Georges Laraque appointed Green Party deputy leader
Look, I’m blogging again! I apologize for neglecting this blog throughout the last semester of law school and into the summer. I officially no longer had an excuse once exams were over at the end of April. But I’ve been meaning to get back into it, and this bit of exciting news prompted me to write today: NHL star Georges Laraque is the Green Party’s new deputy leader.
The Green Party constitution provides the leader with the ability to appoint up to two deputy leaders, and it has been a long tradition that one of those leaders be from Quebec. Laraque is an excellent fit for this position. His position as a high-profile former NHLer means he’s very well-known in Canada, but not for being a career politician. This means he is positioned very well to introduce the Greens to Canadians who might not already be engaged in politics. In my mind, this is exactly what political parties have to do to both stay relevant and help re-enfranchise the voters who have been turned away from politics and feel disempowered by our political and voting system, and the brand of dirty politics practiced by the old-line parties.
Laraque also represents green values. Like so many of us, he simply wants to make the world a better place, and he brings an enormous amount of energy to the issues he cares most about. This is what led him to become vegan and an advocate for protecting animals (yay! near and dear to my heart), to spearhead a project that raised over $1 million for Haiti, and so much more.
As Elizabeth May explained in the press release that announced his new position, “As Deputy Leader, Georges will help us realize our goal of promoting active, healthy, sustainable lifestyles as part of the Green agenda.” I’m pleased to hear that this is one of his policy priorities. Obesity is skyrocketing, and active, vegan living, of the variety embodied by Georges Laraque, is one piece of the solution.
I’m also excited for what his appointment means for the Green Party’s fortunes in Quebec. A number of my colleagues in the party have been working extremely hard to increase our profile and organization in la belle province, and the work is paying off. Our polling numbers in Quebec continue to rise, and being able to attract someone of the calibre of Georges Laraque means we’re doing something very right. Although Laraque won’t be running for a seat in the next election, he is the type of high-profile candidate, like Elizabeth May, who could realistically win a seat in the right riding.
Laraque replaces Jacques Rivard, who left the Greens to join the Bloc Quebecois earlier this year. I guess our lower-budget, grassroots, in-the-trenches approach to politics and organizing just couldn’t compare with the higher salary and expense account the Bloc could no doubt provide. But I think Georges Laraque’s selfless, caring, generous approach to politics, activism and life will be a much better fit with the Green Party, and I’m thrilled about what the future will bring for the Greens with Laraque as a deputy leader.
Scridb filter
The last Deputy Leader from Quebec quit because the Green party is unable to organize in Quebec so how does a former NHLer help the Green party organize in Quebec? The poll numbers for the Green party in Quebec are far from showing a continue rise in Green party support.
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Rivard quit because he couldn’t adjust to the grassroots organization style of the Green Party. Frankly, I can understand how someone coming from a non-political and non-Green Party background — where higher salaries, assistants, company cars, expense accounts and nice offices are the norm — might have a hard time adjusting. But the Green Party is not a rich party, and the reality Greens face is that we must organize ourselves in spite of the challenges we will always face. We must do more with less. There’s more I could say about Rivard, but I don’t really enjoy being nasty without reason.
As for how a former NHLer might help the Green Party organize in Quebec, well, that’s pretty obvious. He’s a household name, and he has appeal with non-politicos and those who aren’t engaged in politics. That’s a massive group of Canadians.
And please check Harris-Decima for some graphs that show how the Greens are trending in Quebec. Support has been rising since at least last fall. http://www.harrisdecima.ca/news/releases/201007/887-conservatives-lead-majority-out-sight
Well maybe you to can be one of his “High Octane Girls” hahha
http://vimeo.com/6782718
Yes watch this where he broke the NHL’s own rules
the party likes rule breakers
And may’s comment….”"”Obesity is skyrocketing, and active, vegan living, of the variety embodied by Georges Laraque, is one piece of the solution.”"”
I assume she is no Vegan correct? Obviously !!
Georges must what ? be the last Quebec member ?
And he only just joined last feb 15 2010 correct?
No wonder so many have quit the betty may party
How long do you think he will last?
Hi John, I feel that your “High Octane Girls” comment is extremely sexist. Please don’t comment here anymore.
So far, I think the Laraque appointment bodes well. There’s a bit of contrary sentiment and some discussion of it here: http://farnwide.blogspot.com/2010/08/amateurish.html Maybe you want to add something to that conversation.
BTW, I think you may not be aware of Shavluk’s reference. Laraque appeared in a sexist video commercial for an energy drink. He was criticized and subsequently apologized for his participation. It is baggage he must carry and we must deal with.
Rivard quit over a lack of resources being spent to organize within Quebec which is a common criticism of the Green party across Canada. I also just have a hard time viewing a former radio Canada journalist having any expectation of having anything you describe.
It is hard to imagine that you have any evidence to back up the claim that simply because he is a former NHLer he is a household name let alone that even if he were a household name that somehow results in an appeal to non-politicos. Now maybe you are completely right and Laraque is going to be a massive force for the Greens in Quebec in which case how long till we see Green membership in Quebec skyrocketing? Looking at the current stats on the Green party membership drive it seems with the exception of first place the leading ridings are ones with no star power.
If the comment by John was sexist does that make George Laraque sexist for appearing in the ad?
Actually, Shavluk, in an uncharacteristically brief comment raises an interesting point. I believe Camille that your mother is Quebec organiser for the Green Party? I also assume that you knew of the controversial advertisement featuring Geoges Laraque? It was certainly news in Quebec, so presumably the GPC leadership was satisfied it wasn’t significant when they made this choice.
Now I do not know anything about Georges myself, and I wish him the best in breathing some life back into the GPC in la belle Province. But I am curious as to how you will square the circle, and respond to the inevitable criticism of Laroque, and the Green Party amongst womens groups? I am not being snide at all, I am genuinely wondering how the GPC will respond? After all, our political foes will not be shy about levelling attacks at every target they can find, and we can be pretty sure that they will breathe new life into any past indiscretions and scandals of anyone so prominent as a GPC Deputy Leader appointed by Elizabeth May.
M. Laraque’s first press release as deputy leader is a commercial pitch for a US company.
Using his status as a “new deputy leader of the Green Party” to benefit a commercial venture that just hired him as a “Spokesman”? You’re right, that’s very ” selfless, caring, generous”
Laraque isn’t taking a salary as GPC deputy leader… unlike Rivard. I would think it might be obvious that he has to earn a living somehow. I love that he’s committed to so many companies and organization doing great small-g green work.
He really is committed to his high octane girls.