THUNDER BAY – Former MP Ken Boshcoff says that being a part of the 3300 strong Liberal Convention in Ottawa was to be inside a group of positive, engaged, smartphone savvy young people. Boshcoff says that a vast majority of the participants were young, and that the average age of the participants was about twenty-seven years old. “Other political parties dubbed this the funeral while we showed them it was the resurrection, stated Thunder Bay Superior North Liberal President Vince Mirabelli. “Spirits were high and the air was filled with optimism. Anyone can say they are part of a party when it’s at its peak. It takes true supporters to bring from the bottom up”.
The two local Liberals were delegates at the Ottawa Convention. Both spoke with NNL this afternoon offering their insight into what happened.
It marks a positive step forward for the Liberals according to Boshcoff. The energy in the convention hall was powerful commented Boshcoff. The event was held in the recently renovated Ottawa Convention Centre. The Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC), is Canada’s newest and most sophisticated meeting place and was presented with the New Business of the Year Award in November 2011, at a gala event hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) held at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa.
If there was one problem is appears that the Liberals might have been unprepared for the 3300 people who came out. Some of the sessions were in rooms that delegates commented were too small for the numbers of people who wanted to attend.
Miribelli says, “3200 delegates strong gathered together to witness a rebirth of Canada’s natural governing party. The issues debated and discussed will shape the future of the Liberal Party going forward. The core values of the Liberal Party resinate with Canadians. It’s time to get back to grassroots style politics and to have the electoral trust the party to govern again”.
“Passing the amendment to have U.S. style regional primaries with Liberal supporters to choose a new leader is the start of that”, continued Mirabelli. “It was an exciting time to be part of this convention”.
“I was most proud of seeing people of all ages and of all walks of life together with one common vision for their party. Everyone just meshed really well together. It’s an exciting time!, concluded Mirabelli.
Former leader Michael Ignatieff said, “We met so many old friends and on every face I could see new hope and determination. So many of the people we met were at their first political convention and the halls were full of young Canadians from every part of the country.”