Kyle Peterson (Past candidate, Newmarket-Aurora.) Although I had been to umpteen LPC events since I first joined the Liberal Party in September 1990 at the campus of the University of Western Ontario (where, incidentally, I came to know our new President, Mike Crawley), I was particularly excited about this Biennial.
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The Equivocator: Bryan Bondy: Sorry Seems To Be The Easiest Word
Bryan Bondy (Delegate from Perth-Wellington.) Somewhere out there in the great yonder of the Internet, someone has made the statement, or something close to it, that the Liberal Party of Canada needs to embrace change and listen to grassroots values as it engages ordinary Canadians in rebuilding (and then something
Continue readingRed Tory v.3.0.3: Grits Go to Pot!
… And Avoid Going to Copps That was the terribly witty headline in The Winnipeg Sun this morning. Never mind the snarky double-entendre; both are welcome developments arising from this past weekend’s LPC convention in Montreal. From scanning some of the news stories about the convention and, more importantly, the
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Biennial Convention Guest Post: Barrie Young Liberals: Looking to the future while giving back.
The Barrie Young Liberals (BYL) formed shortly after the federal election in May, 2011. The election was a disappointing result, to be sure; perhaps, no more so than in Barrie where the Liberal candidate came third to the Conservative incumbent and a New Democratic newcomer. Notwithstanding that, however, federal Liberal
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Maryanne Kampouris, LPC Policy Chair candidate, on Youth Issues
Managerial competence is above all, what I am looking for in the next policy chair of the Liberal Party of Canada. Maryanne Kampouris has been VP Policy for the Liberal Party of Canada in Ontario for the last 5 years and, in my opinion, she is the candidate who has
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Canadian Politics Word(s) of the Year: 2011
Today is the final day for writing/releasing end-of-the-year posts. 2011 featured a federal election and provincial/territorial elections in Manitoba, Ontario, PEI, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the NWT. At the end of 2011, Canada now has 4 female premiers (up from 2 at the beginning of the year), the BQ have
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Mike Crawley for President of the Liberal Party of Canada
Like many Liberals, I first encountered Mike Crawley through his bold op-ed in the Toronto Star entitled “Long-term decline of a great party.” His insights into the structural and cultural flaws that the Liberal Party must overcome if it is to survive were impressive. As well, I was inspired by
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Liberal Merchandise: Branding the Brand
Back in 2009 I got an e-mail that made me very happy then very sad. The e-mail, from Michael Ignatieff, told me that I could get a Liberal branded scarf. Unfortunately, to get the scarf I would have to donate $100. Now, I can’t afford a $100 donation so to
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Liberal Party of Canada Presidential Candidates’ Debate Report Card – Nov. 22/23
On November 22nd and 23rd I listened to/attended two debates of the four candidates currently running to be President of the Liberal Party of Canada. The first was a phone debate run by the excellent facebook group Liberals Rebuilding the Liberal Party (moderated by Gerard Kennedy) the second was held
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Hey Liberals – Lick Your Finger, Stick It Up In the Air, Way Up
There was a time you didn’t have to tell a Liberal how to read the winds of change. Of course that was before they (were) moved from Sussex Drive to Stornoway to Motel 6.Change, however, is very much in the air whether it’s in the Middle Ea…
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: News From the Begging Bowl
Just got the word from Ralph Goodale. The LPC Deputy Leader suggests if the party can just get another $50-grand by midnight, they’ll be able to send an even stronger message to the Cons and NDP that the Libs “won’t be pushed around ever ag…
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Merger? Why?
If the future of the Liberal Party was to be the party that it was under its last two leaders then maybe it would be time to throw in the towel and pack it in. The right and part of the centre wing of the Libs could gravitate to Harper.&nbs…
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Piracy, Anyone?
What’s in a name? Very little. Look at my own British Columbia. Our province is governed by the Liberal Party of British Columbia. Only there’s nothing remotely “liberal” about it.
We used to be run by the Social Credit Party, a pretty right…
Continue readingmike watkins dot ca: Fact Check: NDP Largest Opposition in Years
I’m seeing some pundits take Jack Layton to task for claiming his NDP opposition caucus at 103 members is the "largest … opposition in 31 years". Notwithstanding insinuations to the contrary by self-appointed fact-checkers, Layton is quit…
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Some post-election thoughts.
Some articles with better insight than I can provide: The Liberal 34. Renewing the Liberal Party: Leadership. The Liberal Party: What went wrong and where to next? Election Post Mortem: The Liberals Some post-election thoughts: Despite the results, the Liberal … Continue reading →
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: In which it is possible that David Herle may be wrong
A couple of days ago, former Liberal organizer David Herle was asked by the CBC to set down his views on the desirability of a merger between the Liberal Party and the NDP. He doesn’t much like it. That column can be found here.
As a Liberal Party…
Continue readingRight of Center Ice: Confessions of an Election Hawk and Red Tory
I’ll confess it. I’ll admit it and put it on my sleeve. I was one of the election hawks in March. I did not get the government I voted for, nor the representative, but I got the men and women I deserve. A right wing neoconservative majority that effectively and
Continue readingPolygonic: A future Liberal Party may want to consider…
There’s a lot of personal tragedy in elections, and it couldn’t get any worse for Michael Ignatieff. He’s finally succumbed to wounds meted out by the most vile, relentless attack ad machinery Canada’s ever seen. Shamefully, a huge hunk of the electorate swallowed it all hook, line and sinker – so much for our compassionate […]
Continue readingPolygonic: If this isn’t bittersweet…
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – welcome to Dickensian Canada. The best of times, in some ways – a social democratic party’s never had a bigger share of the Parliamentary pie. And Quebec sovereigntists have never had less. The worst of times, clearly, in that years of fear-mongering […]
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