Last month, The Vancouver Sun's Peter O'Neil reported "the 167-person (federal) Liberal caucus will hold its annual summer retreat in Vancouver Aug. 21-24 to show the party still cares about B.C." And what will Grit MPs being doing while they're in Lotusland you may wonder? Well, according to an email from the party's outreach director Chantal Bouchard, the customary navel-gazing, lint-exploration sessions are scheduled to take place at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. The eight South Fraser ridings are also planning on hosting a leadership forum in Surrey. And there may also be a caucus golf tournament to benefit the Young Liberals. Also on the agenda: a leader's barbeque fundraiser in Victoria, organized by the three South Island ridings. The following is a complete copy of that email.
Hello everyone,
You will find attached, for your information, a draft agenda for this Summer's Caucus meeting in Vancouver that will take place between Tuesday August 22 and Thursday August 24, 2006.
In addition, I would like to share with you some events that will take place in the evenings around that time (please note that some of them have not yet been announced or confirmed at this point) in case you want to organize something with your respective candidates.
Sunday August 20, 2006:
Currently open / Note: LPCO Boat Cruise in Toronto with Leadership candidates
Monday August 21, 2006:
Afternoon: Possible Caucus Golf Tournament to benefit the Young Liberals (TBC)
Evening: The 8 South Fraser ridings will host a Leadership Forum in Surrey, BC (Not announced yet)
Tuesday August 22, 2006:
10 am - 6:30 pm - Caucus and Critics meetings
Evening: Open
Wednesday August 23, 2006:
9 am - 4:30 p.m - Caucus meetings
Evening: Major National Caucus Event
Thursday August 24, 20006:
9 am - 11:30 - National Caucus meeting
Evening: The 3 South Island ridings will host Leaders BBQ Fundraiser in Victoria, BC (Not announced yet)
Friday, August 25, 2006: Currently open
Saturday, August 26, 2006: Currently open
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
Chantal Bouchard
Director of Outreach
***
Tuesday, August 22, 2006:
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. National Caucus, Regency, E & F
1 :00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Women's Caucus, Regency, E & F
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Rural Caucus, Regency, A & B
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Senate Caucus, Regency, D & C
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Meeting of Lead Critics, Regency, E & F
Wednesday, August 23, 2006:
9 :00 a.m. to 12 :00 p.m. Atlantic Caucus, Regency, A & B
9 :00 a.m. to 12 :00 p.m. Northern and Western Caucus, Balmoral
9 :00 a.m. to 12 :00 p.m. Ontario Caucus, Regency, E & F
9 :00 a.m. to 12 :00 p.m. Québec Caucus, Regency, D
12 :00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. LUNCH, Regency C
2:00 p.m. to 4 :30 p.m. National Caucus, Regency, E & F
6:30 p.m. on, Event - TBC, Hyatt Regency
Thursday, August 24, 2006:
9 :00 a.m. to 11 :30 a.m. National Caucus, Regency, E & F
It's interesting that while the Liberals constantly claim to represent the interests of Aboriginals, gays, and immigrants and minorities against Tory hostility real or imagined, and are particularly aggressive in pressing those claims to anyone in those groups who might be thinking of voting NDP, there is in fact no Aboriginal Caucus, no Gay Caucus, and no Immigrant or People of Colour Caucus. Yet there is a Women's Caucus as well as many regional groupings.
Budd,
Those caucus's exist but are bi-partisan.
Speaking of shark jumping competitons..
The Liberal Party of Canada "Jumped The Shark" when:
(a) Paul Martin became leader
(b) Jean Chretien became leader
(c) Pierre Elliott Trudeau came back in 1980.
(d) Never Jumped
Hedy Fry "Jumped the Shark" when
(a) Won against Svend Robinson in 2006.
(b) Made "Crosses are burning in Pr. George"
remark.
(c) Never Jumped.
Bob Rae Jumped the Shark when
(a) Became Premier of Ontario
(b) Became a contender for the Liberal Leadership
(c) Never jumped.