OTTAWA — The federal Liberal party is postponing its national convention due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The convention was to be held in Ottawa on Nov. 12-15.
But in an email to registered Liberals, party president Suzanne Cowan says the national board of directors has decided the convention will now be postponed until April 9-10.
When it is held, party spokesman Braeden Caley says it will likely be a primarily virtual convention, with Liberals participating online.
The federal Conservatives had also planned to hold their national convention on the same November weekend as the Liberals, but have postponed their gathering indefinitely.
The Liberals have been conducting an entirely online process for developing and debating policy resolutions for the convention, including a priority resolution from the Liberal caucus calling for a guaranteed basic income.
Online voting to winnow down the resolutions to those which will be considered at the convention was to have taken place next month, but will now be delayed until February.
“Protecting people’s safety has guided this decision at all times and we will be continuing to monitor and follow the guidance of public health experts with respect to all of our events and organizing across Canada,” Cowan says in the email.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2020.
Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
