The B.C. Green party is defending its verification process for new members as it responds to criticism and a possible legal threat from a leadership candidate.
The party argues the steps are necessary to combat the potential threat of foreign interference in the leadership contest.
But B.C. Greens leadership candidate Emily Lowan said the party’s verification process is cumbersome and unfair.
Members who were not active before Oct. 19, 2024, are being asked to prove they are a B.C. resident and Canadian citizen in order to vote in this month’s leadership race.
The B.C. Greens said members received an email if they need to verify their identity.
They can do so by using the encrypted verification website Vaultie, or by taking part in virtual meetings, drop-in sessions, member vouching, and other in-person options.
Members are being asked to complete their verification before noon on Saturday, Sept. 13, so there’s no delay in getting their ballot.
Lawyer Benjamin Isitt, representing Lowan, wrote in an Aug. 28 letter that Lowan would first try to resolve the matter internally but may pursue legal action if it was not addressed. The letter was released publicly on Wednesday.
Lowan argued the party has offered no evidence of possible foreign interference that would justify this process.
Lowan’s strategy in the race has included a focus on signing up new members.
The 24-year-old climate advocate claimed the verification process unfairly targets new members and disadvantages young and non-traditional voters.
She also argued the process conflicts with the party’s leadership contest rules requiring impartiality and non-discrimination.
Lowan said that if verification only applies to new members, voting should be delayed until at least 80 per cent of new members have been verified.
The letter also called on the party to disclose any evidence of foreign interference or other irregularities in the member sign-up process.
B.C. Greens interim leader Jeremy Valeriote rejected claims that the process is discriminatory.
“The ID verification process is in place to protect the integrity of the vote for not only BC Green members, but all British Columbians. This isn’t about limiting participation – it’s about ensuring only eligible BC residents can vote,” said Valeriote in a statement Thursday.
He said over 40 per cent of new members had completed verification so far.
The B.C. Greens also released their response letter to Isitt, dated Sept. 1.
“While the BC Green Party believes it was inappropriate to release a private letter into the public sphere, we are releasing our response at the request of the Leadership Contest Committee in order to provide clarity and transparency to members,” said Valeriote.
The party defends the process as appropriate, fair, and within the chief electoral officer’s discretion.
It said the verification process will continue until Sept 22.
Lowen is one of three candidates in the leadership race, alongside Comox town councillor and family doctor Jonathan Kerr and Adam Bremner-Akins, a political science student and former MLA candidate in Port Coquitlam.
Voting is set to take place from Sept.13 to 23, with the results to be announced on Sept. 24.
Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky, was named interim leader in January after Sonia Furstenau stepped down.
Rob Botterell holds the only other seat for the B.C. Greens as MLA for Saanich North and the Islands.
