FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER
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Dear members and supporters of the Quebec Liberal Party, Throughout the Quebec Liberal Party leadership race, which is barely behind us, I had the opportunity to share my opinions with you on a number of issues. I believe that it is relevant at this time for me to expand upon my thought process as it relates to the reform of our political organization, and to share these thoughts with you. I am therefore submitting to you my vision of the ideas and avenues we can explore, discuss and eventually bring to fruition together with a view on building a party with a renewed political agenda and an approach that is both democratic and participative, and always strives to be more ethical, competent and innovative. A party that is loyal to its historic values yet remains contemporary – a party that draws its strength from its activist background, encouraging democratic participation and rallying Quebecers of all generations from every region. The following pages expound upon the reforms that could be put in place, should you choose to endorse them, in order to achieve these objectives. They include the renewal of our policy platform, the adoption of a new code of ethics, the democratization and broader decentralization of our structures, the modernization of the election process for our future leaders, the digital revolution of our operations, and the strategic renewal of each of our permanent commissions. I will conclude this document by discussing our calendar and the organizational framework that must be put in place to ensure the success of these reforms, without neglecting our electoral deadlines and a number of promises I made during the last leadership campaign to strengthen the Youth Commission. Since its inception, the Quebec Liberal Party has been a fierce advocate for democracy and freedom in Quebec. Out of loyalty to this heritage, it is our duty to continue to fulfill this role by implementing a plan to reform our party that responds to the contemporary aspirations of Quebecers and restores their confidence in the political process. Philippe Couillard Quebec Liberal Party Leader
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER Table of contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... Page 01 1. A RENEWED POLICY PROGRAM ...................................................................................... Page 02 2. A COMPREHENSIVE CODE OF ETHICS ............................................................................ Page 04 3. DECENTRALIZED AND RESPONSIVE STRUCTURES ........................................................ Page 04 4. A MODERN LEADERSHIP SELECTION PROCESS ............................................................. Page 06 5. A DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN OUR OPERATIONS .............................................................. Page 07 6. A STRATEGIC REVIEW OF PERMANENT COMMISSIONS .............................................. Page 08 7. AN EFFICIENT SECRETARIAT, WITH MOTIVATED STAFF ................................................ Page 08 8. SPECIFIC MEASURES REGARDING THE YOUTH COMMISSION .................................... Page 09 9. A TIMELINE FOR REFORMS .............................................................................................. Page 09 10. THE ELECTION HORIZON ............................................................................................... Page 11 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ Page 12 14
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER INTRODUCTION Upon launching my leadership bid, I argued that the Quebec Liberal Party needed to take advantage of a spell in opposition to regroup, reassess, and renew. The changes I would like to implement with your help are aimed at providing our Party with: • A new policy program; • A new code of ethics; • Decentralized structures, more responsive to the rank and file members ; • An updated, modern process for electing future leaders of our Party; • A digital revolution in our operations; • A strategic (not only operational) rethink of every Permanent Commission; • An efficient secretariat, with an ever improving work ethic; • Specific measures aimed at highlighting the importance of our Youth Commission and helping its members work alongside senior members in every structure. I have written the following document with a view to provide details on each of those ideas, in order for the Quebec Liberal Party to once again be recognized as the most ethical, competent, audacious, inclusive and representative party in Quebec. In other words, a modern Party, ready as ever to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Its first sections will address each of the core areas of change I have outlined. Section 9 provides a calendar and a set of deadlines for the work to be done. Section 10 provides guidance with regards to achieving this ambitious reform agenda and takes into account the unpredictable election timeline. WORKING DOCUMENT 1
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 1. A RENEWED POLICY PROGRAM Over the course of the next year, the Policy Commission will be called upon to perform a crucial task, that of drafting all of the documents and resolutions that members will debate and vote on, during a major Policy Convention that I propose we hold during the 2014 Members’ Assembly. Once modified and adopted by members, the proposals originating from this substantial collective body of work will make up the Party’s official program, as specified in article 32 of our Constitution. An idea to consider: that of creating two distinct consultation groups that would support the Policy Commission. • The first would be tasked with collecting the answers from all members to a question I am very keen to ask to the largest possible number of them: “How can we renew the Party, reconnect it with its members and convince as many Quebecers as possible to embrace liberal values?” To