How Now The Liberals?

Justin Trudeau has promised to democratize the Liberal Party of Canada. Members of Parliament need more respect and they need to be listened to. Justin Trudeau is prepared to listen to his caucus. Retroactively, at their Montreal - held Liberal convention, delegates will be asked to approve through a symbolic vote their dauntlessly bold leader's decision to surgically remove the Liberals' 32 senators from caucus.

The 32 senators, tried and true? Their voice is not to be heard.

Bernard Weil / Toronto Star 

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was on hand Thursday to lend his profile to Sandra Yeung Racco, right, who is running in the Feb. 13 provincial byelection.

The party's focus will be on the economy. Which just incidentally happens to be the major pride-of-function of the Conservative Party of Canada; its handling of Canada's economy. The Liberals will plan to simplify the income tax system, they will undertake to limit interest rates, they will pledge to set aside funding for infrastructure projects, and they will undo the latest government outrage on Old Age Security eligibility.

Listed on the Liberal website is a number of other economic items that are set for discussion. Aside from the party's support for legalizing marijuana by their pot-activist leader. No fewer than 160 policy resolutions are listed, many of which will be 'considered' at the convention. The resolutions are proposals, put forward for consideration by Liberals-at-large, representing their pet projects hoping to see the light of day.

They include strategies for counter-bullying and gender abuse; "gender parity" in government and corporate boards; promotion of "a culture of peace and non-violence"; another for a "third gender" to enable parents to "register their children as being of an indeterminate sex if their babies show intersex characteristics", and as well "a resolution to denounce spying on indigenous peoples/organizations".

All of which would make us a much nicer country, to be sure. Precious beyond imagination. We will be whip-lash-legislated into zombie-obedience to niceness. And there's more. How does a "renew Canadian democracy" sound? And what about a Department of Climate Change and a Secretary of State for Water...? Oh, and extending unemployment benefits for those taking part in election campaigns. Nirvana.

Not finished yet. "New legislation to implement universal, affordable and accountable publicly funded national programs ... for long-term care, homecare, mental health services particularly for dementia, and comprehensive pharmaceutical and wellness programs." And here you thought we had already done all of that and more. It's the 'more' in all of that, that has the Liberals looking toward perfecting the universal social welfare order in Canada.

No kidding, this isn't a New Democratic Party resolution-fest, this is the Liberal party reborn. Back to an earlier era when nothing was impossible, including a National Energy Board (Alberta, are you listening?) Worry-warts might scratch the stubbles on their heads and worry where the money is to come from to pay for all of this, but let's face it, they're party poopers and who needs them?

• Jean Chrétien greets Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau as Aline Chrétien looks on at the 50 Years of Standing Up for Canada event in Toronto on Jan. 21, 2014.
  (AARON HARRIS/REUTERS)