The recent quotes by Martha Hall Findlay and former LPC President Stephen LeDrew about the LPC "inability to raise money" and "donor fatigue" are right on the mark. Under the new guidelines it is becoming more and more evident, to this writer anyways, that we as a political party have not stepped up to the challenge we gave ourselves and the country in 2003. Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to chat with Liberals across the country and we all agree we need to change the way we operate. I am becoming very, very concerned with the direction of the party and the manner with which our PTA's and National Executive operate and address this new Canadian political environment. The fact that after 7 months our leadership candidates still have a combined debt of over 3.2 million AND no national plan for helping them out is disrespectful to them and each one of us. Under the new legislation it is all about the individual with no more corporate donors allowed. We as a party still have not adjusted and we, under Prime Minister Jean Chretien, are the ones that brought this in 2003. In 2007 we should be refocused, retooled and turning to the individual. Sadly we have diminished to the point that we are pointing fingers, casting blame and loosing time and energy on inconsequential efforts. We need worker bees, phoners and door to door canvassers, we need a strong foundation of party members across the country, we need to encourage a new openness in the political process and we MUST have a 'bottom up" approach to the entire political party organizational process. Gone are the days when guys with lists went to big donors the day before the election and said "help us and we will help you". With that "ask" gone so to are the days when the "backroom boys" dictated Liberal policy, procedure and personnel. Plebiscites, one member one vote, petitions, tabled votes are the new marching orders.
We must enlist the membership, encourage a new wave of liberalism and move into the 21st century thinking of open and transparent politics.
Here in Manitoba, Liberal Membership is down, fundraising efforts are few and far between and participation in PTA meetings, AGM's and Nomination Meetings is down.
When will we as a party "get it" ?
When will we shift our thinking and begin acting the way of the new Canadian Political paradigm?
What do we need to do to get ahead of the NDP (Last Quarter they beat us in fundraising )?
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3 comments:
IMHO, one of your biggest mistakes was voting, at your Leadership Convention, to keep using the delegated method for selecting leaders.
The only real upside for that method is the media interest it creates. The boost in popularity from all that media attention is short-lived, and needs to be capitalized on rather quickly via a general election.
I see the following downsides of delegated conventions:
the signifcant additional expense, the unseemliness of bloc voting, the backroom brokering between leadership contenders, and the reduced motivation for people to sign on as members of the LPC.
One-member-one-vote is the way to go. But the LPC will have a hard time changing their Constitution, as there are too many special interests within the Party that prefer the status quo.
Calgary Junkie
I would agree with you but I did not vote for the Delegated method. OMOV is the way to go with a dual ballot to add a delegated portion of the convention.
The status quo you speak of is right on mark. That to me is the larger challenge - changing the status quo "culture of entitlement" to a relevant "culture of renewal" 21st century party ..not an easy task...suggestions?
"suggestions?"
Join the CPC... we've got all those points covered in spades. ;-)
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