guarantee its credibility and independence, this group should, in my opinion, be led by people who are not tied to the current leadership of the Party. The group should ideally begin its work this spring, to support and canvas members’ opinions during the first of the two General Councils that our Party convenes every year – in accordance with article 34 of our Constitution – and that the Executive Committee will likely hold in the early summer of 2013. This first group would thereafter continue consulting with all Party structures. Its final report would be presented at the next Members’ Assembly – which article 29 of our Constitution requires we hold no later than 2014 – an event that I would like to transform into a major policy convention. The aim is not for that first group to submit specific policy proposals, but instead to ensure that the Party undertakes the right kinds of change and that its program emphasizes the right themes. WORKING DOCUMENT 2
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 1. A RENEWED POLICY PROGRAM (CONTINUED) • The second consultation group would be tasked with helping our Policy Commission come up with new policy proposals to submit for debate among members at the Convention and other preparatory gatherings beforehand1. Since the Policy Commission already has links to the Party structure, this second group should also be made up of many people with no ties to the Party, such as experts and pressure groups of all kinds, from all regions of Quebec. Were this second group to be sustainable and formalized, I expect it could be transformed into an independent think tank. It could then provide guidance and analysis to all of Quebec’s liberal minds – whether or not they are members of the QLP – in their efforts to formulate, defend and illustrate liberal values2. 1 Details on the timeline for renewing the Policy Program can be found in section 9. 2 In some countries, such as Germany, political parties have their own official policy institutes. In others, parties have informal but fairly close links with specific think tanks, the United States for instance. In all cases, think tanks provide party policy commissions of parties with expertise and practical experience in an effort to design and implement particular policies. During transitions, and for training high caliber research staff, such institutes can also provide an invaluable advisory role. Their independence from a specific party allows them to forge close collaborations with experts and other organizations. This is often difficult for partisan policy commissions, given the reluctance of the latter to compromise their political neutrality, or simply as a result of policy disagreements on specific issues. WORKING DOCUMENT 3
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 2. A COMPREHENSIVE CODE OF ETHICS Presently, the Party’s code of ethics only regulates the behaviour of its paid staff and the members of its executive committee. As to its content, it is merely a statement of generic principles. My feeling is that Quebecers now have higher expectations in this regard. This is why I plan to ask the executive committee to improve and expand our code of ethics. With the approval of the executive committee, I would then direct our Legal Commission to draft a new version. The resulting code would be submitted to our 2014 Members’ Convention for debate, amendment and adoption. The new code of ethics should seek, in my view, to reflect best practices3. It would provide the Quebec Liberal Party with a modern set of guidelines, not only to spell out the kind of behaviour that is either expected or deviant, but also to embody a distinct set of values that members of the QLP would like to see associated with it. One of the challenges for the Legal Commission will be to figure out which areas require guidance from the Party, and which others can be entrusted to everyone’s common sense. Adopting such a code of ethics – and the governance measures necessary to implement it – would help a great deal in restoring citizens’ confidence in the integrity and practices of the Quebec Liberal Party, as well as encouraging positive emulation among all parties in Quebec. 3. DECENTRALIZED AND RESPONSIVE STRUCTURES The Quebec Liberal Party belongs to its members. Since The Quebec Liberal Party does belong to its members, it is worth asking: “Are the current structures designed to foster and enable full participation and a strong voice to rank and file members in every region?” A taskforce made up of people from various regions and permanent commissions of the Party will be tasked with assessing the current situation and propose adjustments and improvements to give our Party more decentralized, responsive and democratic structures. 3 Such as, for instance, the Manitoba Liberal Party, the UK Labour Party, the French Socialists, and some sections of the Democratic and American parties in the United States. WORKING DOCUMENT 4
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 3. DECENTRALIZED AND RESPONSIVE STRUCTURES (CONTINUED) Specifically, the taskforce should look at the following issues: • Electing regional presidents through a ballot of all Party members in the region4; • Decentralizing the Party’s secretariat5; • Introducing a form of equalization amongst riding associations, so members hailing from remote or less well-endowed riding associations can still participate fully in the democratic life of the Party6; • Introducing the notion of QLP “supporters”, and determining how their rights and privileges would differ from those of card-carrying members7; • Exploring means to enable a continuous dialogue and process of mutual consultation among Party members and the different structures that represent them8; • Evaluating how the Party defines regions, how many of them there should be, and how they could be merged into a smaller number for various governance purposes, or for formulating and discussing the Policy Program9; • Reviewing the rules concerning the nomination assemblies for Liberal election candidates in every riding10. The mission of the taskforce will be to consult the most active members of our Party, to formulate realistic avenues of reform, and to identify which of the Party’s structures and official documents need to be modified to implement those reforms. The taskforce will need to rigorously assess their feasibility, and draft the necessary proposals that members can debate and adopt at the Convention. 