Cracks in Liberal unity surface at convention

W IN N IPEG • What was supposed to be a celebration of last fall’s historic election victory is showing signs of becoming a mini-referendum on Justin Trudeau’s leadership style.

Liberal members and supporters from across the country have gathered for their first party convention since defying the odds and winning a majority government last October. The mood has been almost jubilant, particularly given fresh memories of where the party was less than a year ago.

Party president Anna Gainey referenced that recent history in a speech to open the convention, noting that during the party’s past two conventions, in 2012 and 2014, “we found ourselves with just 34 MPs, third in the House of Commons, with fundraising challenges, and a party organization suited for another era.

“We were told to pursue quick fixes, or even to fold altogether,” she said. “But Liberals, and Canadians, had other ideas.”

Yet lingering beneath the surface was a growing unease for some Liberals about how the party’s leaders have been acting in recent weeks.

At issue Friday was the government’s handling of its proposed assisted-dying legislation, Bill C-14.

Party spokesman Braeden Caley confirmed late Thursday night that a request for an emergency resolution that would have seen Liberals debate C-14, and ask the government to ease its restrictions on who can seek a doctor-assisted death, had been rejected.

Caley said it did not meet the “established standards of an emergency resolution.”

But the resolution’s sponsor, Wendy Robbins, policy chair for the Liberals’ national women’s commission, told reporters she believed her request had been rejected because the party didn’t want to open the issue to debate, or mar its convention plans.

“Is there a mood to prevent this from being discussed? One hundred per cent sure. It’s like opening a can of worms,” she said. “But Justin is so clear that he wants this open and transparent process, right? Why not let people at a forum on policy talk about the most important policy of our generation?”

Meanwhile, some Liberals have been privately bristling over what they saw as heavyhanded efforts to get members to back proposed changes to the party’s constitution. Others say the changes go too far in concentrating power at the top.

The changes would get rid of the traditional idea of membership so that any Canadian could sign up as a “registered Liberal” without paying a fee. But critics say it doesn’t include any indication on what kinds of bylaws will be introduced by the Liberal president Anna Gainey, speaking at the opening of the Liberal convention, emphasized the party’s electoral advances and gains in organization.