Liberal Lawyers required (en francais)

Ever wondered why there are so many lawyers in politics in general, and the Liberal Party specifically? Wonder no more. Take a look at the membership regulations for the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario).

Given the number of years that the Liberals have been in power in Canada it probably helps explain why the federal bureaucracy is the way it is.

3.0 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

3.1 In addition to other qualifications set out herein a member of an association shall:
a) be age fourteen (14) years of age or over
b) be ordinarily resident in Ontario
c) not be a member of any other federal political party within Canada and,
d) not be a member of any other federal constituency association.

3.2

3.2 (a)(i) Applications for membership in LPC(O) shall be in the form attached hereto as form A-1 and shall only be accepted on forms distributed by LPC(O) for use in Constituency Association or club to which the application relates, and any application for membership in a Constituency Association tendered on a form issued in respect of another Constituency Association or club shall be invalid.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, where, pursuant to Article IV.4(b) of the LPC(O)
Constitution, the OYL or the OWLC has approved a different form for an application for membership, such applications shall be accepted, subject to any other Rules contained herein and such rules as may be adopted by the OYL or the OWLC for membership applications, as the case may be.

3.2 (b)(i) LPC(O) shall distribute membership application forms to each Constituency Association for use by members or new members of that Constituency Association in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 3.2(b)(i.1) to (i.4) inclusive.

3.2 (b) (i.1) LPC (O) shall issue membership application forms to Constituency Associations in accordance with the following rules:

(A) On the first business day of April in each calendar year, LPC(O) shall issue each Constituency Association a number of membership application forms equal to 200% of the membership of the Constituency Association for the previous calendar year. Where the number of membership forms otherwise issued would not otherwise be a multiple of fifty (50), the number of membership forms issued shall be rounded up to the next multiple of fifty (50). However, LPC(O) shall issue at least 200 membership application forms and no more than 1,000 membership application forms to each Constituency Association on the first business day of April in each calendar year.

(B) In the period (the "Period") commencing on the first business day of April in a calendar year and ending on the last business day of March of the next calendar year, LPC(O) shall, if requested by the Constituency Association, issue additional membership applications to the Constituency Association to replace on a one to one basis membership application forms which have:
(I) been issued by LPC(O) to the Constituency Association during the period;
(II) have been completed and returned by the Constituency Association; and
(III) have not been replaced by LPC(O) during the Period.

(C) If the persons (the "Specified Persons") entitled to receive membership application forms on, pursuant to paragraph 3.2(b)(1.2), behalf of a Constituency Association cannot agree who should receive membership applications forms from LPC(O) or who shall have possession of those forms, the President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may issue additional membership application forms to the Constituency Association so that each of the Specified Persons has reasonable access to membership application forms

3.2 (b)(i.2) Each of the following persons shall be entitled to receive membership applications on behalf of the Constituency Association:
(A) The incumbent Liberal MP, if any, who represents the Constituency Association in
Parliament.
(B) The President of the Constituency Association.
(C) The Membership Secretary of the Constituency Association (or where there is no position of Membership Secretary in the Constituency Association, the Secretary of the Constituency Association).
(D) Any member of the Constituency Association who is authorized in writing by one of the persons referred to in paragraphs 3.2(b)(i.2)(A) to (C) to obtain membership application forms on behalf of the Constituency Association.
(E) Any member of the Constituency Association who is authorized pursuant to a resolution of the Executive Committee of the Constituency Association to obtain membership application forms on behalf of the Constituency Association. The President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may, but need not, accept a document executed by five or more members of the Executive Committee of the Constituency Association as evidence that the resolution has been passed by the Executive Committee of the Constituency Association.

3.2 (b)(i.3) The President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may distribute such quantities of membership applications as he or she may determine to a person who has been issued nomination papers by one of the Ontario Campaign Co-Chairs entitling him or her to seek the Liberal nomination for Parliament in a particular electoral district. However, that person shall use the membership application forms only in respect of the Constituency Association for which he or she is seeking the nomination. The provisions of this paragraph 3.2(b)(i.3) are subject to and shall be deemed to be modified to conform with the Ontario Rules of the Nomination of Candidates, as enacted by the National Campaign Committee of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Ontario Campaign Committee, pursuant to section 14.(6) of the Constitution of the Liberal Party of Canada.

3.2(b)(i.4) LPC(O) is not required by paragraphs 3.2(b)(i), 3.2(i.1), 3.2(b)(i.2) or

3.2(b)(i.3) to distribute any membership application forms to OYL, OWLC or APLCO. However,LPC(O) shall distribute membership application forms to clubs recognized by OYL,OWLC or APLCO pursuant to those paragraphs.

