I Hear Vancouver is Lovely in May
There's increasing chatter in the back channels that, because the upcoming Liberal policy convention has been turned into a leadership one, the convention itself might relocate from Vancouver to Toronto, Montreal, or Ottawa.
Even though a Vancouver convention means a more expensive plane ticket for me, I think a move to central Canada would send all the wrong signals. Western Canada, particularly Vancouver, is the most promising growth area for the Liberal Party, and the road to eventual Liberal majority runs west.
There are certainly many more important and many more concrete things the LPC should be doing to make itself a player in Western Canada. But symbolism is important. You don't want to slap Western Liberals in the face after they fought a series of losing battles for the party during the last campaign. And with the Canucks surely out of the playoffs by the time May rolls in,
maybe a few locals will pay attention to the Liberal convention if it's taking place in their own backyard.
Even though a Vancouver convention means a more expensive plane ticket for me, I think a move to central Canada would send all the wrong signals. Western Canada, particularly Vancouver, is the most promising growth area for the Liberal Party, and the road to eventual Liberal majority runs west.
There are certainly many more important and many more concrete things the LPC should be doing to make itself a player in Western Canada. But symbolism is important. You don't want to slap Western Liberals in the face after they fought a series of losing battles for the party during the last campaign. And with the Canucks surely out of the playoffs by the time May rolls in,
maybe a few locals will pay attention to the Liberal convention if it's taking place in their own backyard.
Labels: Liberal Leadership Convention, Vancouver
posted by calgarygrit at
8:33 p.m.
12 Comments:
Vancouver IS lovely in May. I have managed to convince about 15 people to sign up for the party, but they only will if the convention is here.
These are Green and NDP voters that are key to getting back 4 of the 5 Vancouver ridings. If the LPC exec moves this to Toronto or Montreal, I'll have lost them.
By
Lori, at 8:43 p.m.
I think we should take my (and several others') suggestion, and hold "co-conventions" - one in Toronto, and one in Vancouver - maybe even one in Halifax - to see if we can get more participation locally. They should be electronically linked.
We'll be the "new, techie, web-savvy" party. We should also incorporate a lot of Obama's fund-raising techniques while we're at it. Howard Dean is a genious.... YEAAAAHHHH!
By
WesternGrit, at 9:07 p.m.
It would be foolish to move the convention from Vancouver.
2009 marks the 25th anniversary of John Turner's ridiculous, audacious decision to run in Quadra.
Surely we have the guts to be at least as crazy as John Turner. It sends the right message in a part of the country that the Liberal Party could grow.
And after factoring in delegate fees, meals, accomodations and miscellaneous, the incremental cost of airfare isn't as much of a factor as it appears.
By
C4SR, at 9:13 p.m.
The LPC isn't stupid enough to move it out of Vancouver, are they?
But then again...
By
Anonymous, at 9:28 p.m.
You've got my vote, CG. And by the way, you can handily make Calgary-Vancouver in a day's drive. I understand WG's point but I think the party really has to make a sincere gesture to the West. If the LPC can't focus on finally making inroads in the West, it may have to get used to spending a lot of time in the desert.
By
The Mound of Sound, at 9:43 p.m.
I gotta agree, Vancouver is a fantastic spot for Liberals to hold a convention -- I think you're right about the West being fertile grounds for them.
By
Ashley_Wilkes-Booth, at 12:11 a.m.
I tell you what, if the brass is stupid enough to move the convention, the party is dead. Done. Never coming back. No exaggeration, no joke.
It would be the final piece of evidence to prove that they never, ever learn from their mistakes.
By
Anonymous, at 12:12 a.m.
They should do it in Alberta for exactly the same reasons you've stated.
By
Avnish, at 1:01 a.m.
It has to be Vancouver, the site is already booked. Oh, they can change that IF they can find another suitable, affordable building (I could live with Maple Leaf Gardens, because a political convention was designed to be played in a rink) but I won't be happy. I went to Montreal, my wife supported me; now that its suppose to be in my home town (and now that we've got two children, the permission will be harder to find) they can't be changing course.
I know that if its here, my chances of winning a delegate spot is going to be tougher in other ways (more competition for the spot)... Our executive is mulling over the idea of running as an undeclared slate. The powers that be need to realize that the message will not be warm if they abandon western canada for ol' tried-and-true Ontario or Quebec.
The only thing going for that is the economic problems already taking root there; by May the whole country will be in the quagmire so attendance targets will need to be adjusted accordingly.
By
burlivespipe, at 3:32 a.m.
Departing: Fri, May 1, 2009
Halifax(YHZ) to Vancouver(YVR)
Halifax(YHZ) to Vancouver(YVR)
Returning: Mon, May 4, 2009
Vancouver(YVR) to Halifax(YHZ)
Total Cost of Flight
$1,217.33 CAD
And how much is the fee for the convention?
Starting off on the right foot with that 308 plan.. very inclusive.. but hey, at least it's symbolic.
I think westerngrit is on the right track..
By
me dere robert, at 7:53 a.m.
The question is whether the symbolism of having the convention in the West is worth the severe effects it will have on which (and how many) delegates can attend.
By
Demosthenes, at 3:21 p.m.
Niagara Falls is lovely in May.
By
James Curran, at 7:57 a.m.
Post a Comment
<< Home