Big weekend for Liberals
The Liberal party of Canada is hosting a talkfest for the interested in Montreal this weekend. Called Conference 150 it is dubbed a "thinkers conference". Already it is being dissed by Harperites, story here, so it must be striking a nerve. The framework is of an innovative nature (perhaps because it is, it riles the neo-cons) because although it is limited to a number of participants the whole conference is interactive and local associations have rented space for local thinkers to get together. In fact in NQW we have two such events. One is being sponsored by Andrew McFadyen and has rented space in the Brighton Lions Centre look here for details, and another has been organised by the nominated candidate Kim Rudd and will take place at the Cobourg best Western Motel.
The interesting thing about these duelling "thinkfests" is that I received the first one from the McFadyen camp thus making me think that the Ruddites are still playing catchup in local Lib affairs. Not a good thing to be doingwhen an election may be imminent. Strike that no election until the 78 MPs (our own included) have qualified for the pension in late Spring.
Still any conference that has the Harperites apoplectic suits me just fine
The interesting thing about these duelling "thinkfests" is that I received the first one from the McFadyen camp thus making me think that the Ruddites are still playing catchup in local Lib affairs. Not a good thing to be doing
Still any conference that has the Harperites apoplectic suits me just fine
16 comments:
The Executive of the Northumberland--Quinte West Federal Liberal Association resolved some time ago that its Canada 150 event would be held at the Best Western in conjunction with the national event in Montreal. Subsequently Andrew McFayden, who placed a distant third in the nomination race and chose not to seek re-election to the Executive, announced that he would be having an event himself. The more the merrier, I guess. I'm just glad that the national event is attracting such interest.
Why would a third place loser candidate be hosting any events on behalf of local liberals?
would the anonymous commenter who wrote last night about the places in history that Doug Galt and Lou Rinaldi have. Please resubmit the comment got mangled and lost. Perhaps it may have been the incendiary phrases used to describe the editorial content of this journal that casued the flameout. But anyway the content is relevent though a little insulting we need it back. So send it in and let the world judge its contents.
nice to see the local Liberals are still inwardly focused, fighting amongst themselves, rather than tackling their electoral opposition!
Norlock must be thrilled. Congrats Team Liberal!
The last time Liberals got together in Montreal for a big shindig Dion was the booby prize. Anybody know what's up for grabs this time ? I don't know any details but, " third place loser candidate " Andrew McFayden must have ruffled a few feathers in local Liberal nests.
He ruffles feathers the same way Ann Coulter ruffles feathers. Like Coulter, just ignore him. No one takes it seriously anyway.
It is clear from the Canada 150 website that anyone was welcome to organize a local event to listen to the conference webcast and have discussions. The official event in Northumberland--Quinte West, organized by the riding association, is focusing on jobs which is the Friday topic at the conference. Andrew McFayden's meeting in Brighton is on the Saturday, and in Campbellford on the Sunday. No conflict here. Andrew sent me a note wishing us a successful meeting in Cobourg.
Thanks for the info Gary, most informative. I hope you get plenty of participation, as I have said before anything causes grief in conservative ranks can't be all that bad
ben
I read in the Tor Star that MPs were not invited to the Montreal meeting, and that seems as strange to me as it appeared to the story's writer.
Is this just for back room boys? Iggy's old academic buddies maybe? What gives, Liberals?
I guess if you let the back room boys elect your leader instead of the party members, even your elected reps. don't count for much.
Interesting comment from Deb, raising a darn good question. I'd like to supplement the question by asking if there are any backroom broads with the backroom boys?
"He ruffles feathers the same way Ann Coulter ruffles feathers. Like Coulter, just ignore him. No one takes it seriously anyway."
The ruffled feathers at UofO behaved boorishly; typical leftist brownshirts, terrible, terrible, afraid of what? WORDS!
And to think that half a century ago, on the Berkley campus of UCLA, it was the left that spearheaded the Free Speech Movement.
Be afraid, be terribly afraid. There are words on the loose terrifying young Canadian students. Gordon Gilchrist swarmers.
Anne Coulter is correct to describe Canadians a "bed-wetters." What a pathetic people we have become!
hey Wally I agree with you she should have allowed herself to speak, her security cancelled not the ottawa cops. when she speaks she really lets everybody know what a wingnut she is.
It was cancelled by her security because of the mob rule of political colorectalistas.
Michael Moron and Ann Cooters are both ludicrous wingnuts.
Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will make me cry.
Hi Ben,
Was just informed of this post and thought I'd take the opportunity to clarify some erroneous comments posted by a few named and unnamed readers of your blog.
The Canada at 150 event that was hosted by our National Liberal Party was an online event that clearly invited Liberals across the country to gather, share ideas, and engage their community to think about our vision for Canada as we prepare for our 150th birthday.
As such, a large group of Liberals decided to host an event in the Brighton area, using my list of contacts to send out invitations across the riding, in hopes of ensuring participation from all areas of Northumberland-Quinte West.
This was never an event hosted by myself alone, nor was it an event designed to compete with the event hosted by the NQWFLA executive. In fact, I would have been proud to take part in the Friday activities in Cobourg had I not been working during the day. Gary is correct in pointing out that I sent my regrets to his invitation and I appreciate him clarifying the conversation from his point of view.
Although I have been unable to participate in recent Liberal activities due to health concerns, I was thrilled at the response that both events in Brighton and Cobourg had on a local and national level, and I was proud to be a part of the weekend.
Regards,
Andrew
I was involved in the Brighton Canada 150 get together. In fact I crafted the content of the invitation. Originally we talked of sharing the excitement in the living room of a friend but as we anticipated who else might want to participate we decided to share the cost among ourselves and have a bigger space.
The get together in Brighton was non partisan. I too could not make the Friday event in Cobourg as I was working.
One of the goals of the Conference in Montreal was to engage households across Canada. People signed in from their living-rooms. The Brighton get together was NOT a Liberal event and I for one am dismayed that others want to paint it as some local war. I would have loved to see gatherings all over Northumberland!
Kim MacNeil
In any political party, at the local level, one sign of strength is a number of people wishing to become the candidate! Such people bring a great variety of ideas, enthusiasm and energy to the local riding. It does not matter who places a 'distant third' or fourth: the value lies in the democratic exercise, and the ideas that are brought forth as a result. In any party, the members rally behind the winner and focus on a new goal.
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