3.2(b)(ii) The President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may issue no more than five (5)membership application forms at a time to an individual in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 3.2(b)(ii.1) to (ii.6) inclusive.

3.2(b)(ii.1) The individual shall specify the Constituency Association (the "Designated Constituency Association") where the membership application forms are to and the individuals (the “Designated Individuals”) for whom the forms are to be used. The membership application forms may be used only in respect of the Designated Constituency Association and Designated Individuals and are not valid for any other use.

3.2(b)(ii.2) LPC(O) shall not issue membership application forms to the individual unless the individual satisfies both of the following conditions:
(A) The individual is a member of the Designated Constituency Association or the individual has a bona fide intention to become a member of the Designated Constituency Association and is eligible to become a member of the Designated Constituency Association.
(B) The individual has not requested or received any membership application forms pursuant to paragraph 3.2(b)(ii) in respect of a Constituency Association, other than the Designated Constituency Association, at any time during the calendar year in which the individual has requested forms pursuant to paragraph 3.2(b)(ii).

3.2(b)(ii.3) LPC(O) may deliver the membership application forms to the individual either in person or by mail or courier addressed to the individual’s home, place of business or place of employment. Any courier must be a bona fide courier carrying on business to the public at large as a commercial courier. LPC(O) shall not deliver the membership application forms to any other person on behalf of the individual or to any address other than the individual’s residence or place of business or employment.

3.2(b)(ii.4) If an individual has previously received membership application forms pursuant to paragraph 3.2(b)(ii), the maximum number of additional membership forms, which LPC(O) may issue to the individual, shall be the number, if any, by which
(A) five (5)exceeds
(B) the number of unexpired membership application forms previously issued to the individual, which have not been returned, together with applicable payment, to LPC(O) or the Constituency Association.

3.2(b)(ii.5) Within five (5) business days of receiving a request for membership application forms from an individual, LPC(O) shall:
(A) notify the Designated Constituency Association of the name, address and telephone
number of the individual and the number of forms requested; and
(B) post the information, described in subparagraph 3.2(b)(ii.5)(A), to the custom report of the Designated Constituency Association on the LPC(O) data server.

3.2b(ii.5.1) Subparagraph 3.2(b)(ii.5)(B) shall not be applicable until LPC(O) has the capability to comply with its requirements. This subparagraph shall be deleted from the Rules of Membership and Procedure on December 31, 2003. Ferd to talk to Brian about this

3.2(b)(ii.6) An individual may submit a duly completed membership application form to the Designated Constituency Association or directly to LPC(O). If the individual submits the duly completed application form for the Designated Constituency Association together with payment of membership fees directly to LPC(O):
(A) LPC(O) shall verify that the individual complies with the requirements of the LPC
Constitution, the LPC(O) Constitution and the Rules of Membership and Procedure for
becoming a member of LPC and LPC(O); and
(B) If the individual complies with all of the requirements for membership in the Designated Constituency Association, LPC(O) and LPC, the individual shall become a member of the Designated Constituency Association effective as of the date on which LPC(O) receives the duly completed membership form and the payment of applicable fees.

3.2(b)(iii) For each Constituency Association, the LPC(O) office shall maintain a separate log of forms distributed in accordance with this rule. This log shall be made available for review by any of the people described in Rule 3.2(b)(i.2) or to a bona fide candidate for election as:
(A) the nominated Liberal Candidate for Parliament, or
(B) member of the Constituency Association Executive, in respect of that Constituency Association.

3.2(b)(iv) Where a new electoral district is to be created as a result of redistribution, and for a period ending 90 days after the founding meeting of the new Constituency Association, forms issued in respect of any existing Constituency Association the boundaries of which overlap the new Constituency Association shall be valid in respect of the new Constituency Association.

3.2(b)(v) The President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may deliver up to fifty (50) membership application forms as part of a "starter kit" to facilitate the establishment of a club which is intended to be recognized by OYL, OWLC, or APLCO in accordance with the following rules:
(A) The President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may deliver a "starter kit" to the President of OYL, the President of OWLC or the President of APLCO to establish a specific club serving a specific geographical area, community, university or college. The starter kit shall be used only for that purpose.
(B) The President of LPC(O) or his/her designate may distribute a "starter kit" to a person who satisfies the President of LPC(O) or his/her designate that he or she intends to establish and to be an active member of a specific club serving a specific geographical area, community, university or college. The starter kit shall be used only for that purpose.

