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	Poll Results Slow Martin Rivals
	by Tim Harper 28 August 2002
	TORONTO - The timing of the Liberal vote and the likely cancellation of a February 2003, policy convention sparked more controversy yesterday. Akaash Maharaj, the party’s national policy chair and a candidate for the presidency, expressed his indignation at the suggestion that the February convention be cancelled. Stephen LeDrew, the current president of the party, made it clear Monday that he thought the convention should be cancelled since there was no longer any need for a leadership vote, and that Liberals could not afford two conventions in a 12 month period. In a letter to LeDrew that he released yesterday, Maharaj said that decision would mean the party’s executive would be doubling its term from two years to four. “When foreign governments have cancelled constitutionally mandated elections and illegally extended their terms in office, Liberal governments have never flinched from condemning them in the harshest of terms” he wrote. “For the Liberal party itself to fall short of standards we expect of foreign dictatorships would be to bring ourselves, our party, and our government into public disrepute.” Maharaj said the party makes money on conventions, and that to cancel it would be to forego revenue the party -- heavily in debt -- badly needs.