Work Less Party of British Columbia

Work Less Party of British Columbia Active Provincial Party Founded Leader Conrad SchmidtPresident Headquarters 1545 10 Ave E
Vancouver, BC
V5N 1X6 Political ideology Workers rightsInternational alignment None Colours RedWebsite www.worklessparty.org/ Work Less Party website

The Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded by Conrad Schmidt.

The primary aim of this party is to move to a 32-hour work week.

It nominated eleven candidates for the 2005 provincial election, who won a total of 1496 votes (0.09% of the provincial total). None were elected. Denise Brennan had the best result of the party's candidates: 213 votes (1.07% of the total) in Vancouver-Hastings. Ben West candidate for the party was endorsed by the Georgia Straight Magazine in the riding of West Vancouver-Capilano.

1 Policy
2 Election goals for 2005
3 2005 Vancouver municipal election
4 See also
5 External links

Policy

The party avocates shortening the work week to 32 hours, prohibiting unpaid overtime work, and changing the “perverse reward system” in the payroll tax system to encourage hiring additional workers, instead of giving current employees overtime. The party argues:

By reducing the work week we will be able to distribute the work load to more people and thus increase employment. Perpetual industrial growth has proven itself a failure to address the increase of homelessness and poverty in BC. It's now time for a new approach.

The party argues that “the changes will strengthen families and communities, make workers happier, and make the planet healthier”.[1]

Election goals for 2005

Champion the economic, environmental and social advantages of a reduced work week.
Endorse progressive candidates of other parties who believe in a shorter work week.
Work on community-enriching projects such as the party's theatre production, community forums, and parties.
Encourage people to vote.

2005 Vancouver municipal election

In the 2005 Vancouver mayoral election the Work Less Party nominated Ben West as a candidate for mayor. West was the Work Less Party's West Vancouver-Capilano riding candidate for the 2005 provincial election where he placed fifth of five candidates with 118 votes (0.59%), but actually won the riding in Student Vote BC. At the time of the municipal election West was serving his fourth term on Capilano College's Board of Governors and was the Chairperson of the Capilano Students Union. The party's website states that the "Work Less Party municipal platform is focused on ecological literacy, affordable housing, and government accountability."