Policy prioritizing session

I attended the Liberal Party Policy Prioritization session this weekend.  All Ontario ridings sent representatives - I was one of the Halton delegates.  The event took place at Richmond Hills Sheraton Convention Centre at Hwy 7 & Leslie.

There were 70 resolutions up for debate, discussion, (friendly)amendments, and voting - to keep the policy on the list, or remove it.  At the end of the second day, the delegates had to vote their top 10.

I don't know the results yet as I had to leave before voting was complete.

I mentioned above that friendly amendments were entertained: these policies had all been worked on and for several months beforehand and voted on by the individual ridings.  Policy authors were invited to blend or amend their policies before the session but no amendment could change the intent of the written policy.

Join the riding association. Contributing to the policy-making process is one way that ordinary citizens can get involved in the democratic process.  Consultation and inclusiveness is part of what Liberalism is all about.  I found the whole process very interesting.

I will contest Halton Federal Liberal Nomination

After a great deal of consultation, I have decided to contest the nomination for the Halton Federal Liberal riding.  

Going for the nomination was so far off my radar, I had to take a step back when people began asking me to run after Deborah Gillis stepped aside.  After consultation with many people I trust and respect, I said yes.  It is a huge step but I feel it is the right one. 

What I bring to the job:

• Communications has always been my strong point and will always be a priority.  I’ve had many notes of thanks for the communications I employed over my seven years as a Milton councillor 
• I have been very involved in the community for many years, so I understand the needs of the community.
• I am a hard worker
• I research all sides of an issue because I don’t feel anybody has a lock on all the good ideas.

It's a fact that many people don’t care for the party leader, however, the credibility of the party would be irreparably damaged if the party was to endure yet another leadership change this soon. It’s time for grass roots Liberals to stand up and be counted, to pull the party together, to draw strength from one another.  

I hope to have community support for my nomination, a process which has three steps:

1. Getting the green light as a viable candidate - filling in a 35-page nomination package, which includes getting the signatures of 30 members in good standing, and obtaining police and credit checks. 
2. In concert with the first step: selling Liberal memberships ($10).  The more memberships sold, the more viable the candidate. It’s a matter of getting 20 people to sell 10 memberships, and those people selling 10 memberships, and so on.  Rather like a pyramid, really.
3. The 3^rd step is getting as many of those same people to attend the riding nomination meeting when it’s called – expected to be sooner, rather than later.  

It's purely a numbers game.  I hope to have the support of the community.