Liberal Convention 2026: What 24 Policy Proposals Mean for Your Healthcare, Social Media, and Rights

What This Means for You

The Liberal Party of Canada is holding its national convention in Montreal from April 9 to 11, 2026 — the first major policy gathering since 2023 and the first under Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership. With 4,500 delegates debating 24 policy resolutions, the outcomes could shape federal legislation for years to come. While convention resolutions are not binding on the government, they signal the direction the party's grassroots wants to push policy — and with the Liberals on the cusp of a majority government, these proposals carry more weight than usual.

Based on our analysis of the published resolutions, three proposals stand out for their direct impact on Canadian families: a universal primary care guarantee, age restrictions on social media and AI for children, and limits on provincial use of the notwithstanding clause. Here's what you need to know about each one and how to prepare.

If You're a Parent of Children Under 16

The convention is debating two resolutions that directly affect your family's digital life. One proposal, originating from Quebec, calls for banning anyone under 16 from accessing "all AI chatbots and other potentially harmful forms of AI interaction," including tools like ChatGPT. A second resolution calls for banning social media accounts for children 15 and younger.

What this could look like in practice:

According to CBC News, the Quebec resolution cites evidence that AI chatbots "have been shown to limit desire for interaction with peers, pushed some young people into sexual conversations and have even recommended suicide to vulnerable youth." If adopted as party policy and later legislated, enforcement would likely follow models already implemented in Australia and parts of the European Union — requiring age verification from platforms rather than putting the burden on parents.

Immediate steps you should take:

Audit your child's current app and platform usage. Make a list of every social media account, AI chatbot, and messaging app your child uses. Common ones parents miss: Discord, BeReal, Character.AI, and Snapchat's AI features.
Start the conversation now. Whether or not legislation passes, the research behind these proposals is sound. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends limiting screen time and monitoring online interactions for children under 14. Use this news as a conversation starter: "Have you heard about the debate over whether kids should be allowed on social media?"
Set up parental controls proactively. On Apple devices, use Screen Time (Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions). On Android, use Family Link. On Windows, use Microsoft Family Safety. These tools let you block specific apps and set time limits.
Know what AI tools your child's school uses. Many schools have integrated AI tools into their curriculum. Ask your school board what their AI use policy is and whether students are accessing chatbots unsupervised during class.

Example scenario: Your 14-year-old uses Instagram, TikTok, and regularly chats with ChatGPT for homework help. If both resolutions were adopted and legislated, they would lose access to all three platforms until they turn 16. The platforms — not you — would be responsible for enforcing the age restriction. In the interim, consider whether your child's AI chatbot use is supervised and whether you're comfortable with the conversations they're having.

A note on Prime Minister Carney's position: According to CTV News, Carney has said there are "arguments on both sides" and that "more information is emerging about how such bans work." This measured stance suggests legislation, if it comes, would likely go through extensive consultation first.

If You're Struggling to Find a Family Doctor

The most ambitious healthcare proposal on the convention floor calls for "universal, authentic access to primary care for all Canadians within 10 years." According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, approximately 6.5 million Canadians currently lack a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner — a number that has grown steadily since 2019.

What the resolution proposes:

The resolution calls on the federal government to work with provinces and territories to ensure every Canadian has access to primary care. While the resolution doesn't specify funding mechanisms, it aligns with the $196.1 billion in health transfers already committed over the next decade through bilateral health agreements signed in 2023-2024.

What this means for your healthcare right now:

If you don't have a family doctor, register with your province's patient-matching service immediately. In Ontario, use Health Care Connect (ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner). In British Columbia, use the Health Connect Registry. In Quebec, contact your local CLSC. Wait times vary from months to years depending on your region, so getting on the list sooner improves your chances.
Know your walk-in clinic rights. Even without a family doctor, you have the right to access walk-in clinics for non-emergency care. Many provinces now have virtual care options as well. In Ontario, Ontario Health's virtual visit program connects you with a doctor by phone or video for free with your OHIP card.
Explore nurse practitioner-led clinics. These clinics provide comprehensive primary care and often have shorter wait lists than traditional family doctor practices. There are over 50 nurse practitioner-led clinics in Ontario alone, and most provinces are expanding them.
Track the bilateral health agreements. Your province has already signed a deal with the federal government that includes specific targets for primary care access. Search "[your province] bilateral health agreement 2023" to find the specific commitments your province has made and hold your provincial government accountable.

