P.E.I. Green Party holds 2022 AGM

The Green Party of P.E.I. has money in the bankand is getting ready for the next election.

The party held its annual meeting virtuallyover the weekend.

Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker told Island Morning guest host Kerry Campbell thatthe party's focus now has to turnto getting ready for the next election, which is scheduled for October 2023.

"We have over $100,000 in the bank currently with no debts, and that's a sort of reflection of a Green Party commitment to walking our talk and living within our means," he said.

"We don't carry debt. We're very frugal in how we use our money. And many of the other parties, of course, borrow heavily in order to run their their elections. We have never done that."

Bevan-Baker says the pandemic has made it difficult for the party to fundraise and build support, especially in districts where they don't have elected members.

3 motions pass

Nine policy motions were submitted and voted on by party members, three of which passed over the weekend:

• To extend voting rights to permanent residents for municipal and school board elections.

• To reaffirm the party's commitment toward a basic income guarantee.

• To improve mental health support for mothers in the perinatal period.

The motions need to be ratified by electronic ballot by party membership within 60 days before becoming official Green Party of P.E.I. policy. The other six motions will be discussed on May 14, during the second partof the party's AGM.

Bevan-Baker says the party aims to speak to as many Islanders as possible over the summer and build its presence in areas where there aren't any Green Party members elected.

"A year and a half away may seem like a long time but, in politics, it really isn't," he said.

"We have to be identifying candidates. We have to be expanding and building the electoral district associations that we have across the province. And we have to be raising funds."

An estimated 50 people attended the virtual AGM.