Some of the proposals coming forth tackle riding nominations, in the sense that incumbents will no longer be protected. As it stands now, a candidate runs for a Liberal nomination, if he/she wins that battle, they then move to sew up the entire riding association and it becomes their personal kingdom, until which time they unilaterally decide to pack it in. Harsh, but not an exaggeration. Part of the problem Liberals find themselves in today is a lack of "new talent", the turnover rate is simply a hindrance to renewal. You constantly need new blood, new people coming in and a system that allows for periodic referrals for a more general approval. I would actually favour a 2 year "leadership review" at the riding level, wherein members do as they do at conventions, vote on MP performance and incorporate certain informal thresholds.
By making MP's constantly accountable, it isn't an attack on them, it simply demands a certain level of performance, that constantly seeks reaffirmation from the rank and file. Add in the proposal to END appointed candidates from the top, and you start to have internal machinations which actually look like a representative democracy. It's a bit farcical to have a party operate with an almost "strongman" mentality, then pivot to be a champion of democratic institutions in a more general sense.
The party leadership apparatus shouldn't dictate to the ridings who their nominee should be, nor should they interfere in any way for that matter. Representation should be left to the grassroots, which also means any candidate or MP shouldn't be able to seize the levers at the riding level, making it almost impossible to revitalize, until retirement or eventual defeat. Periodic references to riding members is a healthy excercise, perhaps "messy", but indicative of something to fight for, which in and of itself is the underpinning of any successful "movement". Open it up, take it out of the leader's control and make people forever accountable. Encouraging signs.
6 comments:
To work, a riding-level review would have to be more than a rubber stamp, and done in a critical way. But how do you tell someone who's won several elections that they can't run again in their current riding? And, of course, the reviews would inevitably be leaked to the press.
Where does it say they can't run again???
I agree Steve. Those that want to run for the leadership would still be able to run and the delegates would be the ones choosing the next leader. That sounds just about right and fair to all.
Cheers. Have a great day.
I think Sheila Copps was allowed to "run again" against Valeri, but the fix was in, was it not?
When I mentioning running, I meant in the election, not the nomination.
That said, I don't like "star" candidates (Fantino comes to mind), or the dug-in types (Volpe) any more than you do.
There is nothing I favour that precludes a MP from running again and again, only that their candidacy receive further legitimacy through party sanction.
Both sides of this argument are open for misuse. A wannabe challenger signs up a lot of members and can push a vulnerable, decent MP to the wall -- at least an uncomfortable and possibly embarrassing situation -- just because the power of membership. I agree that MPs and candidates need to be more receptive and accountable to the membership, but lets not think that by requiring annual or semi-annual votes on their abilities won't be open to the same kind of shenanigans.
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