Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL
1. What are the important dates? How do they fit into the Liberal Party of Canada’s (LPC) Constitution?
May 3, 2011: In the wake of the 2011 election results and following Mr. Ignatieff’s announcement to resign, voting members of the LPC National Board of Directors discuss election results and responsibilities on resignation of Leader. Members of the Board agree to consult with their constituencies over the ensuing week.
May 4, 2011: Statement by the LPC President, Alfred Apps to members:
http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/statement-president-liberal-party-canada-alfred-apps/
May 9, 2011: LPC National Board of Directors meets formally to discuss their responsibilities as elected representatives of the LPC membership. The LPC Constitution states that the LPC National Board of Directors must, in consultation with the Caucus, appoint an “Interim Leader” to act until a permanent Leader is selected by the Party members. National Board issues Statement to Caucus to summarize the results of its consultations and deliberations.
May 11, 2011: Representatives of the LPC National Board of Directors attend the LPC National Caucus meeting to discuss the LPC National Board of Director’s deliberations and membership feedback.
May 12, 2011:
LPC President, Alfred Apps, debriefs voting members of the LPC National Board of Directors and canvasses opinions again and urges continued consultations with Liberals by all members.
May 14, 2011: Statement by the LPC National Membership Secretary, Robert Hamish Jamieson, to members:
http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/statement-robert-hamish-jamieson-national-membership-secretary/
Week of May 16, 2011: LPC National Board of Directors hold consultations with various LPC stakeholders to discuss the appointment process of the LPC Interim Leader, the selection process for a permanent Leader, and to report on the consultation process between the LPC National Board of Directors and the LPC Caucus. Participants include: the Council of Presidents, National Commissions, and 2011 defeated candidates.
May 20, 2011: Membership cut off. Only members in good standing are eligible to vote or stand for election as a delegate.
May 25, 2011: LPC National Caucus meeting.
May 30, 2011: Deadline for the LPC National Board of Directors to appoint an Interim Leader.
June 2, 2011: LPC National Board of Directors sets date of Leadership Vote for October 29, 2011.
June 3, 2011: Deadline to submit intention to stand as a delegate. Any member in good standing can run to stand as a delegate.
June 11, 2011/June 12, 2011: Delegate Selection meeting date.
June 18, 2011: As proposed by the LPC National Board of Directors and based on membership feedback, LPC holds an extraordinary convention to propose amendments to the LPC Constitution to postpone the Leadership Vote until a future date and to postpone the Biennial Convention and the Council of Presidents Annual General Meeting to January 2012.
2. Who are the elected members of the Liberal Party of Canada’s National Board of Directors?
The list of LPC National Board of Directors is available on our website LIBERAL.CA.
3. How are members of the Liberal Party of Canada’s National Board of Directors elected?
The composition and election of the LPC National Board of Directors can be found in Sections 22, 61 4(a), 14 3(g) and 34 3(b) of the LPC Constitution.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
4. Where can I find the Liberal Party of Canada’s Constitution?
The LPC Constitution is available on our website LIBERAL.CA.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
5. How can I become a member of the Liberal Party of Canada?
By becoming a LPC member, you can:
- Participate in a vibrant, evolving policy process – help shape the policies that a Liberal government will turn into law;
- Attend community events and national conventions – such as the June 18 extraordinary convention, Leadership Vote and Biennial Convention - meet like-minded Canadians with a passion for politics;
- Work with other Liberals to drive social action on the important issues that affect your community; and
- Vote to elect the candidate who will carry the Liberal banner for your riding.
Become a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.
INTERIM LEADER
1. How will the Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada be chosen?
The LPC Constitution states that the LPC National Board of Directors must, in consultation with the Caucus, appoint an “Interim Leader” to act until a permanent leader is selected by the Party members.
The LPC National Board of Directors, based on continued membership feedback, determined criteria to guide the appointment of the Interim Leader.
On May 11, 2011 representatives of the LPC National Board of Directors attended the LPC National Caucus meeting to discuss the LPC National Board of Director’s deliberations and membership feedback.
For more information regarding the appointment of an Interim Leader, please see Section 54 of the LPC Constitution entitled Call of Leadership Vote.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
BIENNIAL CONVENTION
1. When is the next Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) Biennial Convention?
The LPC biennial convention was announced for June 17-18, 2011. The LPC Constitution states that in the case of the actual or expected dissolution of the House of Commons, if a Leadership Vote is called or where other circumstances exist that make it significantly impractical to hold a convention, then the LPC National Board of Directors may reschedule any convention of the Party for a date within six months of the original date.
For more information regarding the postponement of a convention, please see Section 65 (5) of the LPC Constitution entitled Call of conventions.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
2. Does the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) Constitution allow LPC to move the date of the Biennial Convention?
Yes, the LPC Constitution states that the LPC National Board of Directors may reschedule any convention of the Party for a date within six months of the original date.
