Tonight, I put a $10 charge on my credit card and became an official member of the federal Liberals. Having resisted committing myself to any of the federal parties since my youth, this is a big step for me and not one that I took lightly. I consider myself a reasonable person, not particularly interested in ideology or partisan politics, but rather evidence-based decision making. Indeed, I can find policies that I support in all four of the federal parties. So why have I finally become, for the next year at least, a Liberal? Here’s three reasons:

Historically, I’ve always been drawn to the Liberals. Jean Chretien was my Prime Minster; I grew up with him and fondly recall watching him win his third majority in 2000. It wasn’t that I knew anything about the man or his party, but he was just the norm as a kid. As I grew up, I learnt more about the Liberals’ key role in shaping this country – whether with medicare, the flag, or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Even in the dying days of the Liberals, the party made me proud to be Canadian. Chretien opted not to invade Iraq, and nearly de-criminalized marijuana. Paul Martin brought the country same-sex marriage and the $5 billion Kelowna Accord to move forward with Aboriginals.

While I now understand the counter arguments and the downsides to Liberal dominance, most visible under Trudeau with Quebec and Alberta, the fact remains that the Liberal brand is a powerful one. Many positive achievements of the country – those ideas that are unique Canadian – are intricately tied to the Liberal party. That will not simply be washed away. The Liberal brand is resilient and can undoubtedly rise again to move the country forward, but only if it shows it has the vision to lead Canada in the 21st century.

Which leads me to my second reason, which is renewal. Just nine months ago, many questioned whether the party would survive, and yet, thanks to the dedication of active Canadians, the Liberals are moving steadily towards a complete transformation. As has been noted before, the Liberals have been presented with a tremendous opportunity to take risks, stand up for controversial policies, and re-imagine their role and place in Canadian politics. They’ve been presented with a freedom not experienced in generations.

Being involved in that process of renewal is incredibly exciting. As Andrew Coyne once said, the Liberals need to return to their roots – not the Trudeau or Pearson era, but back to the days when they were George Brown’s Reformers. The Liberals were once the anti-establishment, fighting for true democracy in the face of the Tories’ Family Compact. Bringing that spirit back to the party, and forging ahead with a new vision and agenda for tomorrow, is both inspiring and deeply engaging. I want to be a part of it and make an impact.

However, up until the other day, these were more possibilities than realities. Yet, with the election of Mike Crawley as party president, the Liberals have committed to real change. Had Mike not been elected, I doubt I would have decided to join. He has presented a riveting vision for the Liberals, frequently stating he wants to create the first truly modern political party. His plan to combine technology with political engagement opportunities is revolutionary, not just for the Liberals or for Canada, but the future of democracy everywhere. I want to help make that vision a successful reality.

In summary, I believe in the brand, I believe in the opportunity, and I believe in the vision of the modern political party that the Liberals can become. I’m excited, engaged, and ready to get down to work – well, at least for the next year.