The Ontario Young Liberals (OYL) is the official youth wing of the Ontario Liberal Party. The OYL's membership includes all members of the Ontario Liberal Party who are aged 25 and under. The organization has local branches called "student clubs" (associations of members at post secondary institutions) and "riding clubs" (associations of members residing in electoral districts), though members are not required to be associated with any such clubs. It is led by a 22-member executive board.

Until 2017, the OYL was also recognized by the Liberal Party of Canada as its youth wing in Ontario. In 2016, at the Liberal Party of Canada Biennial Convention in Winnipeg, the federal party passed a constitutional amendment that ceased recognition of its element organizations that are jointly recognized provincial liberal parties. A separate Ontario "section" of the Young Liberals of Canada was created to serve as its youth organization in Ontario.

History

Associations of Liberals on university and college campus existed prior to the 1970s, and were loosely affiliated with the party each other through the Ontario Student Liberals. In 1971, the organization was formally established as the Ontario New Liberals and was known as such until the mid-1980s.

The organization has been a preparation ground for budding politicians and political organizers. Many elected officials and partisan with public prominence were active members of the OYL in their youth. These include: Yvan Baker, MP and former MPP for Etobicoke Centre Arnold Chan, Former MP for Scarborough—Agincourt Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Former Mayor of Mississauga and former MP for Mississauga—Streetsville (served on as Student Director of the OYL) Steven Del Duca, Former leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, former MPP for Vaughan and Ontario Minister of Transportation (served as President of the University of Toronto Liberals) Dwight Duncan, Former MPP for Windsor—Tecumseh and Ontario Finance Minister (served on the executive of the OYL and contested its presidency) Michael Ignatieff, Former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and former MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore (served as a staff youth organizer in the national headquarters) Rob Oliphant, MP for Don Valley West (served on the executive of the OYL) Ruby Dhalla, Former MP for Brampton—Springdale (served on the national executive of Young Liberals of Canada)

Influence

Since the Liberal Party allocates specific number of delegate spots for campus liberal associations at its national convention, key players of the OYL wielded unique influence in the party’s leadership selection as it has the largest number of campus associations under its jurisdiction. OYL had been a fierce battleground during federal leadership races from the early 1980s to 2006. The Paul Martin leadership campaign was particularly notorious for hostile take over of campus liberal associations leading up to the 1990 and 2003 contests.

Structure

The OYL executive is made up of 22 OYL members elected to one-year terms by the membership at the OYL Annual General Meeting. The structure of the Executive consists of a President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-President (Organization), Vice-President (French), Vice-President (Equity), Treasurer, Riding Director, Student Director, Policy Director, Communications Director, Community Engagement Director, Election Readiness Director and 9 Regional Coordinators, as well as a high school coordinator.

The current executive is as follows: +2025-2026 OYL ExecutivePositionNamePresidentPalwashah AliExecutive Vice-PresidentKeagan McNeilVice-President (Organization)Stacy KiselioukVice-President (French)Lauren WilkinsonVice-President (Equity)Emma FortunatoTreasurerShyan HayderCommunications DirectorSoobin SungPolicy DirectorGilvan Greig-ClarkeStudent DirectorDevon JaroviRiding DirectorEwan WiltonElection Readiness DirectorHamza KamalCommunity Engagement DirectorDomenic SbergioNorth Regional CoordinatorTBDEastern Regional CoordinatorMartin SpielauerCentral West Regional CoordinatorLayeebah AhmadCentral East Regional CoordinatorKennedy SteevesCentral North Regional CoordinatorDaniel MojarrabToronto (Etobicoke/Downtown/East York) Regional CoordinatorLuke CalabrettaToronto (York/North York/Scarborough) Regional CoordinatorErin StrachanSouth Central Regional CoordinatorJohl Emtage-CaveSouthwestern Regional CoordinatorYazdan NikooHigh School CoordinatorRaheem White

Regions

The OYL recognizes nine distinct regions of the province, that align with the Ontario Liberal Party's regional breakdown. Each region is represented by a Regional Coordinator. Each region is further broken down by areas, although these area divisions are seldom used. The nine regions are: North Region, East, Central West, Central East, Central North, Toronto (Etobicoke/Downtown/East York), Toronto (York/North York/Scarborough), South Central and Southwestern.

Affiliated clubs

The OYL is composed of riding and campus clubs. Riding clubs are based in each provincial electoral district. Campus clubs are located at universities and colleges in Ontario.

Each club has a constitution, which must agree with the constitutions of the Ontario Liberal Party and the OYL. Each club has an executive, and conducts activities such as community outreach, social events, policy meetings and assists in campaigns during federal or provincial elections.

OYL Annual General Meeting

The executive of the OYL is elected to a 12 to 18 month term at the Annual General Meeting of the OYL. As of 2021, the OYL AGM is held in conjunction with the Ontario Liberal Party's AGM and Policy Conference.

OYL Summer Fling

In the summer of 2002, the OYL created a new signature event called Summer Fling, which was held at Wilfrid Laurier University the inaugural year. The event was led and organized by OYL executives Eric Davis and Simon Tunstall. Tunstall currently serves as Executive Director of the Ontario Liberal Party.

The OYL Summer Fling typically includes a Friday night social, the OYL's annual policy conference, keynote speeches, issue-focused panels featuring guest speakers, and workshops. The event also features volunteer recognition and club awards. Over time, it has become the flagship event of the OYL

Summer Fling locations

Year Location Region 2002 Wilfrid Laurier University South Central Region 2003 University of Ottawa Eastern Region 2004 McMaster University South Central Region 2005 University of Western Ontario Southwest Region 2006 Trent University Central East Region 2007 Nipissing University Northern Region 2008 University of Guelph South Central Region 2009 Brock University South Central Region 2010 Queen's University Eastern Region2011Laurentian UniversityNorthern Region2012Wilfrid Laurier UniversitySouth Central Region2013Carleton UniversityEastern Region2014Joint Summer Fling and AGM, held in King City Central North Region2015Nipissing UniversityNorthern Region2016Queen's UniversityEastern Region2019Carleton UniversityEastern Region2023University of TorontoToronto (E/D/EY) Region2024Carleton UniversityEastern Region2025University of OttawaEastern Region2026Western UniversitySouthwest Region

References

External links Ontario Young Liberals Young Liberals of Canada