The Liberal Party of Canada is a very top-down organisation. This has been a source of much of their troubles. There's no room for calling out the leader, or for a minister to exercise their own authority outside of the leader's preferences. Especially when the leader's plan goes against the better judgement or ethics of the minister. The idea that a minister can only get their concerns addressed if they very publicly quit - from Jody Wilson-Raybould to Jane Philpott to Christia Freeland. This problem isn't unique to the Liberals: it was also noticeable with the PMO as run by Harper. But it's a problem that should be addressed. We need institutions that allow people of conscience to meaningfully push back when given instructions they know to be wrong.
Another problem is to find a way to challenge the leader or at least hold him/her responsible for their actions. Some parties have at least a requirement for an annual (or other frequency) of leadership review. If the Liberals had this process, they may have found a way to get Trudeau to back down without a full-on caucus revolt.
Are any of the candidates looking at options to reform the organisation of the LPC, or are they simply going to perpetuate the system, simply with themselves playing king of the hill, until someone comes along to topple them in turn?
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