4 Regarding the election of regional presidents by direct ballot of all members, it may be wise to give every region a degree of latitude. Some might embrace this idea, others will prefer to continue operating under the current rules (where regional presidents are not directly elected by all members, but only by riding association presidents). 5 When it comes to decentralizing Party headquarters, the issue is not a matter of desirability, but defining the ways in which it can e implemented and the limits beyond which we should not go. 6 With respect to equalization among ridings, it would seem the best way to address this would be to modulate registration fees to the Convention according to a scale to be agreed upon. Should such a scale meet with the endorsement of riding executive committees, such an approach could be implemented without creating too much paperwork 7 With respect to the notion of Liberal ‘supporters’, a number of issues are worth raising : should we follow the lead of other parties around the world (i.e., both American major parties, the French Socialist Party, the Liberal Party of Canada) and give sympathisers the right to vote at leadership conventions? Should they have a right to vote at nomination conventions in each riding? What are the rights that should be reserved to full-fledged members and not to sympathisers? 8 See annex 1 for thoughts on enabling continuous dialogue. 9 See annex 2 for thoughts on dealing with a streamlined regional structure. 10 See annex 3 for thoughts on reviewing the candidate nomination process. WORKING DOCUMENT 5
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 4. A MODERN LEADERSHIP SELECTION PROCESS I believe Party members would do well to look back on the experience of the last leadership race and debate which aspects we want to change and which we ought to maintain. A specific taskforce should be created to address this issue. It should be made up of people who have played a critical role in the leadership race, whether on the team of each of the three candidates, the convention organizing committee, Party headquarters, etc. The taskforce should examine the following specific matters: • A full post-mortem of the leadership race experience so as to document what should henceforth be avoided or repeated, so that the Party can be better prepared to rise up to the challenge next time. • An examination of various proposed methods to update and further democratize the selection process for future Party leaders. • A consultation and assessment of what members – and riding associations – experienced during the leadership race and what changes they wish to see. The taskforce will seek to integrate their comments and suggestions in the post-mortem and the proposed changes to be submitted to members. Now, as to the voting scheme itself, it should in my view combine two core principles: • A universal ballot of all members and supporters in every riding and • Equal representation of each riding. In other words, an “adjusted universal ballot” to ensure that no Party leader can be elected with the support of only a handful of Quebec ridings. WORKING DOCUMENT 6
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 5. A DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN OUR OPERATIONS Currently, the Quebec Liberal Party has not necessarily embraced the potential of new information technology. It is high time for the Party to join Quebecers into the 21st century. The reforms I have in mind should not end up preventing members without access to the required technology from accessing headquarters’ services. I am proposing that a taskforce be set up by the Communications Commission to look into the matter. This taskforce should include specialists who can inventory the best approaches used elsewhere, with a view to provide for the needs of members who are connected and those who are not. To make sure good ideas do not go to waste, the taskforce should include members of the Organization Commission with extensive experience in planning conventions, general councils and nomination assemblies. By implementing the proposals put forth by this taskforce, my hope is that the Party can start improving upon its democratic and participative character while reducing the transportation, accommodation and booking expenses that it and its individual members, especially in remote areas, are currently burdened by. Should the proposed changes entail modifications to the manner in which the Party assembles, debates and votes – i.e., any change to the Constitution or Party regulations – the taskforce would forward the proposals to the Executive Committee, which will then entrust the matter to the special committee responsible for democratic and responsive structures11. Indeed, that committee will be tasked with consulting members on those issues and with deciding on exactly how members will be called upon to debate them at the Convention. One of the projects I would like this taskforce to focus on is the possibility of using digital distribution to publish a high caliber journal of opinion, not unlike what existed in the past12. Indeed, online publishing would allow the Party to save on costs to a considerable extent, since costs explain in large part why this initiative was abandoned previously. It is certainly a golden opportunity for the Communications Commission to have a strategic impact. 11 See section 3 of this document for details on this special committee.. 12 IIt is worth revisiting Quebec’s political history to discover that Quebec City’s Le Soleil and St-Hyacinthe’s Le Clairon were once publications dedicated to spreading liberal values and supporting the liberal cause. Going further back, other great liberal newspapers included Le Jour (edited by Jean-Charles Harvey), Le Canada (reflecting the views of the left wing of the Party in Montreal, La Patrie (founded and owned by Honoré Beaugrand, one of the late 19th century’s great Liberals); L’Avenir (launched by the Parti Rouge on Papineau’s return from exile), as well as Étienne Parent’s Le Canadien. From 1955 to 1967, the Quebec Lieral Party had its own newspaper, La Réforme, strictly reserved to Party members. Its name was chosen as an hommage to the republican paper launched in France by Alexandre Ledru-Rollin in 1843. The name was also a tribute to London’s historical Reform Club, linked to the British Liberal Party, whose ideas proved foundational to the political thought of Papineau and Laurier. WORKING DOCUMENT 7
