Policy/Constitutional Committee "Elections"

[Gigabot [Bot]]

Well, it has been several months since word slipped out that National Council was holding elections for a policy committee and a constitutional committee for the next convention.

Rumour had it that two members from each province would be elected by the riding presidents. Unfortunately, the tight time frame meant that many people were unable to get their paperwork together in time to get their names submitted.

Well, I hustled around and got my paperwork signed and faxed in before the deadline. I received notice in the mail that my name had been submitted in time to run for the policy committee.

And, that was the last thing I heard.

The names of the nominees were never made public, the results and the vote count were never sent to us...and we were never offered the opportunity to have a scrutineer attend the counting of the ballots.

I have heard through the grapevine that the committees have been picked, but they have apparently decided not to bother sending the results to the people who took the trouble to jump through their bureaucratic hoops.

I guess my question is, why bother calling it an 'election' if there is to be no transparency in the process? They might as well have just cut the crap, and openly appointed the people they wanted.

[styky]

I guess my question is, why bother calling it an 'election' if there is to be no transparency in the process? They might as well have just cut the crap, and openly appointed the people they wanted.

For all we know because of the secretiveness of the whole process they just may have done that.

This is a crock.

Time to get my writing skills sharpened.

Letters will be going out.....who should get one

[reformthesystem]

Am I surprised... whaa who me?? NO!!

Looking at local EDA's they have all become totalitarian regimes it appears. The RED TORIES desperate to take control from anybody even resembling a real conservative.

There is going to be a shake out here soon not sure how it is going down but I see it coming.

[C.Morgan]

Well, it has been several months since word slipped out that National Council was holding elections for a policy committee and a constitutional committee for the next convention.

Rumour had it that two members from each province would be elected by the riding presidents. Unfortunately, the tight time frame meant that many people were unable to get their paperwork together in time to get their names submitted.

Well, I hustled around and got my paperwork signed and faxed in before the deadline. I received notice in the mail that my name had been submitted in time to run for the policy committee.

And, that was the last thing I heard.

The names of the nominees were never made public, the results and the vote count were never sent to us...and we were never offered the opportunity to have a scrutineer attend the counting of the ballots.

I have heard through the grapevine that the committees have been picked, but they have apparently decided not to bother sending the results to the people who took the trouble to jump through their bureaucratic hoops.

I guess my question is, why bother calling it an 'election' if there is to be no transparency in the process? They might as well have just cut the crap, and openly appointed the people they wanted.

If things were done like that Connie, some members may get the impression that policies and constitution are to be adhered to.

Cant have that.

[Connie Fournier]

If things were done like that Connie, some members may get the impression that policies and constitution are to be adhered to.

Cant have that.

As I understand it, these committees will have the power to choose which resolutions make it to the convention floor.

That's a powerful job.

[C.Morgan]

If things were done like that Connie, some members may get the impression that policies and constitution are to be adhered to.

Cant have that.

As I understand it, these committees will have the power to choose which resolutions make it to the convention floor.

That's a powerful job.

All the more reason not to have the unwashed membership getting involved.

Dont you remember the prior threads?

I was told quite harshly by others two main things.

1. The CPC is not populist.

2. Policies need not be implemented by the party.

[Connie Fournier]

That's fine if the CPC isn't populist and policies do not need to be implemented by the party...but they could have at least shown enough respect for our intelligence to call this process something other than 'an election'.

[Bruce-Grey-OS Reformer]

Respect and Tories are two words that are never used together. The Tory elite can not afford to allow people like yourself Connie to have that much power in the party.When I refer to "people like yourself" I am implying those individuals who have principles.

[Bruce-Grey-OS Reformer]

On a side note the Tory elite will like to see someone as a committee member, who is blindly Loyal to the party regardless of what it does. Khori-wan should be a shoo-in.

[Connie Fournier]

Respect and Tories are two words that are never used together. The Tory elite can not afford to allow people like yourself Connie to have that much power in the party.When I refer to "people like yourself" I am implying those individuals who have principles.

Thanks, BGOSR.

It didn't really surprise me to be frozen out. I just thought they would make some effort to make the process transparent and democratic because they called it an election.

[reformthesystem]

No offense but I was under the mistaken belief that the CPC was based on populist principles and that some of that still existed in this party. From what I gathered it was a major issue at the LAST policy convention.

The elitist Tory cabal has taken over since then and they will have no repeat of what happened last time it appears.

Well maybe the elite tories will have to do the door knocking and phone calling by themselves too.

[Bruce-Grey-OS Reformer]

I find the fact that they have so little regard for the members like yourself Connie and others across this nation who knocked on doors,raised $, and basically put their heart into the party in order that all Canadians could have better and hopefully less government. Their actions both internally(Party) and externally(government) will only help to make MORE Canadians cyncial of the political process.

[Enn]

I can appreciate the frustration that communications between the EDAs and the national office can be, and should be, improved. An example of such frustration is that the preceding discussion used terms like "us" and "them".


What I wonder is whether the current alleged situation is due to:


a) a learning curve the party is going through to integrate itself from its roots to its top. After all, the party is relatively new, and certain processes may still need to be developed.

b) disdain by top management of grassroots concerns and party democracy

c) a conspiracy by the national party to ignore the grassroots and dictate policy as they choose

d) other <provide your opinion>


I doubt that the current perceptions are due to devious or un-democratic plans by the national party, rather than to growing pains. After all, the party's success has been its foundations, and will likely continue to be so.

My recommendation would be to improve communications across the party.

As previously stated, the party is relatively new, so that beyond constitutional and policy reform, there may be a myriad of logistics that need to be worked out by due process.

If EDAs feel they do not have sufficient voice at the national level, and if they care, it is their responsibility to make their voices heard.

At the same time, it is incumbent on the national party to seriously consider the opinions of the grassroots, in particular through the EDAs, and be proactive in respecting the party's democratic foundations.

[styky]

My recommendation would be to improve communications across the party.

I hate to say this but the only time I ever hear from them is when they want whats in my wallet. To find out what's going on in the riding is like pulling teeth.

[reformthesystem]

My recommendation would be to improve communications across the party.

I hate to say this but the only time I ever hear from them is when they want whats in my wallet. To find out what's going on in the riding is like pulling teeth.

So true, sad to say.

Many of the EDA's are run like private social clubs exclusive to a small group that offer total loyalty to the leadership. Sometimes the leadership is a desperate person trying to get elected and the aparatus of the EDA solely exists for that purpose rather than building the brand that is the CPC.

My battles in the past have gone thusly:

The EDA is like a franchise of the CPC and exists to spread the brand. The EDA exists for its own purposes and that of the party always. The only time electioneering matters is before an election. The rest of the time the work is building the party. Seems simple but most people don't like that idea. They say the purpose of the EDA is to get somebody elected and that is all it exists for. I don't agree with this and I believe it is why conservatism is so weak in this country.