Staggered Primaries Revisited?

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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At the Convention, Liberals voted against the proposal to hold five staggered regional primaries. Liberals also voted to allow “supporters” the right to participate in the leadership process. Given, the initial rationale for the supporter inclusion was woven within this idea of primaries, it’s fair to say the Convention provided a confusing result. As it stands now, all Liberal members and supporters will vote on one day, in essence a national election. However, I note that immediately following this vote, some indications coming from the Liberal Party that the issue of staggered primaries might not be dead yet.

It is worth considering, 58% of delegates did vote for the staggered primary option, and although that failed to meet the 2/3rd requirement, it still represents a healthy majority. This fact does provide a certain “legitimacy”, the idea did find wide support amongst the assembled delegates, which may be important moving forward, should “revision” arise. 

As I understand it, the party will now constitute a Leadership Vote Committee, made up of two co-chairs, the National President, two persons elected from the PTA’s, two representatives appointed from Caucus and “another number of other members” appointed by the co-chairs. The mandate of the LVC is as follows:

The Leadership Vote Committee is responsible to plan, organize and carry out the Leadership Vote.

I view the above as fairly ambiguous, but also demonstrating the potential to implement staggered primaries. Given the Convention didn’t specifically endorse one primary, there appears certain latitudes, this group will have CONSIDERABLE power as they develop a formal leadership process. Staging one national primary will be a huge logistical endeavour, perhaps that angle will be provide another motive for more “manageable” regional primaries.

I expect to see some form of staggered primaries to be at least considered. The fact there is a naked majority underpinning allows for some democratic justification (although I understand it was defeated based on required support). I do believe there was some “confusion” as to this voting process, and frankly I’m not sure why the two questions of supporter vote and primaries were separate questions, given they were initially considered as parts of a alternative hole. I don’t believe this primary question is over and Liberals would be wise to keep an eye on their Leadership Vote Committee as we move forward…

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