Friday, January 19, 2007

Is selecting delegates complicated? unfair?

Many have complained, with reason, that the selection process for riding association delegates to the 2006 Liberal party national convention seemed complicated and perhaps unfair. The 14 elected delegates had to be chosen to conform to the vote percentages that the leadership candidates receive in the riding (after a non-trivial rounding off process), as well as conform to constraints by age and sex.

But perhaps it's just "Canadian"? Consider this quote about Sir John A. MacDonald's task in putting together the very first cabinet for Canada:

"Numerous regional and ethnic groups demanded cabinet representation according to their numbers, but MacDonald wanted no more than thirteen ministers because he believed that a larger number made fruitful discussion and reasonable compromise difficult, if not impossible. After much negotiation and near failure Sir John succeeded in forming Canada's first government. Ontario received five ministers, Quebec four, and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia two each. Presbyterians, Catholics, Anglicans, and Methodists were all represented, as were the French, English, Irish, and Scottish."

Donald Swainson, Sir John A. MacDonald, The Man and the Politician, 2nd ed., 1989.

1 comment:

Lisa Raleigh said...

Even now the majority of elected candidates are white men over 40. Having requirements of inclusivity in delegates makes an attempt to give a greater voice to the majority of the population who are not routinely candidates.