My liberal friends,

At the end of the day, the party made a choice. As much as democracy may hurt from time to time, it is the best system we have. That is why we need to restore democracy and a voice to each and every riding in the country with open nominations and welcoming membership. 

The party, and our new president Mike Crawley, are committed to making that happen. It is also the responsibility of every single one of us to ensure that our party opens its doors to every newcomer. Democracy will bring the people back. 

As a lifelong Liberal, I want to help. I congratulate our new president, and  offer him my full support.  A special thanks to other presidential candidates, Ron, Alexandra and Charles, who gave their best and then some. 

As I said to my disappointed daughter, Danelle, and my nephew and niece, Gabriel and Beatrice, how a person faces defeat is far more important than how they embrace victory. Life is a journey that involves many twists and turns, and the power of the Liberal Party to renew itself is more important than any single person's ambition. 

Read Laurier: There you will find the keys to our party's soul. His words of inclusion are every bit as relevant today as they were in the 19th century. The country needs a heart, and that is the raison d'être of our great Party.

As a liberal, I hope to continue to be a force for good and work with you to open our party up to new people, new voices, youth & passion. One of my passions is making the world a better place. A country that needs our help is our neighbour Haiti. 

This year I am hosting the 6th annual fundraising initiative for a school, which we are building in Jeremy. If you would like to know more about this initiative and others that you might like to be involved with, please stay tuned.

Liberally,

Hon. Sheila Copps