Leadership of the BC Conservatives and Policy Development

As mentioned on this blog last Thursday, the BC Conservative Party will be holding a leadership race, culminating in a vote by members ending May 28^th.  BC Conservative Party spokesperson Keith Roy of Vancouver had the following announcement which was released to the media:

The BC Conservative Party is holding a convention to elect a new leader on May 28, 2011.  The convention will take place somewhere in the Fraser Valley or Lower mainland at a soon to be determined location.

According to the constitution of the party, the election of a leader will be by universal ballot, with ballots mailed to every member at least 15 days prior to the leadership convention date.  Ballots may be returned by mail or delivered to the convention.

“Our leadership race will be a truly dynamic and democratic race,” says Wayne McGrath, President of the BC Conservative Party.  “Members from all across the province will have an opportunity to select a new leader.”

The party will be accepting applications from leaders between March 1 and March 29, 2011.  The deadline for membership to be eligible to vote in the leadership race is May 7, 2011 at midnight, 21 days before the leadership convention.

“The growth in our party has been remarkable,” says Keith Roy, official Spokesperson for the BC Conservatives.  “We expect that our leadership race will gather the attention of British Columbians looking for a new political home and a positive alternative to the Liberals and the NDP.”

The BC Conservatives are committed to providing the new home for common sense British Columbians who want lower taxes, greater accountability, and more choice.

Coverage of the BC Conservative Party leadership race has already appeared in several news papers across the province, including the National Post and the Globe and Mail, as well as on CKNW, CHNL, News 1130, and others.

Yesterday, Wayne McGrath, BC Conservative Party President, also sent out an email to inform members that the policy review process is underway.  The policy review committee will be distributing a reorganized policy document shortly, based on current polices that have been adopted by the membership in the past.

This reorganized policy document will be sent to all party members, and the Policy Committee will be looking to as many members as possible t6aking the time and the opportunity to provide input into proposed revisions.

It is hoped that part of the process will include constituency and regional meetings in the Kamloops, Thompson, Nicola area so that members can propose revisions and additions to current party policy.

As a grassroots party it will be the membership, at a Special General Meeting (or possibly an AGM), who will adopt the final policies that will take to the public in the next provincial election in May 2013.  All members are encouraged to be part of this opportunity to develop and refine party policy ... and submit suggestions and ideas.

Those who have let their membership lapse, or who have been considering joining the party, are encouraged to drop by http://www.conservativesbc.com/Join-the-Party.php as soon as possible, to renew or become members, to be part of the policy development process the BC Conservative party is undertaking.

I’m Alan Forseth … and I hope you have a great day.