People lament the lack of involvement in political parties in this Country.  But let's look at the way electoral exigencies have affected that national convention of the Liberal Party of Canada.First, because of a possible governing coalition, all of the individuals contesting the leadership of the LPC withdrew, and the deadline for nominations has long passed, meaning that there will be no decision made by the members of the LPC at its Vancouver convention on who will be the leader of the party.  There is only one candidate.  He will be acclaimed.Secondly, because the Liberals don't want the Conservatives to steal (and mischaracterize) their ideas prior to an election campaign, the Liberals are refusing to allow the public to see the political policies that will be discussed.  Further, they are saying, openly and honestly (for a change) that the relationship between those policies and the actual electoral platform is at the full discretion of the leader.A person they didn't get to choose.And people are supposed to want to pay $1000 and go to vancouver at their own added expense to spend a few days doing what, exactly?  Oh, I suppose there are constitutional amendments to be made.  Back when I cared what the LPC did, I made a number of suggestions in that regard.  But the deadline for becoming a member and registering yourself as a delegate, if it hasn't passed already, is probably very near.  There has been no announcement of which I'm aware as to what constitutional changes are even going to be debated.The 2009 LPC Convention in Vancouver:  No leadership debate, no useful policy debate, and a constitutional debate we won't tell you about in advance.  $1000 well spent.Perhaps there will be a break-out session on why people don't bother to get involved in political parties.