Liberal Party Enters Leadership Race with Inclusive Voting Rules for Foreign Nationals

January 7, 2025 TruthUSA

The Liberal Party will choose its new leader in the upcoming months, amidst concerns that Beijing has exploited the rules in the past to influence riding nomination contests in favor of certain candidates.

The leadership race is set to begin soon, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement on Jan. 6 that he will step down once the new leader is elected.

Details about the race are expected to be finalized this week by the party’s national board of directors. They will set a date for the vote and establish committees to address issues such as campaign spending limits for the contestants.

The requirements for becoming a registered Liberal and participating in the contest are not anticipated to change. Currently, the party’s bylaws state that any individual who “ordinarily” resides in Canada and is at least 14 years old can register with the party at no cost.

In contrast, the Conservatives only permit permanent residents and citizens to join, while NDP membership is open to “every resident” of Canada, with a membership fee required for both parties.

To vote in the Liberal leadership race, individuals are expected to show proof of party affiliation and a Canadian residential address. This means that foreign students, temporary workers, and even individuals with expired visas could potentially participate in selecting the next party leader.

According to the party bylaws, registration in the Liberal Party of Canada is open to all without discrimination based on various factors. To participate in leadership races, individuals must have been registered with the party at least 41 days before the voting day, as outlined in the Liberal Party constitution.

‘Vulnerability’

Concerns about foreign nationals influencing Canadian democratic processes have been raised, particularly in relation to the 2019 Liberal nomination contest in the Don Valley North (DVN) riding of Toronto, as detailed in Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s interim report from May 2023.

The report highlighted irregularities in the DVN nomination contest, including activities linked to individuals close to PRC officials. The report stated that buses brought international students to vote for then-Liberal candidate Han Dong, some of whom were provided with falsified documents to facilitate their voting by individuals associated with a PRC proxy agent.

Dong, who later became an Independent amidst the allegations, denied any knowledge of PRC officials supporting his campaign.

The final report from the commission, expected by the end of January, is likely to propose measures to enhance the integrity of party races.

Dominic LeBlanc, during his tenure as public safety minister, recognized the vulnerability posed by nomination contests but expressed confidence in the rules governing these processes within the Liberal Party.

Security agencies have also identified nomination races as potential targets for foreign interference.

The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force’s threat assessment highlighted the exploitation of loopholes in nomination processes as a key method used by foreign states to interfere in elections.

During his testimony at the interference commission, Liberal Party national director Azam Ishmael defended the party’s approach and inclusivity in allowing individuals to participate in nomination races without citizenship or permanent residency requirements.

Ishmael emphasized the party’s commitment to an inclusive process that welcomes new members into the fold, despite concerns surrounding foreign interference.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Liberal Party for comment but has not received a response.

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‘Vulnerability’

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