidate, although it reserved the right to run anywhere it wanted to (even ridings with a UFP candidate), and did not merge with the UFP. In May 2006, the Party pledged to stay independent after several appeals to join Québec solidaire
Québec Solidaire
Québec solidaire is a democratic socialist and sovereigntist political party in Quebec, Canada, that was created on 4 February 2006 in Montreal. It was formed by the merger of the left-wing party Union des forces progressistes and the alter-globalization political movement Option Citoyenne, led...
, the UFP's successor.
Scott McKay was elected as party leader in 2006. The party had its most successful showing ever in the 2007 Quebec general elections, placing 4th with just under 4% of the popular vote. Unlike the previous version of the party, the new version did not adopt a position on whether Quebec should become sovereign
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
. As a result, it was most competitive in western Montreal where there was a drop in Liberal Party support but little enthusiasm for sovereigntist
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
alternatives such as the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
. The Green Party placed second or third in the popular vote in some western Montreal ridings
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
.
In 2008, the PVQ held a leadership review, during which Guy Rainville
Guy Rainville
Guy Rainville is a Canadian politician, who was the leader of the Green Party of Quebec from 2008 to 2010. He was selected as the party's leader on March 29, 2008, defeating incumbent leader Scott McKay...
defeated Scott McKay. McKay then joined the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
and was elected as an MNA in the 2008 election, while the Green Party itself fell to 2% of the popular vote, fifth place among political parties and the only one of the top five parties not to win a seat in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
.
On September 10, 2010, Rainville announced that he would not seek another 2-year term as leader. Claude Sabourin
Claude Sabourin
Claude Sabourin is a politician, educator, and author in the Canadian province of Quebec. He was elected as leader of the Green Party of Quebec in November 2010....
narrowly defeated party president Paul-André Martineau for the position.
Leaders
- Yves Blanchette (1987–1989)
- Jean OuimetJean OuimetJean Ouimet is a Québécois politician and the president of Naviga-Cité, a multimedia company...
(1989–1993) - Marian L. Grant (1993–1994)
- Éric FerlandÉric FerlandÉric Ferland is a politician and organizer in the Canadian province of Quebec. He was the leader of the Green Party of Quebec from 1994 to 1996 and has sought election to the Canadian House of Commons...
(1994–1996) - Saloua Laridhi (1996–1998)
Party did not exist between 1998 and 2001.
- Richard Savignac (2001–2006)
- Scott McKay (2006–2008)
- Guy RainvilleGuy RainvilleGuy Rainville is a Canadian politician, who was the leader of the Green Party of Quebec from 2008 to 2010. He was selected as the party's leader on March 29, 2008, defeating incumbent leader Scott McKay...
(2008–2010) - Claude SabourinClaude SabourinClaude Sabourin is a politician, educator, and author in the Canadian province of Quebec. He was elected as leader of the Green Party of Quebec in November 2010....
(2010 - )
Results summaries
| General election | # of candidates | # of elected candidates | % of popular vote | # of votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 10 | 0 | 0.14% | 4,613 |
| 1989 | 46 | 0 | 1.99% | 67,675 |
| 1994 | 11 | 0 | 0.14% | 5,499 |
| 1998 | The party was dissolved. | |||
| 2003 | 36 | 0 | 0.44% | 16,975 |
| 2007 | 108 | 0 | 3.85% | 152,885 |
| 2008 | 80 | 0 | 2.18% | 70,685 |
See also
- Politics of QuebecPolitics of QuebecThe politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
- Political parties in Quebec
- List of Green party leaders in Canada
- List of Green politicians who have held office in Canada