NDP, Liberals Get Set for Conventions

NDP to revel in beautiful (but riot-stricken) Vancouver, while the much-deflated Liberals head online.

Both the New Democrats and Liberals are holding conventions – of sorts – this weekend, with the former congregating in Vancouver to celebrate their 50th anniversary and their recent electoral success, and the latter meeting online to vote on when the Grits will select a permanent leader. The NDP convention will debate, among other proposals, whether to officially rule out ever merging with the Liberal party and if the party should drop the word “socialist” from its constitution in favour of “social democrat" – which, in fairness, is a more accurate descriptor of what the NDP is. The Liberals will vote on a proposal to give them 18 to 22 months to find their footing before electing a permanent leader to succeed interim leader Bob Rae.