The 10-year timeline in context: Based on our analysis of previous healthcare commitments, a 10-year goal is ambitious but not unprecedented. The original Medicare implementation took roughly a decade (1957-1966) from hospital insurance to full physician coverage. The challenge this time is that primary care access depends heavily on provincial cooperation, and not all provinces share the same priorities. Saskatchewan and Alberta, for instance, have been expanding private healthcare options, which may not align with a universal public primary care model.

If You're Concerned About Provincial Use of the Notwithstanding Clause

One convention resolution proposes using federal "disallowance" powers on provincial laws that proactively invoke the notwithstanding clause before court challenges are exhausted. This is a direct response to recent provincial actions — including Ontario's use of the clause in labour disputes and Saskatchewan's invocation on pronoun policies in schools.

Why this matters for your rights:

The notwithstanding clause (Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms) allows provincial or federal governments to override certain Charter rights for renewable five-year periods. When a province invokes it preemptively — before courts have even ruled on whether a law violates the Charter — it effectively short-circuits the legal system designed to protect your rights.

What you should know:

This resolution faces significant headwinds. According to CBC News, Justice Minister Sean Fraser has already rejected the idea of using federal disallowance powers, calling it a "heavy-handed" approach. The disallowance power, which allows the federal government to veto any provincial law within one year of its passage, hasn't been used since 1943.
The practical impact is limited for now. Even if the resolution passes, it's not binding on the government. However, it signals growing grassroots Liberal concern about provincial overreach on Charter rights.
Know your Charter rights. If a provincial law affects you and was passed using the notwithstanding clause, you may still have legal options. Contact the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (ccla.org) or your provincial legal aid office for guidance.

For All Canadians: The Bigger Picture

This convention is happening at a pivotal moment. With four Conservative MPs having crossed the floor to the Liberals in recent months — including Marilyn Gladu, who was embraced at the convention on Thursday, according to CBC News — the Liberals now hold 171 seats, just one short of a majority. Three byelections on Monday, April 13, could give them that majority.

What a Liberal majority means for these policies:

A majority government can pass legislation without needing opposition support. If the Liberals win even one of Monday's byelections — and two of the three ridings (University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest in Toronto) are considered safe Liberal seats, according to The Hill Times — these convention resolutions become significantly more likely to influence actual legislation.

How to make your voice heard:

Contact your MP. Whether Liberal, Conservative, NDP, or Bloc, your MP should know where you stand on healthcare access, social media regulation, and Charter rights. Find your MP at ourcommons.ca.
Watch the convention. CPAC is covering the proceedings live at cpac.ca, including PM Carney's Saturday address at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Vote on Monday if you're in a byelection riding. If you live in University-Rosedale, Scarborough Southwest, or Terrebonne, your vote on April 13 directly determines whether these policies have a clear path to legislation.

The News: What Happened

According to CBC News and CTV News, approximately 4,500 Liberal Party members gathered in Montreal on April 9 for the party's first national convention since 2023. The three-day event, running through April 11, is the first under PM Mark Carney's leadership — and the first in over a decade without former prime minister Justin Trudeau's direct involvement. Trudeau sent a recorded video message welcoming attendees, as reported by CTV News.

The delegates are debating 24 policy resolutions touching on healthcare reform, economic policy, the notwithstanding clause, and digital safety for children, according to CPAC. More than half of the participants are attending for the first time, and the party reports this is the most youth delegates in Liberal convention history.

The convention is also notable for its political backdrop. As reported by CBC News, former Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu — a four-time elected representative from Sarnia–Lambton–Bkejwanong — crossed the floor to the Liberal caucus and was welcomed at the convention. She is the fourth Conservative MP to defect in recent months, following Chris d'Entremont, Michael Ma, and Matt Jeneroux, according to The Globe and Mail.

Meanwhile, according to The Hill Times, the convention is taking a "careful" approach to policy amid ongoing byelection buzz and rumours of further floor-crossings from Conservative ranks.

Analysis: Why This Matters

Based on our analysis, this convention represents a significant inflection point for Canadian federal politics — not just because of the policy proposals, but because of the political context in which they're being debated.

