Liberal PTAs and Commissions

A leading Quebec Liberal asked me on twitter about PTAs. I started to answer but realized I needed much more space than a tweet allows.

We do not have the luxury of having an ornamental organization. PTAs and Commissions exist for a reason. Many people I have spoken to tell me stories of the PTAs being ignored or a Commission being used as little more than a place to harvest votes -- and that's counterproductive.

If PTAs and Commissions (that is the existing structure) are to continue they must be relevant and listened to by the Centre.

But should PTAs and Commissions continue to exist?

My sense is yes -- Canada is a very big and diverse nation and what is good for BC does not necessarily apply in Alberta or Quebec. Commissions recognize that Canada's diversity continues within Provinces and the perspective of Youth, say, may differ markedly from others.

But that continued existence is based on PTAs actually reflecting their territory and local concerns and the Centre listening to them. Commissions must speak for their constituents and be heard by the Centre -- a PTA or Commission that is just another layer of governance does nothing.

For example, we all know we have limited strength now in Alberta. I have traded e-mails and spoken by phone with some very discouraged Alberta Liberals. Some have said we will never succeed in Alberta.

My own view is different -- remember the American South in the 1960's? It was all Democrat. Today, after Richard Nixon focused on the South, it is all Republican -- it took 40 years but it happened. Now, I do not like the policy basis of the Republican takeover in the South but the method -- listening to what local concerns and issues were and really dealing with them in the national campaign makes sense.

Listening to the PTAs -- and there are strong people there across the country -- can work. The same applies to Commissions.

Right now the critical things our Party needs are money and media. Our policy can be perfect but if we cannot afford to tell Canada, or if the media doesn't listen, our policy goes for naught. To get media and to raise money we need local ears and eyes. We need Commissions that will tell us the things we might not otherwise hear.

Now, this has been a lot longer than an tweet but I'd be glad of others' thoughts. Maybe they'll change my thinking; regardless I'd like input.