Liberal Party Going Into Leadership Race With Rules Allowing Foreign Nationals to Vote 20
The Liberal Party will elect its new leader in the coming months with rules that were, according to publicly released intelligence, exploited by Beijing in the past to support a favoured candidate in a riding nomination contest.
The leadership race should kick-off in the coming days, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Jan. 6 he intends to step down once the Liberal Party elects a new leader.
Details about the race are expected to be etched out this week by the party’s national board of directors, which has to set a date for the vote and set up committees to decide on issues such as contestants’ campaign spending limits.
The rules on who can become a registered Liberal and vote in the contest are not expected to change. As of now, the party bylaws stipulate that anyone who “ordinarily” lives in Canada and is at least 14 years old can register with the party at no fee.
The Conservatives only allow permanent residents and citizens to join, while NDP membership is open to “every resident” of Canada. Both parties charge a membership fee.
Registered Liberals can vote in the leadership race with different options, including providing a piece of government ID with an address. A Liberal can also vote without a piece of ID showing an address by swearing an oath and having a fellow registered Liberal vouch for his or her address.
The absence of a residency requirement means foreign students and temporary workers can help choose who is the next party leader. Individuals who have overstayed their visas can theoretically also be registered Liberals and vote.
“Registration in the Liberal Party of Canada is open without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or physical disability,” the party bylaws say….
