GreenPAC endorses British Columbia environmental champions for the provincial election
Mar 16th, 2017 7:10 AM
March 16, 2017
GreenPAC endorses B.C. environmental champions for the provincial election
Candidates endorsed from three major parties
VANCOUVER - GreenPAC, Canada’s non-partisan organization committed to building environmental leadership in politics, has endorsed six candidates with strong environmental track records in British Columbia’s 2017 provincial election.
The list includes candidates from all major parties represented in the provincial legislature: Liberal (2), NDP (3), and Greens (1). They are:
- Colleen Ross (NDP Boundary-Similkameen)
- Jennifer Rice (NDP North Coast,
incumbent)
- Dallas Smith (Liberal North Island)
- Andrew Weaver (Green Oak Bay-Gordon Head,
incumbent)
- George Heyman (NDP Vancouver Fairview,
incumbent)
- Jordan Sturdy (Liberal - West Vancouver-Sea to Sky,
incumbent)
“Public concern about the environment and sustainability crosses political lines, and we need a B.C. legislature that embodies that concern,” said Vancouver-based GreenPAC board member Joanna Kyriazis. “Our endorsed candidates are an outstanding group of environmental leaders, and we’ll be asking B.C. citizens of all political stripes to help their campaigns with donations of money and volunteer time.”
Endorsed candidates were selected by a six-member
Expert Panel made up of non-partisan leaders in various environmental fields, including three local panelists with a deep understanding of the B.C. environment and economy.
The panel evaluated candidates based on their past environment-related accomplishments in the private, public, or non-government sectors. Candidates must also meet “winnability” criteria to be eligible for endorsement. Political platforms and campaign promises were not a part of the assessment.
“By focusing on a half-dozen key campaigns, we’re helping British Columbians direct their support to candidates with a track record for putting the environment first,” said GreenPAC Executive Director Sabrina Bowman. “By helping these candidates win, we believe we can make the environment a top political priority in all corners of the B.C. legislature.”
The candidate research was also informed by outreach to the major parties, and by a public survey inviting British Columbians to recommend candidates they thought were environmental leaders and by candidates nominating themselves. Now, GreenPAC will encourage voters across B.C. to donate time and money to endorsees’ campaigns, wherever in the province they live. More information on the candidates and the campaign can be found at:
http://www.greenpac.ca/bc_2017.
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Media Contact:
Sabrina Bowman
Executive Director, GreenPAC
info@greenpac.ca
416-829-4821
Interviews with our B.C. representative Joanna Kyriazis can be organized through Sabrina Bowman.
About GreenPAC:
GreenPAC
(www.GreenPAC.ca ): is a non-partisan organization formed in 2014 to build environmental leadership in Canadian politics. It works to make environmental concerns politically relevant by supporting the recruitment, nomination, and election of environmental champions.
GreenPAC Endorsement Process:
GreenPAC identified environmental leaders for potential endorsement through a comprehensive outreach strategy that included engagement with British Columbia environmental organizations, political parties, the public, and other local experts. Our Expert Panel assessed all candidates according to a number of factors, including but not limited to demonstrated environmental leadership, winnability in ridings, and ensuring cross-party representation. Through extensive deliberations, the Expert Panel selected its top six candidates to receive GreenPAC endorsements.
