2025 Convention Planning

The purpose of this page is to document the plans and preparations for the 2025 Convention Planning. Titles with an asterisk (*) have not been updated for the 2025 Convention. Remove the asterisk if you make any changes.

Post-2023 AGM Report (To Be Updated - Coreen)

These are some of the lessons learned from the 2023 AGM Post Mortem to take into consideration in the plans for the 2024 Convention.

Action Items (To Be Updated - Coreen)

To D0

1. NEAL - Prepare Income and Expense statements
2. NEAL - Treasurer to prepare Income and Expenses statements and present
3. JIM - produce Ballots for the election of Executive and Ethics Committee members to be included in Delegate handouts at registration.
4. JIM - produce Name Tags identifying “Delegates”, “Members” (joined after <date>) and “Guests”, as long as the Registrar provides a list of attendees with Join and Expiry Dates 3 days prior to the meeting.
5. JIM - prepare a list of participants to check off members and guests as they arrive, collect “Pending” fees, provide Name Tags and give handouts.
6. ? -  to provide additional laptop and camera as backup equipment if required.
7. ANY OTHER SUPPLIES? - Coreen bringing pens

At the Convention

1. MICHELLE – Will host and keep the agenda on track.
2. HOST - request 3 members to volunteer as scrutineers. According to Bylaws Article 9, it “shall consist of at least three members of the Ethics Committee who are not themselves candidates for Party office.” See Credential Committee section for details.
3. JIM – take meeting minutes and update on Wiki on page November 15 2025 Convention. Keep track of nominations – who was nominated, who nominated them, number of votes
4. NEAL - After close of elections, Treasurer to get all new Executive Committee and Ethics Committee members to sign Oath of Office. Anyone remote will be sent the form to complete and send back (mail or email?)

Credentials Committee (To Be Updated - Coreen)

Traditionally we have asked for volunteers to be on the Credential Committee at the start of Elections, to distribute and collect ballots and to tally the votes. Bylaw Article 9.1 states, "There shall be a Credentials Committee for each Convention and General Meeting. The Credentials Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Ethics Committee who are not themselves candidates for Party office."

Recent Ethics Committee Election results:

2021 Convention: Jim McIntosh elected, resigned in 2022 to take over the open Treasurer position.

2022 AGM: Mark Dickson (resigned?), Gene Balfour, James Jolley

2023 AGM: James Jolley was elected as Vice Chairperson so had to step down from Ethics Committee. Jean-Serge Brisson, Paul Herriot, Gene Balfour elected at AGM.

• As of 2024, there are 3 open positions on the Ethics Committee.
• Jean-Serge Brisson, Paul Herriot, or Gene Balfour could participate if they attend in person.

Completed Items

Move Action Items to here when complete.

1. Send email blast to members and non-members to let them know about upcoming Convention (open positions, proxy vote info, general location). Let them know about membership rules (90 days ahead of Convention) to prompt them to confirm or renew their memberships.
   • Leader
   • Deputy Leader
   • Chairperson
   • Vice-Chairperson
   • Treasurer
   • Campaign Manager
   • Members-at-Large (2)
   • Ethics Committee (3 - see note in Credentials Committee)
2. Propose possible dates and venues to Executive Committee. Provide contract details.
3. Executive Committee to determine registration fee based on venue cost and food. - $25 for virtual, $50 in person
4. Solicit questions for Leadership candidates from members for Q&A to be posted on website and sent via email.
5. Confirm with venue and send payment to reserve.
6. Solicit Constitution and Bylaw Amendments from members (up until 30 days before Convention).
   • Neal Donnelly sent a proposed amendment to the Article 14 - Statement of Ultimate Goals.
7. Jean-Serge Brisson plans to attend. - Assign a member to chair the elections who is not running for election and will be in attendance in person.
8. Create online registration page.
9. Create 2025 Convention page on website (to contain names of nominees, Constitution and Bylaw amendments, etc.). November 15 2025 Convention
10. Officers to prepare written reports.
11. Advise venue of number of attendees, provided the Registrar provides an estimate by (contract date). Also confirm start and end time for the room.
12. SCOTT – to provide ZOOM link and online voting application.
    • COREEN – to provide laptop to display nominated candidates and vote results, presentations, Amendments, and other items from the handouts as required.
    • SEAN – Tech requirements. Checked out venue and we are set up.
    • ANY OTHER SUPPLIES? - Coreen bringing pens

