Adopted in 2018 by the membership of the Young Greens of Canada and amended in 2022 and 2024.
1. General
1.1 The Young Greens of Canada (“YGC”) is a unit of the Central Party of the Green Party of Canada (the "Party"), and is bound by the constitution and bylaws of the Party.
1.2 The purpose of the Young Greens is to:
1.2.1. Support the Party in their efforts to elect candidates to the House of Commons;
1.2.2. Ensure a youth voice is part of debating and forming legislation in Canada’s Parliament;
1.2.3. Ensure a youth voice is part of developing the policy, positions, and platforms of the Party;
1.2.4. Facilitate the involvement of young Canadians and encourage youth-friendly structures and atmosphere within the YGC and the Party more broadly;
1.2.6. Ensure the Principles of the Global Greens Charter that reference young people are respected and prioritized.
1.3 All members in good standing of the Party, who are between the ages of 12 and 29 years of age (inclusive), are members of the YGC. Only members of the YGC who are between the ages of 14 and 29 years of age (inclusive) are entitled to vote as YGC members.
1.4 As a unit of the Party, the YGC is accountable to:
1.4.1 the YGC membership in a General Meeting or during YGC Council elections;
1.4.2 Federal Council when the YGC membership is not in General Meeting or voting in YGC Council elections.
1.5 These Bylaws may be amended:
1.5.1 through a secret ballot sent to all YGC Members with voting open for no less than fourteen (14) days, via a motion passed with at least 60% of votes in favour and ballots being cast by at least twenty-five (25) members representing at least three (3) regions as defined by the Bylaws of the Party.
1.5.2 at a General Meeting, via a motion passed either through consensus or a vote at least 60% in favour where consensus cannot reasonably be reached.
1.5.2.1 Motions to amend the Bylaws passed at a General Meeting will only become effective upon greater than 50% of ballots being cast in favour via a ratification vote sent to all YGC members with voting open for no less than fourteen (14) days.
1.5.2.2 Any amendment to the Bylaws affecting the structure of YGC Council or Council election procedures shall become effective upon the first Council elections following the amendment’s full approval.
1.6 The YGC may only change its name or be dissolved by the Federal Council or a General Meeting of the Party in the manner as outlined in the Party Constitution or Bylaws to deregister a unit of the Party.
2. General Meetings of the YGC
2.1 Individual members of the YGC are entitled to attend and vote at General Meetings of the YGC.
2.2 The quorum at a General Meeting is twenty-five (25) YGC members representing at least three (3) Regions as defined in the Bylaws of the Party.
2.3 General Meetings may be either virtual or in-person.
2.4 General Meetings may be called by the Council.
2.5 All YGC Members shall be notified of the date, time, and purpose of a General Meeting no later than thirty (30) days before it is scheduled to take place, and shall be notified of the location and draft agenda of the Meeting no later than fourteen (14) days before it is scheduled to take place.
3. YGC Council
3.1 The Young Greens of Canada Council (“the Council”) is the governing body of the YGC and is responsible for:
3.1.1 The overall implementation of actions as called for in these Bylaws or in other decisions of the YGC membership;
3.1.2 Administering and reporting on the finances of the YGC;
3.1.3 Developing and approving rules, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, that govern the YGC and the Council;
3.1.4 Providing strategic advice to the Party.
3.2 The Council is composed of:
3.2.1 Two (2) Co-Chairs,
3.2.2 Three (3) Project Coordinators:
3.2.2.1 One (1) Finance Coordinator,
3.2.2.2 One (1) Engagement Coordinator,
3.2.2.3 One (1) Advocacy Coordinator, and
3.2.3 Six (6) Regional Representatives:
3.2.3.1 One (1) British Columbia Representative,
3.2.3.2 One (1) Prairies Representative,
3.2.3.3 One (1) Ontario Representative,
3.2.3.4 One (1) Quebec Representative,
3.2.3.5 One (1) Atlantic Representative, and
3.2.3.6 One (1) Northern Representative.
3.3 A maximum of one (1) Co-Chair position may be held by a cisgender male at any given time.
3.3.1 Notwithstanding 3.3, if no non-cisgender-male member is both eligible and willing to serve as Co-Chair, cisgender male members are eligible for election or appointment to both Co-Chair positions.
3.4 Regional Representatives must reside primarily in the Region they represent.
3.5 The Council will, at the first meeting following a regular election of the Council or on an as needed basis, select two Council members to serve as the Youth Representatives on Federal Council.
3.5.1 Only Councillors holding one of the positions listed in Bylaw 3.2 are eligible to be selected as a Youth Representative.
3.5.1.1 Notwithstanding 3.5.1, if no councillor holding a position listed in Bylaw 3.2 is both eligible and willing to serve as Youth Representative, Members at Large may be selected for the role.
3.5.2 A maximum of one (1) Youth Representative position may be held by a cisgender male at any given time.
3.5.2.1 Notwithstanding 3.5.2 and following 3.5.1.1, if no non-cisgender-male councillor is willing to serve as Youth Representative, a second cisgender male may be selected for the role.
3.6 The Council is authorized to appoint Members at Large, such that the total number of Council members does not exceed fifteen (15) Members.
