The crises within the Liberal Party

What happened to the Liberal Party of Canada? How did the party that governed Canada for most of its history find itself bitterly divided and relegated to opposition status for much of the past three decades?

A new book by Brooke Jeffrey offers an explanation. Jeffrey is a professor and Director of the Master in Public Policy and Public Administration program in the Department of Political Science at Concordia.
 
In her book, Divided Loyalties: The Liberal Party of Canada, 1984–2008 (University of Toronto Press), Jeffrey moves beyond the common view that party strife originated with a personal conflict between former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.

Jeffrey argues the party’s divisiveness is actually a continuation of the dispute over Canadian federalism and national unity which began decades earlier between two other former prime ministers, John Turner and Pierre Trudeau. Jeffrey draws on her connections within the Liberal Party and interviews with more than 60 senior Liberals in tracing the trajectory of the party from 1984 to the leadership of Stéphane Dion.
 
The official launch of Divided Loyalties will take place on December 6 and will be attended by various dignitaries, including a number of current and former Liberal politicians and activists.
 
Brooke Jeffrey has been actively involved in Liberal politics since 1984 and has taken on roles including Director of the Liberal Caucus Research Bureau, Secretary of the party’s Platform Committee and Secretary General of the leadership forums.

Related links:
•   Concordia University Department of Political Science
•   University of Toronto Press
 

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