Food (confirmations before and what we need day of)

1. COREEN – confirm food order with Ego Cafe day before.
2. SEAN – supply plates, cutlery

Items Not Applicable to this Convention

1. Gather nominations for Leader.
2. Solicit questions for Leadership candidates from members for Q&A to be posted on website and sent via email.
3. Upload to our web site profiles for leadership candidates and a list of candidates for other positions (and profiles if provided).
4. Post Leadership candidates answers to questions on website and send via email to members.
5. Post Constitution and Bylaw Amendments on website and in Bulletin.
6. Send out Bulletin no later than 30 days before Convention.
7. Assign someone to set up and manage the Live Streaming of the Leaders’ Debate (and possibly the Convention).
8. Create 2024 Convention page on website (to contain names of nominees, Constitution and Bylaw amendments, etc.).
9. Attach to the Proxy page the document with the amendments published with Bulletin and correct the link to the Amendments on the menu.

Date and time

Executive voted to hold the convention Saturday, November 15th.

We have scheduled and confirmed a meeting room with Just Meeting Rooms from 9 am to 5pm on November 15, 2025 at 2800 Skymark Avenue #200, Mississauga ON.

The meeting / training room ought to have a capacity of 20 - 24 users including some resources to facilitate virtual conference attendees.

There ought to be free parking available.

Menu

With a kitchenette we could probably bring our own food. Possibly free coffee, tea, water.

Registration Fee

Once decided, add details regarding registration fee.

At the October 6th EC Meeting it was agreed the fee should be $50 in person and $20 if attending by Zoom.

Agenda

Draft agenda

Time	Activity
9:00-10:00 am	Registration and continental breakfast
10:00-10:15 am	Welcome, Chairperson (Michelle Lashbrook), Treasurer's Report (Neal Donnelly)
10:15 -11:15 am	Future of the Ontario Libertarian Party What does Libertarianism mean to us? 5-Year Plan - Strategy to Get There Value Proposition for Becoming a Member
11:15 - 11:30	Break
11:30 - 12:00	Leader's Debate, if needed (TBD)
12:00-12:45 pm	Lunch
12:45-2:00 pm	Party Documentation Ethics Committee Caucus Discussion
2:00-2:15 pm	Break
2:15-3:00 pm	Nominations and Elections for all positions on Executive
3:00-4:00 pm	Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws
4:00	Adjournment

Possible Speakers - N/A

Decision to make this a policy convention with workshops to define our party focus for next 3-5 years.

Create Online Registration Page

Once the date, venue and fee are decided, an Event Registration page should be created for the Convention.

1. Copy and modify the Proxy (Word document) for the previous annual meeting. Create a PDF and, if you have a suitable program, make it a form that can be completed online.
2. Modify the existing Proxy page as required. Replace the previous Proxy Form attachment with the new one.
3. If there are amendments to be voted on at the meeting, It would be a good idea to create a web page describing the procedure and attach the PDF document containing the proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws. Create an alias for this web page (ontariolibertarian.ca/Amendments). Aliases make it easier to create links in Bulletin and emails.
4. Select >Events >Event Management> and search for all events. Select the most recent AGM or Convention to see what needs to be included.
5. In a separate browser window, select >Events >Event Management> Add new Event. Use the previously accessed event as a model for completing all of the sections required.
6. There is no option to create an alias for an event page in Drupal. Instead go to /admin/config/search/path and create a new alias to civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=3. Go to https://civicrm.stackexchange.com/questions/87/how-do-i-change-the-default-urls-to-contribution-or-event-registration-pages/146#146 for these instructions and for how to do it in WordPress (if it doesn't provide it for events).
7. Finally, create a Menu item for the event. The parent menu should be the event name (e.g. Convention 2019) and have sub menus for Registration, Proxy, and Amendments. It may also include an item for Candidates, if there is a list and profiles. In Drupal go to the Drupal Home page and select Structure (as I recall). This should take you to the menu editing option. You can either make changes to an existing event item (e.g. the previous annual meeting, which in likely disabled) or create a new one

Candidates *

N/A

Constitution and Bylaws Amendments

Bylaws Article 10:

1. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall meet in open session to consider amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws originating with itself or with other Members or Associates. (Emphasis added)
2. At least 30 days prior to the Convention the chairman of this committee shall mail, to all Party Members and Associates, all amendments which the committee has reviewed. These amendments shall be placed on the Convention agenda for consideration by the Delegates.

