YOUR blog, YOUR riding

Bloggers can improve the grassroots of the Liberals, help a newly-invigorated party connect with communities, and provide Canadians with a real government.

I propose that Liblogs' bloggers each commit to a federal riding. Be the eyes and ears of that riding over the next year.

There are enough of us to do this. Ideally, one would cover their own riding but no doubt there will be a missing blogger somewhere and too many glued to Downtown Canada City.

We need to be in touch with our communities. Be active and give the blogosphere insight into what is important in different ridings, the dynamics. Do some armchair research, email locals, ask questions of candidates. Engage the public.

Most importantly, matching blog-talk with our communities will engage people. It will demonstrate that Liberal party understands its public duties, and will create trust in Dion's plan for governing. All politics is local.



PS - I'm going to keep posting about this until Liblog Master Cherniak engages the idea and someone works out how to establish a riding-blogger matching system.

Michael Byers: Arctic Strength

Our North is shameful. Our future lies there and so its foundation must be rebuilt. A rich culture, amazing people, but living in conditions unacceptable for a wealthy nation.

Thin-walled houses, overcrowding, poor education and health.

Read Michael Byers' insightful article on Tyee.ca.

The Liberal Party must highlight this situation and demonstrate why our dollars should clean up our own backyard and care for our own citizens and environment.


The North is an opportunity for Mr. Dion to apply his three-pillar approach in a tangible, productive way that captures the imagination of Canadians.

Faceless Canadians in America

I was in the US when Paul Martin was kicked down to a minority. I voted in that election and I didn't show my face when I voted.

I sent in a photocopy of my driver's licence and my passport and I was mailed back an absentee ballot.

So, to create a "someone has to see your face on voting day" rule would likely disenfranchise the huge number of Canadians that live abroad but are actively involved in Canadian society.

Let's be honest, most people DON'T like the idea of women in our society covering their faces. However, to express this concern using voting laws is problematic.