The Association of Fundraising "Professionals" is an NDP front group? begun by a small number of NDP-allied firms that specialize in paid fundraising activities without commission. Its most prominent member is the organization that does strategic polling for the NDP.

They have created a self-serving code of conduct which is not an ethical code in that it does not reflect any actual ethics, but instead, reflects the assumption that incentives for good work are morally wrong. This is in line with left-wing politics? and the NDP's own ideology. This is not in line with green politics or the Six Principles however, and so is not relevant to GPC Fundraising.

Various unethical practices have been used by AFP "professionals" to promote their services in the past, or rather, to denigrate?, degrade, lie about, and destroy the personal reputations of persons they deem as their competitors. Examples:

In early 2003, Michael Pastore of the AFP launched a smear campaign against activist Tooker Gomberg who had made a binding arrangement with the GPC for his Kyoto or Bust campaign. When Gomberg proposed that the GPC purchase paid media time on TOTV, his proposed Internet TV station, Pastore began to attack both programs, and Gomberg. Pastore threatened to spread his lies to Elections Canada? and convinced John Anderson, GPC Chief Agent to return the cheques without notifying Gomberg even who had sent them, in a gross breach of ethics. Gomberg was literally made homeless by Anderson's refusal to honour the (totally unrelated) Kyoto or Bust arrangement, which promoted the GPC position on climate change prior to Canada's ratification of the deal. This too was a media-publicity-related venture. Gomberg's track record for getting these issues on the public record was more than exemplary.

In March 2004 Tooker Gomberg was living in Halifax and, in a depressed state accentuated by a terrible winter and prescription drugs and isolation, committed suicide. There are testimonials to him and his work here on greenspiration.org.

There is a detailed record of the issues and correspondence involved on the New Green Canada? mailing list here.

It has been speculated that Pastore launched the attacks simply to break Gomberg's relationship with the Greens, and establish clearly that anyone who did not join the AFP would be attacked by AFP members and reported to authorities with false claims made about them.

Also on New Green Canada, Pastore was exposed for his similar false claims re: Dan King, another longstanding Green activist in Toronto. King was likewise a rival fundraiser outside the AFP's domain, building well-regarded donor incentive? programs like the Green Wilderness Adventure?s. These programs combine green education in policy with eco-tourism? and receive very good reviews. It has been speculated that Pastore made up his grievance with King in order to attempt to scuttle this program.

While it's not clear that AFP sanctions or endorses these methods, it is certainly not coincidence that two longstanding Greens have been targetted by people who loudly advocate the AFP's "ethics".

The Green Party of Canada is considering whether, on January 26, 2005, it will adopt the AFP's rules and require all GPC fundraising "whereby no one associated with the party may be compensated by commission or bonus for fundraising." Specifically:

The ERCT moved a " MOTION: GPC adopts the ethical fundraising policy as endorsed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals". This would require GPC fundraising to employ ONLY PEOPLE APPROVED BY AFP such as Michael Pastore, rewarding him and his friends handsomely for the above activities.

Before voting on this, members and Council would do well to find Michael Pastore's last comments about the GPC before quitting it.

It is quite clear what the AFP agenda is regarding this Party.