Liberal Party Change Commission

1
Liberal PartyChange Commission

• Co-Chairs Carolyn Bennett, Doug Ferguson,
  Brigitte Garceau
• January 18, 2009

2
Charles Darwinonce said

• It is not the strongest of the species that
  survives, not the most intelligent, but the one
  most responsive to change.

3
What is theChange Commission?

• The Change Commission was formed to bring a
  collaborative effort towards change and renewal
  between the partys local riding membership,
  riding executives, caucus members, the Leader and
  the national executive.

4
Resolution of theNational Executive

• BE IT RESOLVED that the National Executive of the
  Liberal Party of Canada appoint a committee to
  consist of the following persons
• Permanent Members and Co-Chairs
• Doug Ferguson, President of the Liberal Party of
  Canada
• Hon. Carolyn Bennett, MP
• A francophone riding president to be appointed by
  the President (Brigitte Garceau)
• Rotating Members
• The President(s) of the PTAs in the province or
  region where the Committee holds a meeting
• One PTA Commission President from the province or
  region where the Committee holds a meeting (to be
  selected by the PTA President(s) in that province
  or region)
• One defeated candidate from the province or
  region where the Committee holds a meeting (to be
  selected by the PTA President(s) in that province
  or region)
• One riding president from the province or region
  where the Committee holds a meeting (to be
  selected by the PTA President(s) in that province
  or region)

5
Mandate

• The mandate of the Change Commission is to seek
  the opinions of party members on the future
  direction of the Liberal Party in areas such as
• 1) Why dont Liberals donate to the party as much
  as other political parties? How can we convince
  party members to donate to their riding and/or
  the national party?
• 2) How can we engage party members in the
  community? How can we attract community leaders
  to join the party?
• 3) How can we best rebuild weak riding
  associations?
• 4) How can we improve the partys use of
  technology? How can technology best serve our
  riding and our members?
• 5) How can we improve the structure of the party
  nationally, provincially, and locally?
• 6) How can LPC improve the partys internal
  communications? What do members want to hear
  from the party?
• 7) How can LPC and the provincial and territorial
  associations better serve riding associations?
• 8) How LPC can improve the policy resolution and
  policy discussion process?
• 9) How can we best reach out to community groups
  and multicultural organizations?
• 10) Other issues

6
Meetings and Timeline

• The Committee shall hold at least one in-person
  meeting in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario,
  Prairies, and BC/Territories. All members of the
  Liberal Party will be invited to attend the
  meeting in their region. Meetings shall be
  organized in cooperation with the local PTA and
  provide for on-line participation.
• The Committee shall complete its meetings by
  March 15, 2009, and submit a report to LPC by
  March 31, 2009. The report will be translated
  and submitted to the National Executive, National
  Caucus, and the Council of Presidents by April
  15, 2009.

7
Submissions to the Committee

• The Committee shall have the power to determine
  how it will receive submissions at meetings, and
  shall invite Liberal party members to make
  submissions electronically.

8
Launch
9
Background Library

• The Axworthy Report
• Renewal Commission
• The Red Ribbon Task Force
• Kingston and the Islands Report
• 21st Century Liberal Party of
• Canada Report (Scott Maxwell)
• Team Liberal Way Forward (Betsy McGregor)
• Consultation Report from Martha Hall Findlay
• Report from Joyce Murray

10
First Assignment

• The workbook questionnaire for all Riding
  Association Presidents, MPs and Candidates.
• Information will be collected on talent bank,
  opinion leaders, media contacts, community
  organizations, demographics and key issues
  impacting the Riding and the Party.

11
Using Technology

• User Voice
• (www.liberal.uservoice.com)

12
Consultation

• On-line chats on the 9 questions plus one open
  forum on other concerns/issues
• Receiving and collating responses to First
  Assignment

13
Compilation

• Summarize discussions and create draft report
• Caucus meeting to review
• Send out for feedback from participants

14
Leader and Tour

• Leader and Change Commission hold one in-person
  meeting in each Region with e-capacity to hook up
  the more distant ridings in the region.

X
X
X
X
X
15
Reporting

• Post results of regional meetings for feedback
• Finalize Report
• Translate and submit to National Executive,
  National Caucus. Council of Presidents

16
Council of Presidents

• Additionally, the Council of Presidents have
  struck 3 subcommittees
• 1.  Victory Fund Committee
• - How can we best market the Victory Fund to
  riding association members?
• - What incentives (if any) should be offered to
  join the Victory Fund?
• 2.  Riding Standards Committee
• - What minimum standards should we set for
  riding associations, including but not
  limited to, the following areas
• - Activities in the community
• - Membership
• - Victory Fund and other fundraising
• - Board and executive meetings
• - Election readiness
• - Policy
• - Communications with riding members and
  Liberal supporters
• 3.  Member Engagement Committee
• - How can riding associations best engage their
  members in the party and community?

17
EDA Report Card
18
MP Report Card
19
Candidate Report Card
20
Summary

• We are committed to putting in place the
  mechanisms necessary to achieve a modern
  successful party that is fair, transparent and
  takes the grassroots of the party seriously.