Angry in the Great White North

Read on. A warning though. Don't be in the middle of drinking something. You're liable to spew all over your keyboard as you are overcome by paroxysms of laughter:

From: Jasper Veen-Liberal-International.org
To: mike.eizenga@siskinds.com ; smackinnon@liberal.ca
Cc: National Executive
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 3:37 PM
Subject: [Bulk] Email to Eizenga and LPC National Executive

Dear Mr. Eizenga,

Following several attempts at communication with yourself and Steven MacKinnon since our meeting in Ottawa on 19 May 2006, I am quite surprised and disappointed to have not received any contact in response.

With regards to the main issue of discussion at that time, the financial debt of the Liberal Party of Canada to Liberal International for 2006 (£12,000), it was agreed that this matter would be open to negotiation. However, there has been no response from the part of the LPC to our efforts to commence these negotiations.

At this point, I would like to reiterate that while the Liberal Party of Canada is the biggest political party within Liberal International, it is financially not the largest contributor. In fact, relatively, it is one of the smallest financial contributors, most notably as compared to our member parties from Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is also worth noting that at this time, Liberal International continues to grow rapidly and spread through Africa, Asia and Latin America. And it is precisely these member parties in the developing world, which struggle to defend and further Liberal values and goals, which look towards successful Liberal parties such as the LPC for support and inspiration.

Being one of the oldest and strongest Liberal parties in Liberal International, and after decades of positive engagement, I sincerely hope that the LPC will make the effort to continue that partnership in the years to come.

Yours Sincerely,

Jasper Veen
Secretary General

_________________________
Liberal International
1 Whitehall Place
London SW1A 2HD
Tel:+44.207.839.59.05
Fax:+44.207.925.26.85
jasper@liberal-international.org
www.liberal-international.org

OK, so take a few minutes to laugh long and loud. I did. I'm still laughing as I type this. It's just too funny.

So the Liberal Party owes over $20,000 to the Liberal International, of which it is a founding member. Next year it will be 60 years of proud membership:

Liberal International (LI) is the world federation of liberal and progressive democratic political parties. LI was founded in 1947 to strengthen liberal protection from totalitarianism, facism and communism. It has since become the pre-eminent network for promoting liberalism, individual freedom, human rights, the rule of law, tolerance, equality of opportunity, social justice, free trade and a market economy. This site informs you about social liberalism and classic liberalism, our policies, activities and member parties.

Did you get the suggestion that the membership of the Liberal Party in Liberal International was at stake? If not, re-read that last sentence in the email. Veen sounds pretty upset. Not just because the Liberal Party of Canada is cheap when it comes to helping out the cause of international liberalism. Not just because the Liberal Party is in arrears.

But because the Liberals can't be bothered to answer the phone or respond to emails! For over four months!

This is what Canada's "natural governing party" has been reduced to?

Nice. Hey, I wonder if Mike Eizenga's bosses at Siskinds know he's getting collection emails at his work address.

Never mind. It's not important.

But what is interesting is that at today's exchange rates, the Liberal Party owes Liberal International just over $25,000. Recall that Doug Mitchell evaluated the membership shenanigans of Joe Volpe and decided Volpe could pay a fine of just $1,000.

Then, shockingly, the Liberal Party executive, including President Mike Eizenga and National Director Steve MacKinnon, increased the fine to $20,000 and gave Volpe a month to pay.

Do you think that Veen has an email in his inbox from Eizenga promising to come up with $20,000 by the end of the month?

Nah, just a coincidence.