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 6. A STRATEGIC REVIEW OF PERMANENT COMMISSIONS In order to reflect the spirit of the reforms described herein, it is important for each of our permanent commissions to complete the action plan they are expected to submit to the executive committee every year, in accordance with article 58 of our Constitution. I would like them to draft this plan with a strategic as opposed to strictly operational perspective. This strategic dimension could include an assessment of the work accomplished by the Commission since its creation, an analysis of the best practices in their respective fields elsewhere, and action plans encompassing not only the year ahead, but the longer term future as well. All action plans should be geared toward increasing the level of representativeness and commitment in every region of Quebec13. 7. AN EFFICIENT SECRETARIAT, WITH MOTIVATED STAFF The success of the reforms outlined herein, and the overall smooth functioning of our operations, depend on permanent staffers in the Secretariat who remain motivated and dedicated to the Liberal cause. It is with this principle in mind that I would consider making changes at the Secretariat by replacing key staff. Secretariat personnel must always keep in mind the following message, central to all the reforms I would like to implement, namely: “The Quebec Liberal Party belongs to its members. National Assembly staffers and salaried employees of the Secretariat are not paid to direct party structures and their members. They are there to serve them, within the support missions they have been entrusted with”. 13 See Annex 5 for a detailed presentation of the strategic dimensions of those action plans WORKING DOCUMENT 8
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 8. SPECIFIC MEASURES REGARDING THE YOUTH COMMISSION During the leadership race, I made three specific promises to the Youth Commission. With support from the caucus and the Executive Committee, I would like to implement them as quickly as possible, without going through the validation and consultation process that accomtanies the other changes I propose. Those three measures are the following: • The appointment, upon recommendation from the Youth Commission, of a Liberal MNA to establish permanent links between the caucus and the Youth Commission; • Supporting the activities of the Youth Commission in every region with stable financing; • A meeting every two months between all regional representatives of the Youth Commission and the leader. 9. TIMELINE FOR REFORMS Changes, especially major changes like those outlined in this document, cannot be brought to fruition without a precise timeline for all the various deliverables. This timeline will stimulate everyone to be productive and to come up with results at the right time. The timeline I propose could be modified by the Executive Committee, but it encompasses all of the key intermediate steps, many of which are requirements of our Constitution. Everything will converge on a major policy convention, which I expect will take place in the spring or summer of 2014. All of us should keep that in mind, for all the events taking place before are but way stations on the way to the finish line. • Spring 2013: All of the taskforces and committees described herein are set up by the Executive Committee14. These groups will be tasked with preparing the material that the democratic structures of the Party will be called upon to think about and debate. As we move closer to the 2014 Convention, this set of ideas will become more detailed and sophisticated. 14 See Annex 6 for a complete list of all groups and taskforces to be set up. WORKING DOCUMENT 9
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 9. TIMELINE FOR REFORMS (CONTINUED) • June 2013: The first of two General Councils that article 34 of our Constitution requires the Party holds every year. As I suggested during the leadership race, the main objective of that event should be for Party members to provide answers to the following question: “How can we renew the Party, reconnect it to its members and convince the largest number of Quebecers to embrace liberal values?” If the Executive Committee agrees, this is what I will ask the Party to organize. • August 2013: The annual convention of the Youth Commission, during which all permanent commissions who so desire can plan for a special meeting to discuss the strategic dimension of their action plan and any other measures they would like to see reflected in the program of the Party. • Fall 2013: A series of regional workshops to allow every region to prepare for the 2014 Convention, and for their members to speak with their own autonomous voice. I would propose that some regions be merged together so as to limit the number of these workshops to eight. • December 2013: The year’s second General Council, which would debate the resolutions adopted by regional workshops and continue the collective brainstorming of members of all the issues on the agenda for the Members’ Convention. Given its importance, this General Council should be spread out over three days, so as to give members the opportunity to hear the experts we would invite to discuss the Convention’s themes. • Spring or Summer 2014: The QLP Members’ Convention, to be held in accordance with article 29 of our Constitution, to which I attribute a foundational role for years to come, and therefore consider a major policy convention. This is where members will adopt the new Liberal Policy Program, as well as any amendments to the Constitution or regulations of the Party that members wish to propose. WORKING DOCUMENT 10
