We are determined to bring forth new ideas, exert new pressure and attract more women to political office to help make the case for more progressive and beneficial policies. The Liberal Party of Canada’s policy process links individuals, their community, their province, the country and the Party together. New ideas are gathered from Liberal members in riding associations and clubs and then shaped into policy resolutions that go on to form our Party’s policy. This is the critical policy advice the membership provides to our caucus and forms the basis of the platform that we run on in an election. The vigour of any country’s civil society and the very legitimacy of the state are dependent on a broad participation of the population in shaping the affairs of the nation. There are so many decisions made at the local, provincial and national levels that truly affect how we live and it is especially important that women feel connected to the political process. It is therefore important for women, who represent 51% of the Canadian population, to have their say in policy development. The NWLC, in cooperation with women’s clubs and other organizations, submitted a number of resolutions for discussion and decision to the 2006 Leadership Convention. Policies relating to affordable housing, literacy, the restoration of funding to Status of Women Canada, as well as cancer prevention and the environment were put forward by the NWLC and passed as priority resolutions at the Convention. In addition, a resolution on gender parity was also passed which requires the Liberal Party to adopt a plan of action to achieve gender parity in both the Party and Parliament within three general elections. To view all resolutions which were adopted at the 2009 Leadership and Biennial Convention in Vancouver, click here. In addition, the Liberal Women’s Caucus has released The Pink Book: A Framework for Canada’s Future, Volume 1, which recommends a series of policies to deal with the most pressing social and economic issues facing women in Canada , particularly working women and their families, caregivers and seniors. The Pink Book is the product of working sessions held in July 2006, by the Women’s Liberal Caucus with input from women and women’s groups across the country. The Pink Book: Volume II was released in December 2007. The proposals in Volume II deal with violence against women, housing, Aboriginal women, immigrant and refugee women and rural women. As before, the recommendations are based on internal discussions and consultations with representatives of organizations that work on behalf of women. In October 2009, Pink Book: Volume III was released containing proposals addressing Women in the Economy, Women’s Health and Safety and Women’s Equality.