3.2(b)(vi) On the first day of April 2002, all membership application forms issued by LPC(O) prior to February 11, 2002 to a Constituency Association and not returned to LPC(O) prior to that date shall become invalid and may no longer be used.

3.2(b)(vii) On the first day of April 2002, all membership forms issued pursuant to paragraphs

3.2(b)(1.3), 3.2(b)(i.4) and 3.2(b)(v) prior to February 11, 2002, and not returned to LPC(O) prior to that date shall become invalid and may no longer be used.

3.2(b)(viii) Subparagraphs 3.2(b)(vi), 3.2(b)(vii) and this subparagraph 3.2(b)(viii) shall be deleted from the Rules of Membership and Procedure on June 30, 2002.

3.2(c) a separate application for membership must be signed by each applicant, including each member of a family. Each application must contain the following:
i) family name and given names;
ii) residence address and mailing address if different, and postal code;
iii) home phone number;
iv) birth date if applicant is paying a youth, senior or family fee;
v) fee paid;
vi) signature of applicant and date of signature;
vii) collector's name and signature.

3.2.1 a) A Separate renewal card in the form attached hereto as Form A-1.1 must be signed by each renewing member, including each member of a family. Each renewal card must also contain the date and the prescribed membership fee.
b) The provisions prescribed in Article 3.2.1(a) may be waived in the case of pre-authorized chequing programs that provide for automatic membership renewal.

3.3 Each applicant must pay his or her own fees, or they must be paid on behalf of the applicant by his or her grandparent, parent, child or grandchild, who resides with the applicant. The applicants payment must accompany the application.

3.4 Should an application for membership be rejected, the applicant shall be entitled to a refund of his/her fees from the Constituency Association.

3.5 (a) A membership application shall not be accepted in respect of an individual who is not resident in the electoral district, if, at the time of presentation the provisions of Section 8.3 hereof would thereby be contravened. In such cases, the person tendering the application shall
(c ) Where two or more applications are received by LPC(O) simultaneously, their order of priority for the purposes of the waiting list shall be determined at random.
(d) Applications shall be accepted from the waiting list in the order received by LPC(O), at such times as it is possible to accept the applications without contravening Rule 8.3.
(e) On September 30 of each year, LPC(O) shall purge all waiting lists, and return all application forms and fees that have not been accepted to the respective applicants.
(f) Where LPC(O) maintains such a waiting list in respect of a constituency association, it shall hold the accompanying membership fees in trust, for remittance to the constituency association upon acceptance of the application, or for return to the applicant if the application is not accepted prior to the 30th day of September next following its submission.

3.6 In each calendar year, each Constituency Association shall pay LPC(O) a membership application processing fee equal to one ($1.00) dollar per member for each member other than the first 500 persons to become members of the Constituency Association during the calendar year. Pursuant to Article IV, Section 5, subclause (b) of the LPC(O) Constitution, the provisions of this section

3.6 are not applicable to OYL Student Clubs.

3.6.5 In addition, subject to a membership not having the fee referred to in Section 3.6 being applied, each Constituency Association shall pay LPC(O) a membership application processing fee equal to one ($1.00) per member for any membership form requested directly from LPC(O) either in person, by telephone, by mail, or by other electronic media and subsequently turned in to LPC(O) or the Riding Association for processing. Pursuant to Article IV, Section 5, subclause (b) of the LPC(O) Constitution, the provisions of this section 3.6.5 are not applicable to the OYL Student Clubs.

3.7 The minimum and maximum annual membership fee for regular, youth and senior classes of memberships are $1.00 and $25.00 respectively.

3.8 No Constituency Association shall change the annual membership fee which it charges for a classof membership until one year has elapsed from the effective date of the last change of annual membership fee for that class of membership.

3.9 Where any Constituency Association delivers or send to LPC(O) more than twenty-five (25) membership forms at any one time, those forms shall be accompanied by a computer diskette in a format approved by LPC(O) as compatible with its database. The President of LPC(O) or his/ her designate may waive this requirement under exceptional circumstances.

3.9.1 Section 3.9 shall not be applicable until LPC(O) has the capacity to comply with its requirements. Constituency Associations shall be given one month’s notice in writing of the requirement to comply with this section once the capability is in place.be entitled to its return with the accompanying fee, or may request that the application be kept on a waiting list, to be maintained by LPC(O) in respect of that constituency association.
(b) A constituency association that receives applications which must go onto the waiting list shall forthwith submit the applications and accompanying fees to LPC(O), which shall add the names of the applicants to the waiting list as of the date of receipt by LPC(O).