Before the convention starts....

A couple of signs that the Liberal convention is a little less (or more) than a love-in:

1. First, the newly released report by Carolyn Bennett's change commission, found here:

http://www.liberal.ca/pdf/docs/change-commission-report.pdf

Bennett, a physician, former cabinet minister and long-time champion of more democracy in the Liberal party, has overseen a report that demands big improvements in the way the party is run -- including a call for the party to have a lot more input into election-campaign platforms. Neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have been very good at this...  Conventions have been seen as places for partisans to let off ideological steam while cooler heads get on with the business of governing and building election platforms, often at odds with party wishes.

2. And then there's this development today, in which a candidate for the national executive, Fabrice Rivault, is pulling out of the  race, pleading that about-to-be-acclaimed party president, Alf Apps, is showing favouritism in the contest.

In his press release of today, Rivault says:

"It is distressing that our future President chose to take side publically in this particular democratic competition, while he abstained from doing so in the other races."

...

 Rivault says he couldn't run for a position that would have required he and Apps to work together supportively.

Apps does indeed appear at this website -- http://www.brigittegarceau.ca/reactions_en.html -- with an endorsement for Brigitte Garceau,  in the post Rivault had sought.

"The paralysis that would have resulted with Mr. Apps being unable to collaborate with one of his Vice-Presidents is a situation we certainly would prefer to avoid. In this perspective, it is thus my duty to place the greater interests of the Party ahead of my own aspirations, as beneficial as they would have been for the future of our organization." 

The press release ends with a warning:  "...we will be keeping an eye on Mr. Apps ....If he fails to accomplish what Liberal members expect of him, it should be very clear to him today who will be questioning his Presidency at the next Biennial Convention."

Comments

[Wascally Wabbit]

Welcome back Susan. I gather from your Facebook profile that you have enplaned for Vancouver.
A lot of Liberals (myself being one) who were pushing for change in a democratic manner were frankly dismayed when Alf Apps was parachuted into the presidency (much like his friend and apparent protege Michael Ignatieff). It was so obviously rigged that other putative candidates ran for the hills.
I respect what Dr. Bennett and Doug Ferguson have been doing. I participated in much of it.
However - and I have posed this question to both of them - the last time Doug was president (this is his second run) - when he finished his term - there was another similar move to push aside other highly qualified and respected candidates. what we got then was Paul Martin and Michael Eizenga and a whole lot of Earnscliffe behind the scenes.
I think Mr. Ignatieff could find that the folks who won't be attending the Vancouver conference are waiting for clear signs that Dr. Bennett's and President Ferguson's ideas and those that they have pulled together from 2,000 active grassroots Liberals will prevail over any more backroom attempts to maintain the status quo and run the party from behind closed doors.