No Democratic Procedures For Dion

[scribblet]

I understand that Martha Hall Findlay has been crowned by Dion as the Liberal candidate for Willowdale. Those minor details such as democratic procedures and a nomination meeting of the members and an candidate election were bypassed. So much for the Liberal party addressing the democratic deficit.

[hiti]

Did you also read how the riding took a vote and were unanimous in asking Stephan Dion to appoint Finlay as their candidate?

Would this not count as a nomination meeting?

Wasn't Andres in Calgary Centre also nominated by his riding without an election or selection committee? And now the judge has ruled that Harper's Cons broke their own rules when they would not allow a nomination meeting.

So scriblett, why don't you take Finlay's riding to court and force them to have a nomination meeting.

[Alexandra]

I understand that Martha Hall Findlay has been crowned by Dion as the Liberal candidate for Willowdale. Those minor details such as democratic procedures and a nomination meeting of the members and an candidate election were bypassed. So much for the Liberal party addressing the democratic deficit.

Steffiane has also promised to have more women nominated. No doubt he will be appointing a dozen or more women, if he can coerce them to run, to all of the ridings where the Liberal MPs' have decided to quit the sinking ship. So much for the 'equality' thingie. No men need apply!

[Canadian Blue]

I understand that Martha Hall Findlay has been crowned by Dion as the Liberal candidate for Willowdale. Those minor details such as democratic procedures and a nomination meeting of the members and an candidate election were bypassed. So much for the Liberal party addressing the democratic deficit.

Former PM Martin said he would address it, unfortunately it never happened.

Would this not count as a nomination meeting?

Wasn't Andres in Calgary Centre also nominated by his riding without an election or selection committee? And now the judge has ruled that Harper's Cons broke their own rules when they would not allow a nomination meeting.

So scriblett, why don't you take Finlay's riding to court and force them to have a nomination meeting.

Anders is completely useless as an MP, and I hope the Conservatives come to their senses and get rid of him.

Steffiane has also promised to have more women nominated. No doubt he will be appointing a dozen or more women, if he can coerce them to run, to all of the ridings where the Liberal MPs' have decided to quit the sinking ship. So much for the 'equality' thingie. No men need apply!

I have a feeling that what will end up happening is we'll see a ton of women running in safe tory seats. That was a ridiculous promise to begin with, especially since it can be met by simply nominating women in seat's where they have no chance of even winning. If we want more women in parliament the only way to do that is with PR.

[Michael Bluth]

I have a feeling that what will end up happening is we'll see a ton of women running in safe tory seats. That was a ridiculous promise to begin with, especially since it can be met by simply nominating women in seat's where they have no chance of even winning. If we want more women in parliament the only way to do that is with PR.

We want democracy to rule.

There are a number of ways to help women run and succeed.

Legal quotas is not the way to go.

[scribblet]

The riding association shouldn't have the right to override the voting rights of the constituents, there could have been other qualified applicants. Affirmative action doesn't always produce the best candidate.

[hiti]

The riding association shouldn't have the right to override the voting rights of the constituents, there could have been other qualified applicants. Affirmative action doesn't always produce the best candidate.

Well it seems that in Willowdale no other candidates came forward.

But that was not the case in Calgary where candidates wanted to run against Anders but were not allowed the opportunity.

[Michael Bluth]

Well it seems that in Willowdale no other candidates came forward.

Do support that with actual evidence.

Your claim doesn't even pass the laugh test.

Nobody from the GTA wanted to run for the Liberals in one of their safest seats in the entire country?

[Argus]

Did you also read how the riding took a vote and were unanimous in asking Stephan Dion to appoint Finlay as their candidate?

Would this not count as a nomination meeting?

Kind of like the old Supreme Soviet. They always got to vote. but woe to anyone who didn't vote how the party told him.

[jdobbin]

The riding association shouldn't have the right to override the voting rights of the constituents, there could have been other qualified applicants. Affirmative action doesn't always produce the best candidate.

What voting rights do the constituents of a riding have over party memberships? Seems like the party membership affirmed the appointed candidate.

I have no problem with any leader appointing a candidate for a riding. The problem for that leader is if he alienates the party members of that riding.

In this case, they seem to have welcomed Hall-Findlay.

[scribblet]

Seems that the riding association passed a motion that Dion appoint Martha Hall Finlay as their candidate. Can't get any more democratic than that now can we

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics...ad89bd5&k=30570

OTTAWA -- Liberal Leader Stephane Dion used his power to appoint an election candidate for the first time Thursday in the case of Martha Hall Findlay, the Toronto lawyer who criss-crossed the country in a red bus campaigning for the party leadership.

Laura Dowsley, vice-president of the Willowdale Liberal riding association, said they recommended the appointment to leave Hall Findlay free to continue her grassroots work until an election is called.

She said no one would have contested the nomination. - sure - hmmm and she knows that how - oh well

Wonder how Belinda feels about being overshadowed - this could get interesting.

