July 16, 2015

For Immediate Release:

Local Green Party members vote to cooperate with local Liberals
KELOWNA, BC On Thursday evening, local federal Green Party members voted to
cooperate with the federal Liberals in the KelownaLake Country riding. The
Liberal candidate, retired Major Stephen Fuhr, welcomed the proposal to
cooperate with local Greens when he was approached with the idea several
months ago.
Now Fuhr has committed to a partnership that would incorporate key planks of the
Green platform in both his campaign and his activities in parliament. As the MP
for KelownaLake Country, he would work with both Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth
May, as well as with both Liberal and Green local riding associations.
Fuhr's intention to cooperate had been given the go ahead from the Liberal
leadership prior to the local Green vote on the issue, and the partnership details
will now go forward to the national Green Party office for approval. The national
office has been following the local process. The position of the Green Party leader,
Elizabeth May, has been that she would support the decision reached by the local
Green riding association.
Both parties to the cooperation agreement point out that it does not constitute
Green support for the Liberal platform, or Liberal support for the Green
platform. Instead, they say, its purpose is to achieve the common goals that Fuhr
and Green Party members share. Fuhr explained, We both want to see
democratic reform, a transition to a more energy efficient and low carbon
emissions economy, and a return to governing with evidence-based policy. He
added, None of that is going to happen if Harper stays in power.
The new low-whipping policy from the Liberals there will be more free votes
gives Fuhr flexibility to support Green policies, he says. In case of platform
conflicts, he says, Ill often be in a position to consult both my Liberal and Green
partners, receive input from my constituency, and come to an evidence-based
decision."
Gary Adams, the long-time Green who brought the proposal to a vote, remarks
Our common goals on climate change, restoring our democracy, and diversifying
our economy have been dramatically undermined in the last ten years under
Harper. Adams feels that a broad coalition of voters would be willing to support

Fuhr in order to unseat MP Ron Cannan, the Conservative incumbent.

The local Liberals and Greens hope that their pioneering grassroots efforts at
inter-party cooperation will inspire other riding associations to do the same. Dan
Ryder, the Green Party member who proposed the cooperation idea locally said,
"It's Green Party policy to cooperate with other parties, but implementing that is
easier said than done. But our efforts here show that it is possible.

From left to right.

Professor Dan Ryder, Green Party of Canada in Kelowna-Lake Country CEO elect
Zena Ryder,
Green Party of Canada Candidate Gary Adams, Liberal Party of Canada Candidate
Stephen Fuhr, Lance Greenberg President, Liberal Party of Canada in KelownaLake Country