Thread by @JeffRybak

In recent Liberal debates, some candidates have been talking about building a new party from scratch. We sure need one. But we need to pause and consider both what it means to embrace this opportunity, and what it requires us to risk or let go in the bargain. #olpldr #onpoli 1/13

Any party, over time, becomes burdened with history. Bad policies we can't shake off, bad habits we've fallen into and ceased to question, and yes, bad actors who view this party as a means of personal advancement. We need to look squarely at these truths. #olpldr #onpoli 2/13

Building from scratch means surrendering the belief that last election was some kind of blip, and now everything can go back to normal. Voters rejected the Liberal party of 2018 so soundly they elected an unqualified fool instead. Let's not kid ourselves. #olpldr #onpoli 3/13

If we don't face our faults, if we don't truly clear house, if we don't open our doors to new people and new ideas to help us fix what's broken - we may win in 2022 anyway. Ford is that unpopular. But one year later voters will remember why they hated us. #olpldr #onpoli 4/13

Rebuilding this party means challenging and displacing the people who don't want to let it go. These are people who have derived a lot of personal gain from politics - in some cases are barely employable otherwise. They will fight tooth and nail to hold on. #olpldr #onpoli 5/13

A healthy party has a lot of members participating on a part-time basis. The Liberal Party hasn't been that for a long time. It turned into a small group of insiders mobilizing a large base for elections and then ignoring them again. We can't return to that. #olpldr #onpoli 6/13

When it comes to fighting these full-time political lifers, one of the challenges is that we're fighting them with our own part-time efforts. Yes, I'm talking to you again. You reading this. Because no one else is going to fight against them for us. #olpldr #onpoli 7/13

As a part-time Liberal, my great advantage is I don't need this. I do well at my job and I don't depend on politics to earn a living. I've been loud and blunt already, and I don't plan to stop. If others are afraid to speak the truth, I have to ask...why? #olpldr #onpoli 8/13

The truth is, @StevenDelDuca would be a disastrous choice for leader. The political game that he plays, and the campaign that he's running, represents everything that's wrong with this party. And what's more, there are many, many other people who know this. #olpldr #onpoli 9/13

I've heard from so many people, in every campaign, and everyone has the same stories. Promises made, money changing hands, favors and backroom deals. But no one wants to say it because they're afraid - of what, I don't know. Maybe just of going first. #olpldr #onpoli 10/13

I'm challenging everyone. If you believe in @StevenDelDuca, tell us why. Not in some bullsh*t quote his team wrote and published for you, about how he'll organize the party and roll back Ford's cuts. Tell us yourself, in your own words. #olpldr #onpoli 11/13

And if you're against @StevenDelDuca, come right out and say it. The real reasons. The sordid mess with Kirby Go station. All of it. We're vetting our next Premier. If we're afraid of asking the tough questions, we are failing in our duty as party members. #olpldr #onpoli 12/13

Political lifers have the time and the money. But part-timers, like me, have a bigger advantage. We have nothing to lose, except this once-in-a-lifetime chance to rebuild this party properly. If we squander that, it's on us. So speak truth to power. Now. #olpldr #onpoli 13/13