Since the convention facility and hotels can only accommodate our convention in January 2012 the delegates participating in the June 18 extraordinary convention will be asked to approve the new proposed date of January 13-15, 2012, since it falls outside the above mentioned six month timeline. Additionally, this will avoid members from being precluded from participating as a result of their having made their maximum donation to the Party for 2011.
For more information regarding the postponement of a convention, please see Section 65 (5) of the LPC Constitution entitled Call of conventions.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
EXTRAORDINARY CONVENTION
1. Does the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) Constitution allow for an extraordinary convention?
Yes, the LPC Constitution states that the LPC National Board of Directors may call an extraordinary convention of the Party at any time.
For more information regarding extraordinary conventions, please see Section 65 (3) of the LPC Constitution entitled Call of conventions.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
2. What information will be sent to the membership about the extraordinary convention?
A statement by the LPC National Membership Secretary, Robert Hamish Jamieson, was issued by email to the membership on Saturday, May 14, 2011 and is available on our website LIBERAL.CA.
The official notices for the extraordinary convention and delegate selection meetings will be sent by mail the week of May 24, 2011.
3. Who is eligible to participate in the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) extraordinary convention?
For more information regarding participation in any LPC convention, please see Section 62 of the LPC Constitution entitled Right to attend and vote.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
4. I am a member of the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC), how do I get involved in the extraordinary convention?
LPC members in good standing can be elected as a delegate or vote to elect a delegate for any convention by attending a delegate selection meeting in their electoral district.
For more information regarding how members can participate in any LPC convention, please see Section 63 of the LPC Constitution entitled Delegate selection meetings.
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
5. What resolutions will be considered and voted on by delegates at the Extraordinary Convention on June 18, 2011?
Two resolutions were unanimously approved by the National Board to be placed before the delegates for consideration and vote at the Extraordinary Convention on June 18, 2011. These resolutions were a result of extensive consultations with the Caucus leadership, the Council of Presidents, defeated candidates, Commission executives and other Liberals.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
JUNE 18, 2011 EXTRAORDINARY CONVENTION
1. The members of the Party assembled in convention, as a Special Resolution, amend the Constitution to add as section 82(1) the following:
Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Constitution (including, but not limited to, section 54):
(a) the meeting of the National Board of Directors required by subsection 54(3) as a consequence of the resignation of the Leader in May 2011 shall be held at any time on or before October 1, 2012; and
(b) at the meeting referred to in Paragraph (a), the National Board of Directors, in consultation with the Caucus and the Council of Presidents and on five (5) months’ notice to the Party, shall set a date for a Leadership Vote between November 1, 2012 and February 28, 2013.
This subsection (1) shall no longer be of force or effect on the later of the conclusion of the Leadership Vote contemplated by Paragraph (a) and February 28, 2013.
2. The members of the Party assembled in convention, as a Special Resolution, amend the Constitution to add as section 82(2) the following:
Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Constitution (including, but not limited to, section 65), the next biennial convention of the Party (which is the rescheduled biennial convention of the Party originally called for June 17, 2011) including the related in-person meeting of the Council of Presidents shall be held on January 13 to 15, 2012 at Ottawa, Ontario. This subsection (2) shall no longer be of force or effect on January 15, 2012.
LEADERSHIP VOTE
1. When will the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) hold their Leadership Vote?
The LPC Constitution, most recently amended by delegates to the 2009 Vancouver Convention, prescribes that the LPC National Board of Directors must hold a Leadership Vote to select a new Liberal Leader. Adhering to the constitution, the LPC National Board of Directors has set this Leadership Vote to give the maximum time allowed (5 months) which is October 29, 2011. The Leadership Vote is a direct vote of all members of the Party who have a right to vote on the Leadership Vote weighted equally for each electoral district in Canada.
As proposed by the LPC National Board of Directors and based on membership feedback, LPC will hold an extraordinary convention on June 18, 2011 to propose amendments to the LPC Constitution to postpone the Leadership Vote until a future date.
For more information regarding the Leadership Vote process and the extraordinary convention, please see the statement by LPC National Membership Secretary, Robert Hamish Jamieson.
2. Following the June 18, 2011 extraordinary convention, should the membership agree to postpone the Leadership Vote, when will the Leadership Vote take place?
The notice of the Leadership Vote will be sent to the membership once a timeframe has been voted on by the delegates at the June 18, 2011 extraordinary convention.
3. Does the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) need to have a convention to vote for a new Leader?
No, as decided by the membership at the 2009 Vancouver Biennial Convention, the LPC does not need to hold a convention in conjunction with the Leadership Vote. The Leadership Vote is a direct vote of all members of the Party who have a right to vote on the Leadership Vote weighted equally for each electoral district in Canada. Members cast their ballot at their electoral district meeting.
The biennial convention and Leadership Vote do not need to occur at the same time.
For more information regarding the Leadership Vote procedure, please see Section 56 of the LPC Constitution entitled Leadership Vote Procedure:
http://cdn3.liberal.ca/files/2010/05/lpc-2009-constitution-en.pdf
