Leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada | Some obstacles in the race

Before we collectively launch into the analysis of the candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC) and the quality of their respective campaigns, it is imperative to raise two issues in this race.

1. Let’s wait for the validation of the applications by the PLC

Regardless of our political allegiances or what we think of the Liberals, or anyone connected to Justin Trudeau, we must remember that the people who design the rules to replace him at the head of the PLC are probably not at their first rodeo .

We will see this when all the requirements for submitting an application are revealed. In a leadership race, parties always put up barriers to entry to prevent anyone from aspiring to the position of leader. These barriers include, among others, the registration fees – announced at $350,000^⁠1 –particularly intrusive forms^⁠2 and a number of signatures.

Finally, we do not yet know the terms and conditions under which applications will be processed.

Remember that it is the Liberal Party of Canada which will have the last word. So, which of the application files will be accepted?

Difficult to say, unless the party announces that anyone meeting the criteria will be automatically accepted. To this day, we still do not know whether the PLC will make the decision to only allow federal Liberal MPs to enter the race. After all, how can we explain to the population, and to the opposition parties, that the person chosen to lead the government party does not have a seat in Parliament?

For your information, the PLC would not be the first party in this situation. Alberta Conservatives chose Danielle Smith to lead the party in 2022, and she wasn’t in Parliament³.

2. Internal democracy, foreign interference and “registered liberals”

Please forgive me for not dwelling on all the risks of foreign interference. It’s not because it’s not important, on the contrary, but there’s not enough space.

Despite the measures announced by the PLC, the door remains wide open for interference in the process itself, as during the Conservative Party of Canada race.⁴.

The PLC calls itself democratic, and it does so by giving the right to vote to all “registered liberals”¹. But the PLC, it must be emphasized, like several other federal and provincial political parties, chooses which of the candidates deserve the approval of the party, and therefore the privilege of moving to an internal democratic vote. Consequently, beyond a candidacy supported by a foreign power, it is the very security of the ballot in this leadership race which presents the greatest risk of foreign interference.

How will the ballots be protected? Will there be an online ballot? What measures guarantee the integrity of the vote?

In summary, the parties, including the PLC, are indeed open. But this openness poses a risk that foreign powers could influence a democratic vote. Unfortunately for the PLC, it will have to set an example if it wants to be irreproachable at the end of this leadership race.

In particular, the party has a duty and responsibility to clearly communicate how the voting process will be protected against interference. Then, and this is just as imperative, the PLC must have a clear and rigorous public plan setting out how its bodies intend to manage any doubt of interference or interference in all stages of the leadership race.

1. Read “Liberal Party of Canada – The next leader will be known on March 9”

2. See an example of such a form (see page 12, in English)

3. Read “Danielle Smith is new UCP leader — and Alberta’s next premier”

4. Consult the “Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions” (page 32, in English)

What do you think? Participate in the dialogue