Convention 2014 Minutes

Attendees

Voting Delegates	Present (non-voting members)
Gene Balfour, Phil Bender, Igor Bily, Jean-Serge Brisson, Chester Brown, Mark Burnison, Andrew Echevaria, Judi Falardeau, Angie Liao, Jim McIntosh, Phillip Richard, Ryan Nixon, John Shaw, Alan Small, Peter Sodhi, John White, Ron White, Nunzio Venuto, Mark (WOJO) Wrzesniewski	Brendan McNulty, Barbara Preston, Damien Wilson

• Mark Burnison arrived at 11:50 AM
• Jean-Serge Brisson chaired the meeting

• CALL TO ORDER : 10:30 AM
• AGENDA: Jean-Serge reviewed the agenda which was published in the Fall 2014 Bulletin and is available here.

Welcome

Jean Serge Brisson opening remarks emphasized 2 prime goals for the party:

• to achieve a full slate of candidates to ensure greater party credibility and more active media attention.
• to grow the party membership

Review of agenda for the meeting. Regarding election of officers, three members in attendance whose membership began within the past 90 days are ineligible to cast votes (Brendan McNulty, Barbara Preston, Damien Wilson).

The Minutes for the 2013 Ontario Libertarian Party Annual General Meeting have not been approved. Mark Wrzesniewski moved that the 2013 AGM minutes be the first item on the 2015 AGM.

MOVED BY Mark Wrzesniewski, SECONDED BY Ron White [ 2013 Minutes ] 18 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Carried

LEADERS REPORT

Allen Small:

2014 was a successful year, as indicated by 73 candidates in the June 2014 Provincial election. OLP candidates this year were better prepared and better equipped than ever before with our Platform (The Choice Book) and generic signs. OLP gained more votes in the June election than any other libertarian entity in Canada has ever obtained. Allen discussed the "Overton Window" strategy of gradually shifting public opinion towards our goals (as Rand Paul seems to be doing in the US). We must get away from "smugness" and craft our message better (more simple message of "limited government"). The goal over the next 3 years is to grow the party!

TREASURERS REPORT

• Jim McIntosh provided copies of the Income and Expenses Statement as of September 30, 2014. Our bank balance was more than 50% higher after the General Election than it was at the same time last year.
• Further to Allen's comments, Jim explained that thirty years ago the members of the Party were focused on the Libertarain principles and finding fellow Libertarians. George Dance, former long-time Chairman, promoted a change in the Membership Oath from "I hereby certify that I believe in and promise to uphold the Statement of Principles of the Ontario Libertarian Party," to “I’m for individual liberty” in an effort to create a "big tent" Party. This is reflected in our motto which has changed from "The Party of Principle" to "The Party of Choice."
• The Party's on-line Contact Resource Manager (database) is up and fully running, thanks to Phillip Richard. This has allowed Jim to delegate tasks to John Shaw, like preparing and mailing Bulletin, Inquiry Packages and new Membership cards.
• Jim has been busy with paperwork for 75 candidates (including one who was registered but not nominated, and one who had to withdfraw after being registered and nominated), and printing and mailing Official Receipts to 116 donors.

Move to accept the Treasurer's Income and Expenses Report:

MOVED BY Jim McIntosh, SECONDED BY Ron White [ Treasurer's Income and Expenses Report ] 18 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Carried

Constitutional Amendments

Moved that sections 1 and 2 of Article 4 of the Constitution be amended as follows: (amendment in italics)

1. Anyone who has signed the statement "I'm for individual liberty" or has indicated agreement with this statement by other means provided by the Party, and has paid current membership dues, shall be a Menber of the Party.

2. Anyone who has signed the statement "I wish to be an Associate of the Ontario Libertarian Party" or has indicated agreement with this statement by other means provided by the Party, and has paid current membership fees, shall be an Associate of the Party.

MOVED BY Jim McIntosh, SECONDED BY John White [ Article 4 Sections 1 and 2 ammendments ] 18 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Carried

3. Moved that Section 8 of Article 6 off the Constitution be amended to read as follows : (italics indicate amendment)

  All officers members of the Executive Committee must sign an oath of office, which shall read, "I support and promise to uphold the Ontario Libertarian Party Statement of Principles."

MOVED BY Jim McIntosh, SECONDED BY Ron White [ Section 8 Article 6 ammendment ] 19 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Carried

4. Moved that the wording for the motion to amend Section F, Monetary Policy, in the Statement of Ultimate Goals, which motion was presented by Neil Donnelly in the Convention 2014 Agenda, and reads:

• "individuals associations and enterprises may issue their own currency"

be revised/replaced as follows:

• "individuals and groups of individuals may issue their own currency"

MOVED BY Gene Balfour, SECONDED BY Ron White [ Rewording of motion ] 15 in favor, 2 opposed, 2 abstained. Carried

5. Moved that he fourth and final bullet under Section F , Monetary Policy, in the Statement of Ultimate Goals be replaced with the following:

  "Individuals and groups of individuals may issue their own currency."

MOVED BY Gene Balfour, SECONDED BY Ron White [ Section F Monitary Policy Amendment ] 17 in favor, 0 opposed, 2 abstained. Carried

Proposal for New Party Colours and Logo

A copy of 3 potential logo / banner styles with gold (or yellow), deep blue, and white was presented to the members. The consensus of opinion was that OLP should change its current colours to be consistent with the Federal Libertarian Party, but that GOLD (in place of YELLOW) was highly preferable.

No final conclusion was made as yet.

Elections

"(E)" indicates Elected.

Leader

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Allen Small	John Shaw	18 (E)
NOTA	-	1

Deputy Leader

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Mark Burnison	Ryan Nixon	13 (E)
Scott Marshall	Allen Small	6
NOTA	-	0

Chairman

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Phillip Richard	Jim McIntosh	17 (E)
Scott Marshall	Allen Small	1
NOTA	-	0

Vice-Chair

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Mark Wrzesniewski ("Wojo")	Jim McIntosh	16 (E)
Scott Marshall	Allen Small	3
NOTA	-	0

Campaign Director

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Scott Marshall (E)	Allen Small	18
NOTA	-	0

Secretary

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Peter Sodhi	Allen Small	18 (E)
NOTA	-	0

Recording Secretary

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
John White	Phil Bender	19 (E)
NOTA	-	0

Treasurer

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Jim McIntosh	Allen Small	19 (E)
NOTA	-	0

Members-at-Large

2 to be elected

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
Igor Bily	Allen Small	15 (E)
Ron White	John White	16 (E)
Jason Jenkins	Allen Small	7
NOTA	-	0

Ethics Committee

2 to be elected

Nominee	Nominator	Votes
John Shaw	Allen Small	17 (E)
Brandon McNulty	Ryan Nixon	17 (E)
Sam Applebaum	Jim McIntosh	4
NOTA	-	0

Ballot Retention

Moved by Jim McIntosh that ballots for the 2014 elections be retained and available for scrutiny for 30 days after publishing, after which they will be destroyed.

MOVED BY Jim McIntosh, SECONDED BY Judi Falardeau [ 30 day Ballot Retention ] 19 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Carried

MOTION TO ADJOURN (4:00PM)

MOVED BY Jim McIntosh, SECONDED BY John Shaw [ Meeting adjourned ] 19 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Carried