This brief note is to advise you of potential interruptions to CAP/PAC operations during the transition period as our office relocates to a new location of our new leader's choice (who will be known soon as the final vote count takes place November 6, 2008).

There is currently no detailed agreed upon transition plan in place. Some members of your national executive are promoting their own diverse ideas and initiatives, as are some of your leadership contenders. Some prefer immediate massive change, including total restructuring of the website and total restructuring of our database systems. Some are open to greater use of U.S. based servers and systems, providing somewhat greater ease of use, but susceptible to the U.S. Patriot Act and residing outside the protection of the Canadian Privacy Commissioner. Others are comfortable with the maintenance of
our own servers and systems.

As a whole, the national executive is responsible to oversee the operations and administration of the party to ensure it is functioning consistent with the policies of the party and the direction of the leader.They are sorting their way through the detailed interpretation of their roles and powers versus those of the leader, versus those of the members. Some of them desire to become directly involved in operations. They will, inevitably find their feet in due course.

Their job right now is to keep the party functioning. There are significant changes facing them just in the relocation of the office which directly impact our communications and financing. Our main server in conjunction with our website controls both of these vital systems.

The relocation of the office requires a relocation of this server which will necessitate a temporary interruption of our communications and financing. The deposit of contributions and the issuing of official receipts will be interrupted and delayed as will the broadcasting of information.

It is the responsibility of your national executive to coordinate this relocation and transition. Your existing staff and contract employees will continue their roles to the end of their terms which effectively end in November. The current operation of the website, the bookkeeping, the banking, the postal operations, the necessary compliance with Elections Canada requirements through this relocation will all be subject to some interruptions and delay.

When I took over as leader from Paul Hellyer in 2004, the head office relocated from Toronto to Vancouver, and it took about two years to get the the party operations fully up and running again. There is no need for such a lengthy time frame for the transition this time as the expertise of all the existing operational support services (from bookkeeping, to website,to I.T. services etc.)are available and can be used during the transition if your national executive and new leader are prepared to do so.

Please bear with our colleagues as they work through the details of the transition.....Connie