| Growing interest in the Green party combined with campaign finance reforms may lead to a big payoff in the upcoming federal election. The party has consistently been polling nationally at five per cent, and while it may not land a seat in Parliament, it could earn more than $1 million in funding under new federal funding regulations.
The Green party is the so-called "fringe party" most likely to benefit from changes in the way political parties are funded. The new rules limit corporate, union and individual donations in favour of a proportional system that awards public funds based on the number of votes each party earns – annual payments will equal $1.75 per vote received for parties that garner at least two per cent of the popular vote, or at least five per cent in the ridings where they have candidates.
In the 2000 election, when almost 12.9 million valid ballots were cast, the Green party earned 0.8 per cent of the vote. If the party increased that support to five per cent, it would equal more than $1 million in funding.
According to Mark MacGillivray, Green party candidate in Calgary North Centre, that is a significant change from the approximate $24,000 the national party raised in the last 15 years. He says the additional money would be used to "professionalize" the party and boost its profile by enabling it to hire staff to organize operations nationally, build websites and databases, and conduct marketing, research and polling. He adds that it will help the party move beyond increasing awareness about its existence to increasing awareness about its policies.
"Our main message this election has been, ‘We’re the Green party, we exist.’ The next step is, ‘We’re the Green party, this is what we stand for,’" says MacGillivray, who has been with the party for the last two years and has worked as the Alberta party’s chief financial officer.
"We’re not hoodie-wearing, rock-throwing activists."
The party may still be battling public perception that it is run by radical protesters, but that doesn’t mean it won’t welcome protest votes. And at a potential $1.75 per vote, this is one election where they will count – at least in the pocket if not in parliament.
As a result, MacGillivray says, every vote the party receives in this election will help make a difference in the future. "Your vote will not be wasted."
In the meantime, the Green party’s biggest challenge is getting the word out on a limited budget and with limited exposure. MacGillivray says it is still handicapped by its exclusion from leaders’ debates, and now that every vote is worth $1.75, it is losing out on more than an opportunity to boost awareness. In fact, he adds, the party is considering suing debate organizers for lost revenue.
"Now that money is involved… we can actually attach a monetary value to us not being included in the debate." |
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