Radio Ads Listen and Share the Ads Send a Letter to Stephen Harper Donate close

Liberals vote overwhelmingly in favour of one-member, one-vote

Published on May 2, 2009

Share

VANCOUVER – Grassroots Liberals voted to make their party more open, inclusive and democratic by giving all members a vote for choosing future party leaders.

“Now all Liberals can have a say in choosing who they want to be their Prime Minister,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. “Liberals have voted to open their party to Canadians by offering them the chance to make their voice heard on the national stage.”

The new one-member, one-vote (OMOV) leadership selection process is regionally-balanced by giving each riding in Canada equal influence.

“I'm front row centre at the constitutional plenary, voting card in hand, ready to pass OMOV and help democratize the Liberal Party,” @BCerinToronto tweeted to #van09 via Twitter. The Hon. Bob Rae, MP and the Hon. Belinda Stronach also spoke in favour of the amendment from the convention floor.

Future Liberal leaders must obtain the support of over half of all Liberal members through preferential ballot voting.

“This simple new process speaks to the progressive nature of the Liberal Party,” said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, co-chair of the Special Committee on Party Renewal. “For the $10 price of one red Liberal membership card, all Canadians - regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances - can play a meaningful role in our democracy.”

Liberals also voted on policy resolutions developed by grassroots Liberals through commissions and local riding associations. The resolutions were debated online through the EnFamile.Liberal.ca community forum in the lead-up to the Vancouver convention.

Policy resolutions passed at the convention provide the parliamentary caucus with a barometer of where grassroots Liberals are moving. Resolutions passed by Liberals today include support for:

• An emergency convention resolution to express sympathy for the victims of H1N1 influenza and to show confidence in our public health system;

• A national water policy to conserve and protect Canada’s clean water supply;

• Boosting economic growth through investments in research and development;

• Implementing a national early learning child care plan;

• Improved education and economic development for Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples;

• Aging with dignity through housing, homecare and learning enhancements for seniors; and

• Regional economic and business development through essential infrastructure

“I want to hear debate on every resolution. How nerdy is that? Good to hear opposing views and come to consensus. That’s democracy!” tweeted @Tania94 to #van09, via Twitter.

News

February 9, 2010 | In Stockwell Day’s weekly column for Kelowna.com, the new Treasury Board President states that January represented the “fourth straight month in a row” that jobs were created. In today’s column he wrote:

Reality Check: Treasury Board President Stockwell Day’s trouble with numbers

In Stockwell Day’s weekly column for Kelowna.com, the new Treasury Board President states that January represented the “fourth straight month in a row” that jobs were created. In today’s column he wrote:
February 9, 2010 | Liberals are working on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable to address the need for a secure supply of the medical isotopes needed to treat cancer and cardiac patients.

Liberals are working on a solution to Canada’s medical isotope crisis

Liberals are working on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable to address the need for a secure supply of the medical isotopes needed to treat cancer and cardiac patients.
February 9, 2010 | The Liberal Party of Canada is hosting a roundtable on Consular Affairs and the Rights of Canadians Abroad today as part of its series of meetings being held in Ottawa during the shut-down of Parliament by the Harper Government.

Liberals are working to protect the rights of Canadians abroad

The Liberal Party of Canada is hosting a roundtable on Consular Affairs and the Rights of Canadians Abroad today as part of its series of meetings being held in Ottawa during the shut-down of Parliament by the Harper Government.
February 8, 2010 | Acting Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault should immediately launch an investigation into political interference by the Harper government under the Access to Information Act, Liberal MPs said today.

Information Commissioner must probe Conservative interference

Acting Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault should immediately launch an investigation into political interference by the Harper government under the Access to Information Act, Liberal MPs said today.
February 8, 2010 | Liberals will be working tomorrow in Quebec City, as the Quebec caucus holds Winter meetings with important representatives of the region’s economic, technology, and research sectors. The mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume, will also meet with the caucus.

Liberals are working in Quebec City

Liberals will be working tomorrow in Quebec City, as the Quebec caucus holds Winter meetings with important representatives of the region’s economic, technology, and research sectors. The mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume, will also meet with the caucus.
February 8, 2010 | Liberals are continuing their work on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable on how to make Canada’s health care system sustainable for generations to come.

Liberals are working to sustain the future of Canada’s health care system

Liberals are continuing their work on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable on how to make Canada’s health care system sustainable for generations to come.
February 8, 2010 | “This is too little, too late. The Harper government allowed the Americans to rag the puck until any deal was basically irrelevant. Most of the U.S. stimulus has been spent, so Canadian companies are only left with the crumbs.”

In their own words: Buy American is a raw deal for Canada

“This is too little, too late. The Harper government allowed the Americans to rag the puck until any deal was basically irrelevant. Most of the U.S. stimulus has been spent, so Canadian companies are only left with the crumbs.”
February 8, 2010 | Liberals continue to be hard at work on Parliament Hill this week, starting with a forum on lifelong learning that will give voice to growing gaps in education under the Harper government.

Liberals are working to bring lifelong learning to all Canadians

Liberals continue to be hard at work on Parliament Hill this week, starting with a forum on lifelong learning that will give voice to growing gaps in education under the Harper government.
February 5, 2010 | Upon learning the news that Jack Layton, the Leader of the New Democratic Party, is battling cancer, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement:

Statement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff regarding Jack Layton

Upon learning the news that Jack Layton, the Leader of the New Democratic Party, is battling cancer, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement:
February 5, 2010 | The Harper Conservatives have little reason to brag about the belated resolution to the Buy American trade dispute, Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison said today.

Buy American deal too little, too late

The Harper Conservatives have little reason to brag about the belated resolution to the Buy American trade dispute, Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison said today.
« 1 2 3 4 5  ... »