Camille Labchuk

Like the last few blogs I’ve written, this one will start with a mea culpa for being such a bad blogger. Law school has been way busier than last semester, and I think we’ll all just have to accept that I won’t be writing regularly until the year wraps up in April.

Today’s post is a welcome to the Green Party’s newest member: NHL star Georges Laraque!

I don’t tend to follow professional sports, so I the first time I heard of Georges Laraque was this spring when it came out that he had decided to go vegan and get involved in animal protection issues after watching the film Earthlings. Of course, this immediately put him in my good books! But the more I learned about him, the more impressed I became — particular with respect to his tremendous commitment to so many issues, like animal welfare, Haiti relief, mentoring youth, and so much more.

Given his strong devotion to these issues, it’s only natural that Georges Laraque has chosen to become more involved with the Green Party. No other political party recognizes that animals are sentient beings who have value in and of themselves, and who deserve our respect and consideration. No other party would end the commercial seal kill on Canada’s East Coast. No other party opposes trophy hunting. No other party has a plan to improve treatment for animals on farms, recognizing the need to move away from industrial, factory farming that is most abusive to animals.

I’m also thrilled about the many recent successes the Greens have seen in Quebec. Our new deputy leader, Jacques Rivard, a well-known former environmental journalist in la belle province, has been getting loads of publicity, and our polling numbers have been strong. Rivard is set to tour the province this spring, and the Greens will host lectures by prominent Green politicians from Europe.

Laraque announced his new team colours at a screening of Earthlings on Saturday, stating “I want to be part of a group that is working to build a society that is more just, more healthy, and more in harmony with the environment.” Georges, you’re in the right place: welcome to the Green Party!