ABSTRACT
The first Canadian Green parties formed in 1983, following the publicity of the German Green Party’s formation and electoral success. The founders of Canadian Green parties were given an added impetus by the packages of translated materials the German Greens had sent around the world, including to prospective Canadian greens. ‘Most traditional parties tend to be inward looking – focusing on their territorial jurisdiction. It was unusual for political parties to do that [send packages of materials]. Green parties see themselves as bigger than their territory. They are global in outlook’ (Interview Kisby 2002). British Columbia greens set up the first Green party in North America at a meeting in Vancouver in February 1983, with the Ontario Green party following suit in June 1983. The Green Party of Canada (GPC) was registered in August 1983 and held its founding conference, ‘The Gathering of the Greens,’ on 4-6 November 1983 at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Provincial Green parties were set up later in all provinces except New Brunswick and the three northern territories.
