Liberals announce Change Commission
2009-01-18
OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff today announced the creation of the Liberal Party of Canada’s Change Commission, which will be co-chaired by Doug Ferguson, President of the Liberal Party of Canada, The Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Member of Parliament for St. Paul’s, and Brigitte Garceau, President of the Westmount – Ville-Marie Federal Liberal Association.
The Change Commission was created by the National Executive of the Liberal Party of Canada with a mandate to consider nine specific questions related to the long term strategic change of the Party.
“This process is about listening to the grassroots of our Party,” said Mr. Ignatieff.
In her capacity as Co-Chair of the Change Commission, Dr. Bennett will also serve as the liaison to the newly created special committee on party renewal.
“Carolyn has always championed the voices of our grassroots and I am thrilled she has agreed to take on this task,” said Mr. Ignatieff.
The special committee on party renewal, co-chaired by the Honourable Navdeep Bains and Steven Mackinnon, will focus on making recommendations to the National Executive of the Party on constitutional reforms, which – if adopted by the National Executive – will be voted on by the grassroots of the Party at the May Biennial Convention in Vancouver.
The Change Commission will focus on long term changes to the Party’s engagement, communications, fundraising, policy, and election-readiness strategies.
“Our objective is to put in place the necessary mechanisms to build a modern, successful Liberal Party that is fair, transparent, and built on the solid foundation of grassroots support,” said Ms. Bennett. “I look forward to the work ahead.”
An online consultative process will begin this weekend on En Famille, a new Liberals-only online discussion forum.
“We have an excellent team leading the process to make the changes we need prior to the next federal election and to consider the longer-term changes we need for the future of our Party,” said Mr. Ignatieff.