[scribblet]

The riding association shouldn't have the right to override the voting rights of the constituents, there could have been other qualified applicants. Affirmative action doesn't always produce the best candidate.

What voting rights do the constituents of a riding have over party memberships? Seems like the party membership affirmed the appointed candidate.

I have no problem with any leader appointing a candidate for a riding. The problem for that leader is if he alienates the party members of that riding.

In this case, they seem to have welcomes Hall-Findlay.

Sorry, slip up, I meant the paid up membership.

[Michael Bluth]

What voting rights do the constituents of a riding have over party memberships? Seems like the party membership affirmed the appointed candidate.

I have no problem with any leader appointing a candidate for a riding. The problem for that leader is if he alienates the party members of that riding.

In this case, they seem to have welcomes Hall-Findlay.

Yeah, OK.

In both Willowdale and Calgary West the riding exec voted to not have a nomination meeting.

Why is it ok for Dion and not Rob Anders?

Double-standards cost the Liberals their cherished Government.

Have they really learned nothing from the debacle of the Martin years?

[jdobbin]

Sorry, slip up, I meant the paid up membership.

Seems the riding association approved the choice.

As I said, I have no problem with the leader deciding who is going to run and who isn't.

Have the Liberals officially criticized the nomination process for the Tories? I can't recall that they have.

I know the media have reported nomination battles and some people here have made a big deal about appointed candidates but I certainly don't think there is any hay in it. As far as I'm concerned, it is an internal party matter.

The only concern for the leader should be whether the party membership as a whole will support what he or she does.

Most of the time, the public is not concerned about how a party chooses and candidate but who that candidate is.

[scribblet]

Sorry, slip up, I meant the paid up membership.

Seems the riding association approved the choice.

e, the public is not concerned about how a party chooses and candidate but who that candidate is.

But not the membership, should there not have been at least a vote by the membership giving the executive the right to bypass normal procedure.

I agree, most people don't care, its only people on groups like this who get narked about it. Some only get narked depending on which part is doing it LOL

[jdobbin]

But not the membership, should there not have been at least a vote by the membership giving the executive the right to bypass normal procedure.

I agree, most people don't care, its only people on groups like this who get narked about it. Some only get narked depending on which part is doing it LOL

I still think that how the party makes candidate selections is an internal matter for each party. A smart leader can't simply let the ridings be the final arbiter of who runs under the party banner. A smart leader can also not himself to piss off the local riding. It is a fine balancing act.

I personally don't care how the Conservatives or BQ or anyone decide on who to have run for them. I do care who the candidate is when the election is on. The electorate is the final arbiter of a party's choice.

I think most party members want some input on their candidate and from what I can tell, the local riding approved of the choice of Hall-Findlay.

[scribblet]

Could there be some backlash against appointing women

http://www.vijaysappani.com/myblog/?p=544#comments

Vijay Sappani has a warning for Stephane Dion;

This riding has a strong population of people from Bangladesh and Pakistan and they are active in the riding. The group that holds the key to the results will be the Tamil groups. We are going to put full resource to secure this seat. There is also a rumour/discussion about an appointment. The biggest issue is that an appointment for a female candidate will be seen as an move against Tamils. There is a possibility that M.Simson or someother female candidate might be appointed. They are all credible candidates and deserve an appointment.Do I have a problem with it? NO, but let Dion have a good answer when he is coming out to ask support from the Hindu and Tamil groups.

[ScottSA]

Could there be some backlash against appointing women

http://www.vijaysappani.com/myblog/?p=544#comments

Vijay Sappani has a warning for Stephane Dion;

This riding has a strong population of people from Bangladesh and Pakistan and they are active in the riding. The group that holds the key to the results will be the Tamil groups. We are going to put full resource to secure this seat. There is also a rumour/discussion about an appointment. The biggest issue is that an appointment for a female candidate will be seen as an move against Tamils. There is a possibility that M.Simson or someother female candidate might be appointed. They are all credible candidates and deserve an appointment.Do I have a problem with it? NO, but let Dion have a good answer when he is coming out to ask support from the Hindu and Tamil groups.

This speaks more to the Balkanization effect of muliculturalism than to a democratic deficit in the Liberal Party. The autocratic tendencies of the Liberal Party are well known, from the "natural governing party" meme (which broke out into a debate about "single party rule" in Canada just before the Libs were trounced) to the attempts at social engineering by appointment of candidates, but when ethnic groups openly band together to demand political power...THAT's a scary herald of things to come.

[gc1765]

We want democracy to rule.

There are a number of ways to help women run and succeed.

Legal quotas is not the way to go.

I agree. I'm curious though, do you have any suggestions for ways to help women run and succeed? I'd be interested in hearing peoples' idea on this. Thanks.

[M.Dancer]

The biggest issue is that an appointment for a female candidate will be seen as an move against Tamils

Considering that the First Elected Female Leader of a Nation was a Sri Lankan woman, well, I know many Tamils.....maybe because woman are so powerful already.....