It’s truly a sad day when I write the above title. However a recent article Angry at party brass, grassroots Conservatives ready for change AKIN in the Edmonton Sun shared with me by a fellow Liberal got me wondering.
The Conservatives have watched themselves and their party take a lesson in humility. While the party leadership seem to miss the message, the grassroots members across the country have not. It is interesting to note that while the Liberal Party Leadership tries to force a constitution upon its membership which will weaken the role of the EDA and the access of the membership to the leadership and the control of the party. The Conservatives permit Constitutional Amendments from EDA’s, allowing for true membership input into the future of their party. Within the Liberal Party it is only those very few at the top of the Party who have any access to amending our Constitution. It is very telling how the proposed constitution lists those who will have the authority to propose amendments to the Constitution in the future;
- the Leader;
- the Management Committee;
- the National Board;
- any Provincial or Territorial Board; or
- any Commission
Consider how the Provincial or Territorial Board will look if this document is approved. To become a member of the Executive of a PTB, a candidate will have to mount a province or territory wide campaign. They will have to secure a majority of votes among ALL of the “Registered” Liberals in the entire province or territory. All for a volunteer, unpaid position. Of course life for the “Director” of a PTB may be much better, they may only need to be elected by the members of the National Board. The proposed Constitution guarantees only that “the Director elected for such Province
or Territory” unlike every other position in the proposed Constitution, there is no mention of who will vote for the Director.
While the Liberal Party ignores its current Constitution, by refusing to hold a Council of Presidents meeting as required. The Conservative Party has published a full list of Constitutional amendments presented, discussed and voted on by the members of the party. CPC Contitutional Amendment Proposals
While Liberal members across the country call for a secret ballot on the proposed Omnibus constitution being pushed forward by the party leadership, their cries fall on the deaf ears of their leadership. Even motions passed by Liberal EDA’s are ignored by the Leadership determined to force this document upon the membership.
The saddest part of this entire process is there is no reason members could not have been included. Across the Country, many delegates and EDA Executives agree with the need for Constitutional reform. We agree with the “modernization” of the party, all we have asked for is respect for the grassroots members.