The amendments proposed by the Committee as of the end of May were published in the Summer issue of Bulletin. This is likely the format as it will be presented to the Convention. One or two additional amendments have been added. Follow the link in the Agenda for the latest set of proposed amendments.

The only submission came from Darcy Neal Donnelly

Article 14 - Statement of Ultimate Goals

The Party shall adopt a Statement of Ultimate Goals which shall include the Statement of Principles.

The Statement of Principles affirms that upon which the Party is founded and by which it is sustained. The enduring importance of the Statement of Principles requires that it shall be amended only by a vote of not less than seven-eighths of the Delegates to a Convention, provided that notice of such amendment(s) has been sent to all Delegates not less than eight weeks prior to the date of the Convention. Amendments to the Statement of Principles cannot be made by Members from the floor of the Convention.

At each Convention the Statement of Ultimate Goals other than the Statement of Principles may be amended. A section may be deleted by a simple majority vote of the Delegates. The substitution of a new section for an old one or the addition of a new section shall require approval by a vote of two-thirds of the Convention Delegates.

Existing policy as stated in the Statement of Ultimate Goals

F. Monetary Policy

The value of government currency and deposits shall be based upon the value of commodities and fixed assets which support it.

It shall be illegal for the government to create currency or deposits in excess of the appraised value of the assets backing the economy.

The government shall not regulate monetary policy.

Individuals and corporations may issue their own currency.

Proposed Amendment to Section F. Monetary Policy

F. Monetary Policy

The government shall not regulate monetary policy.

Individuals and organizations of individuals, may freely create, offer, reject and settle trade exchanges, in whatever competitive currencies and sound economic monies, as they so freely choose for themselves, without any applied market coercion.

Government may create, offer, reject and settle trade exchanges, with individuals and groups of individuals, in whatever competitive currencies and sound economic monies, as it so freely chooses for itself, without any applied market coercion.

The free market shall compete for voluntary monetary policy development.

Menu Suggestions

The Ego Cafe is nearby and can offer some good options for a variety of dietary preferences.

Ego Café Eatery

2700 Matheson Ave E, East Tower

L4W9V4, Mississauga, ON

egocafe.ca@gmail.com

+1 905-629-0223

https://ego-cafe-eatery.weebly.com/

• Your event will be on Saturday, November 15th. We can prepare the chicken skewers, rice and garden salad for 15-20 persons. It will cost $12.50 per person.
• We can prepare also the continental breakfast for 20 persons (10 plain croissants, 5 muffins, 5 chocolate cakes) that will cost $58.00
• If you need to add a cup of cut fruits (banana, strawberry, apple and grapes) per person will cost $3.50 and 20 portions of coffee or tea will cost $46.00
• Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
• We are open to fill any other requisite or proposal.
• We usually require the minimum number of participants to be confirmed 5 days prior to the event. If there will be any additional participant you can feel free to let us know.

Thank you

Neritan

Here are the prices for 10-20 people for each menu.

Description	Cost	10	15	20
Chicken skewers, rice and garden salad	$12.50 each	$125.00	$187.50	$250.00
Breakfast Tray #1 (10 plain croissants, 5 muffins, 5 chocolate cakes)	~$3.00 each	$30.00*	$45.00*	$58.00
Breakfast Tray #2 (omelette wraps) - (minimum 12 pieces)	$4.50 each	$54.00	$67.50	$90.00
Total (Chicken Skewers + Breakfast Tray #1)		$155.00	$232.50	$308.00
Total (Chicken Skewers + Breakfast Tray #2)		$179.00	$255.00	$340.00

* To be confirmed

Taxes extra