The Co-Chair of the Liberal Party Leadership Convention and AGM didn’t hold back when responding to public backlash for choosing to continue on with the leadership race last week.
On Monday, the provincial Liberal Party announced it has suspended its leadership contest.
John Samms says as a committee, they are not politicians. They are governed by their rules and constitution. He says when they made the announcement last week, he knew they would probably get a rough ride for it, but that’s neither his nor the committee’s consideration.
He says they were given a mandate to deliver a leadership election.
Samms claims he would much rather be criticized for being too slow to suspend a democratic process than to be seen doing so hastily.
He was blunt in saying political blow-back is not what governs their committee.
Past President Judy Morrow says the COVID-19 pandemic is of the utmost importance to them.
Morrow says over the last two-weeks they have anguished over the decision.
Strict Rules Laid Out for Candidates in the Interim
John Abbott (left) and Dr. Andrew Furey (right) are the two candidates for the liberal leadership.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party executive has laid out some strict rules for the two candidates while the leadership race is suspended.
Past-president Judy Morrow says leadership candidates are prohibited from campaign-related media commentary, until the party lifts the suspension.
Campaign websites and social media sites must be made inactive, and personal websites and social media accounts must remove all references to campaign voting and donations.
Candidates are not allowed to accept donations during the suspension or spend in relation to the campaign.
Morrow says if a candidate breaches the rules, they can face disciplinary action. .
She says that could include written reprimands, fines or disqualification.
Formal resumption of the leadership election campaign will occur once the party gives each candidate 7-days notice.