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 9. TIMELINE FOR REFORMS (CONTINUED) • Convention of 2016 / 2017: Should some elements of the proposed reforms prove more controversial, or harder to formulate or implement than expected, I would not want the 2014 deadline to act as a break on debate, silence dissenting opinions or compel the Party to rush through some reforms just for the sake of meeting a deadline. To make life easier for all, I would be ready to extend some deadlines all the way to the Convention following the 2014 gathering (in 2016 or 2017), but only in some areas and for good reason. Ideally, all reforms should be completed in time for the 2014 Convention. In order to plan and organize successfully all of the events described earlier, it would probably be best to centralize the coordination and entrust it to a special taskforce set up by the Organization Commission. I plan to ask the Executive Committee for guidance to decide on the most efficient concept for organization. 10. THE ELECTION HORIZON We find ourselves in a minority government situation, and we need to make sure that all the reforms I have outlined do not sidetrack us from the obligation to be ready at all times to face a general election. If we allocate tasks and missions wisely, I believe we can do both: reform our Party and win the next elections. Should an election be called before we have completed the reform process, we will put the latter on ice for the duration of the campaign, and resume after election day. If need be, we will move the date of the Members’ Convention a few months, but it will happen in 2014 regardless. In order to be adequately prepared for elections that could be called at a moment’s notice, we need to take some preparatory measures as quickly as possible. This document is not aimed at fleshing out the details of all that needs to be done in that respect. Suffice it to say that the Organization Commission should set up four distinct taskforces as early as this spring. Each of those taskforces will report directly to the Executive Committee. Each will function independently of each other, making for an optimal allocation of tasks and making the Executive Committee the focus of all necessary coordination. WORKING DOCUMENT 11
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER 10. THE ELECTION HORIZON (CONTINUED) The four taskforces I have in mind are as follows: • Branding and membership • Governance and ethics • Fundraising • Membership Activities CONCLUSION The ideas to reform the Party I have outlined in this document are not merely a reflection of my understanding of the Party’s interests at this juncture. They also speak to a vision of the role political parties must play in renewing democratic life in Quebec. Political parties must not be limited as organizing and fundraising machines designed to elect candidates and bring governments to power. It would be naive to suggest that this is not part of their mission, but they must also play other roles that are conceivably even more important. When it comes to the Quebec Liberal Party, our ultimate mission is to give voice to a set of ideas and sensibilities that have always had a place in Quebec society, a Quebec liberal creed that I have alluded to early in the leadership race. We should also seek to allow every liberal-minded individual in Quebec a chance to play an active role and have his or her voice heard in the policy formulation process of our party. It is my conviction that, in carrying out the proposed reforms, we will rejuvenate one of the core themes in the history of the Quebec Liberal Party: the struggle for representative democracy and the critical role of a political party in bringing it about. WORKING DOCUMENT 12
FOR A RENEWED LIBERAL PARTY PROPOSALS OF PHILIPPE COUILLARD - QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY LEADER CONCLUSION (CONTINUED) As institutions, political parties have had a rough time over the past few years. Yet their importance remains critical for the success of representative democracy in Quebec. It is therefore imperative that we turn things around and that parties be thoroughly transformed so they no longer become magnets for critics and mistrust. What I am proposing, therefore, is to renew with the thirst for change and reform that characterized those who came before us, and that we can carry it even further than the likes of Papineau, Laurier, Lapalme, Lesage and others. Undoubtedly, we will face new challenges and new critics. We must react to them in the spirit that held us in such good stead in the past: never to fear a challenge, the challenge of ending abuse, opening new horizons, and developing new strengths. This is how we will master the new century. Quebecers will not always agree with all of the ideas the Quebec Liberal Party will offer them. It is precisely for this reason, to allow Quebecers to hold different opinions, that we believe political parties are an essential component of democracy. Beyond the different points of view each political party may have on how Quebec should be governed, I believe all will agree that the avenues of reform I have proposed in this document will make a positive contribution to democratic life in Quebec. In calling upon Quebec Liberals to invest in those changes, that is my most sincere and profound hope. Let us remain faithful to the democratic ideal that gave birth to Quebec liberalism. As a result, all of Quebec will be transformed for the better! WORKING DOCUMENT 13
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