In October I was sitting on my couch in Victoria doing my due diligence on the role of National Policy Chair.

Using my laptop, I downloaded the Constitution of the Liberal Party from the web and scrolled to Article 33.

As I worked my way through the members and responsibilities of the National Policy and Platform Committee I had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

First, the leader could appoint anyone from the Party but there was no guidance in terms of gender and language.

And second, the veto.

Like one of those Hannah Barbera cartoon characters my eyes bulged out of my head.

And I quote :

“(The platform is) subject to the veto in whole or in part (including a veto line by line) by the Leader...”

Oh.

And following on, it turned out that the responsibility for drafting the Platform was not the responsibility of the elected National Policy Chair, was not a shared responsibility between the elected Chair and the appointed Vice-Chair who had to be a member of caucus but was the sole responsibility of the latter; the member’s voice was subordinate.

Well it stuck in my craw.

And then it made me very worried that I might be working hard campaigning for a position that would put me in the difficult -- careful not to use the word impossible – position of making promises that I could not keep.

A veto?

How come?

Narrow and irresponsible Parties have Leader’s vetos; but this Party, in the 21st century?

We are better than that, surely!

Now delegates will have the chance to end the veto and restore the balance to constant Canadian conversation rooted in Liberal values of inclusion, responsibility, and empathy.

And while we’re at it, let’s make it unanimous. 

The modest proposal of Sheila and Paul -- A Modest Prosposal: Relationships and Representation / Relations et représentation