3.6.1 Members at Large are voting members of Council.
3.6.2 Members at Large are appointed on an interim basis and serve until the next regular Council elections.
3.6.3 Where possible, Council will attempt to fill any vacancies for the positions listed in Bylaw (3.2) prior to appointing Members at Large
3.7 An elected Councillor’s term ends at the conclusion of any election called for their position.
3.8 Council positions that become vacant may be filled via by-election, or the YGC Council may appoint interim members.
3.8.1 Individuals elected in by-elections serve the remainder of the regular term for their position.
3.8.2 Individuals appointed on an interim basis serve until the next regular Council elections, at which point the position is put up for by-election.
3.9 Members of the Council shall be permitted to serve a total of no more than three (3) terms in the same council position.
3.10 A Council member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings or votes of Council without apparent cause shall be removed from Council. If the member provides satisfactory written documentation explaining the absences and is allowed to return by a majority vote of the remaining Council members within one month of their removal, they may be reinstated.
3.11 Members of the Council may be removed from office for cause, by a 75% majority vote of the Council in a meeting called for that purpose.
3.11.1 For the purposes of this section, cause is defined as any behaviour that contravenes the standards outlined in the GPC Members’ Code of Conduct, the GPC Constitution and Bylaws, the YGC Bylaws, or other rules approved by YGC Council.
3.11.2 A Council member facing a motion for removal must be informed of all allegations in writing and is entitled to thirty (30) days to prepare and present their defense before any motions for removal proceed.
3.11.3 A Council member facing a motion for removal is entitled to present their position and/or defence at the meeting at which the motion for their removal is discussed. Following their presentation, the Council member shall withdraw from the meeting.
3.11.4 Motions for removal shall be conducted via secret ballot.
3.11.5 Should a motion for removal be successful, the remaining Council members may also submit a request for a review of the removed Council member’s Party membership to the Conduct Committee.
3.12 If a Council member ceases to be a member of the YGC, they shall cease to be a member of the YGC Council.
3.13 The Council shall be responsible to develop and administer the budget of the YGC on an annual basis and shall advise the Party on budget matters relative to the YGC.
3.14 The Council may establish committees as required. The mandate of such committees will be determined by the Council and any such committee shall report to the Council.
3.15 The Council will, at the first meeting following the election of the Council or on an as needed basis, recommend Young Green members:
3.15.1 to the Leader to serve as Youth Critic or in other positions on Shadow Cabinet; and
3.15.2 to Federal Council to serve as members of Party committees, working groups or other governance bodies as needed.
4. Election of Council
4.1 Regular elections to the YGC Council shall be held annually.
4.1.1 In odd-numbered years, the following positions shall be elected:
4.1.1.1 One Co-Chair
4.1.1.2 Finance Coordinator
4.1.1.3 BC Representative
4.1.1.4 Quebec Representative
4.1.1.5 Atlantic Representative.
4.1.2 In even-numbered years, the following positions shall be elected:
4.1.2.1 One Co-Chair
4.1.2.2 Engagement Coordinator
4.1.2.3 Advocacy Coordinator
4.1.2.4 Prairies Representative
4.1.2.5 Ontario Representative
4.1.2.6 Northern Representative.
4.2 Candidates for Regional Representative positions require at least two (2) nominations from YGC members residing in the Region they are seeking to represent.
4.3 Candidates for Finance Coordinator, Engagement Coordinator, or Advocacy Coordinator require at least five (5) nominations from YGC members.
4.4 Candidates for Co-Chair require at least eight (8) nominations from YGC members residing in at least two (2) Regions.
4.5 Nominations for elections to the YGC Council must be open for at least fourteen (14) days and voting must be open for at least seven (7) days.
4.6 YGC Members shall receive a notice of elections not later than the opening of nominations for any elections taking place, which shall include:
4.6.1 A list of positions being put up for election including nomination procedures for each position;
4.6.2 the timeline for the elections; and
4.6.3 instructions to access the rules for the elections.
4.7 The election for each Council position shall require “None of these options” to be a contestant and shall be by Single Transferable Vote.
5. Council Meetings
5.1 The Council shall conduct meetings no less than six (6) times per year.
5.2 Quorum at Council meetings shall be a majority of voting members then in office.
5.3 Council may meet by electronic means.
5.4 All decisions of Council shall be by consensus or, if consensus cannot be reached among those present, by a majority vote of those present and voting, except as may be specifically stated elsewhere in these Bylaws.
5.5 Council meetings shall be scheduled by the Council, or may be called by the Co-Chairs, or may be called by a minimum of 1/3 of all Council members. Notice of Council meetings must be given to all Council members a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the meeting date.
5.6 Council may make decisions between normal meetings by email and other electronic means, and the result of any such votes shall be ratified and read into the minutes at the subsequent meeting.
5.7 All and only members of Council may vote in Council meetings. The Party’s representative shall be present at all meetings, whenever possible, but shall not hold the right to vote.
5.8 The Council may adopt procedural rules, not inconsistent with these bylaws, for conducting their meetings.
6. Campus Clubs
6.1 The YGC will encourage the development of, recognize and support YGC campus clubs (“campus clubs”).
6.2 In order to be recognized by the YGC, campus clubs must meet the following criteria:
6.2.1 Respect the purpose of the Young Greens of Canada;
6.2.2 Respect the regulations of the relevant student union (where applicable);
6.2.3 Have had their constitution approved by the Council;
6.2.4 Have reported the names of their President(s)/Chair(s) and contact information to the Party each semester at minimum; and
6.2.5 Executives of campus clubs hold Party membership where eligible.