Ecosocialists hold that capitalism is the primary culprit behind ecological crisis because of its insatiable pursuit of profit through an economic system that is powered by climate-altering fossil fuels.
Gene McGuckin, a former president of a labour union local, is with the Vancouver Ecosocialists, a group that has been around for a number of years.
McGuckin hopes that when the Greens get around to choosing its next leader, at least one contender may at least suggest that it’s time for the party to go the ecosocialist route.
According to him, a “planned economy, which is a fundamental part of ecosocialism, is very important to the future of the Green Party’s playing a successful role in abating the climate crisis”.
In the run-up to the October 21, 2019 federal election, McGuckin delivered a speech at a climate convergence event in Vancouver.
In his talk, McGuckin railed that none of the four major parties, which include the Greens, acknowledge that the “root cause of both climate disruption and social injustice” is the “worldwide, profit-driven economic system”.
“All the parties are so loyal to this economic system—to capitalism—that they refuse to offer climate justice plans that fundamentally challenge that system, that go beyond some more-or-less-inadequate reforms,” McGuckin said.
“So, they stick with the failing so-called solutions of denialism, market mechanisms (like carbon pricing and tax-breaks), government regulation that never goes far enough, and the confidence that there will be an eleventh-hour, miracle, technological breakthrough,” he continued.
It’s another question if the Green Party of Canada is ready to embrace ecosocialism.