The Carney Effect

Mark Carney's first address to the convention faithful on Saturday will set the tone for his leadership beyond the campaign trail. Unlike Trudeau, who was a charismatic retail politician, Carney brings a technocratic, data-driven approach. The 24 policy resolutions reflect this shift — they're substantive and specific rather than aspirational and vague.

A Party Reaching for the Centre

The floor-crossings from Conservative ranks tell a story about political realignment. When a self-described social conservative like Gladu feels more at home in the Liberal caucus than in Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party, it suggests the centre of Canadian politics is shifting. Based on our analysis, the Liberals under Carney are deliberately positioning themselves as the party of pragmatic governance — appealing to moderate Conservatives who feel their party has moved too far to the right.

What Happens Next

April 11: Convention concludes with final resolution votes and Carney's Saturday address
April 13: Three byelections (University-Rosedale, Scarborough Southwest, Terrebonne) that could give Liberals a majority
Spring 2026: If the Liberals secure a majority, expect the most popular convention resolutions to begin appearing in legislative form, starting with the social media age restrictions, which have broad public support — a March 2026 poll found most Canadians support a social media ban for kids under 16, as reported by paNOW
2026-2027: Healthcare bilateral agreement targets begin their first progress reviews

Your Action Plan

Immediate (This Week):

Watch CPAC's convention coverage, especially Carney's Saturday address (April 11, 2:00 p.m. ET at cpac.ca)
If you're in a byelection riding, confirm your voter registration at elections.ca
Audit your child's social media and AI chatbot usage — make a complete list of platforms

Short-term (This Month):

Contact your MP about which convention resolutions you support or oppose (ourcommons.ca)
If you lack a family doctor, register with your province's patient-matching service
Set up parental controls on your child's devices for social media and AI chatbot access

Long-term (This Year):

Monitor which convention resolutions appear in government legislation
Track your province's bilateral health agreement progress on primary care access
Stay informed about social media regulation developments — follow the debate through CPAC and Parliamentary committee proceedings

Other Perspectives

Government/Liberal Position:

PM Mark Carney has taken a measured approach to the social media debate, telling reporters there are "arguments on both sides" and that more data is needed on how age bans work in practice, according to CTV News. The party platform already includes commitments to healthcare reform and digital safety.

Conservative Opposition:

Pierre Poilievre has called for Liberal floor-crossers to face recall petitions, telling reporters they should be "thrown out" of Parliament, according to CBC News. On social media regulation, the Conservatives have generally favoured parental responsibility over government bans, though they supported elements of the Online Harms Act.

NDP Position:

The NDP has pushed for stronger healthcare commitments, arguing that the Liberal 10-year primary care timeline is too slow given the scale of the current family doctor crisis. They have supported social media regulation for children.

Expert Analysis:

Child safety advocates, including the Canadian Paediatric Society, have broadly supported age-based restrictions on social media, citing growing evidence linking early social media use to anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption in adolescents. However, digital rights organizations like OpenMedia have cautioned that age verification requirements could create privacy risks and surveillance infrastructure.

Affected Parties:

Parents and caregivers have expressed mixed views. As reported by paNOW, a March 2026 poll found that most Canadians support a social media ban for children under 16, but implementation questions remain — particularly around enforcement and the impact on children who rely on online communities for social support.

Note: Including multiple perspectives doesn't imply all views are equally valid, but ensures readers can make informed judgments.

Corrections Policy

We strive for accuracy. If you find an error in this analysis, please email us at [email protected]. We will promptly investigate and correct any factual inaccuracies.

Updates:

No corrections to date (as of April 10, 2026)

Sources

CBC News, "Liberals to debate minimum age for social media, AI chatbots at national convention" (March 2026)
CBC News, "Floor-crosser Marilyn Gladu embraced at Liberal convention" (April 2026)
CTV News, "Liberal huddle for 1st big policy convention without Trudeau" (April 9, 2026)
CTV News, "Poilievre deflects question on leadership after another Conservative MP defects" (April 2026)
The Globe and Mail, "Runway safety incidents on the rise in Canada" (April 2026)
The Hill Times, "Liberal convention expected to be careful with policy amid byelection buzz" (April 8, 2026)
CPAC, "2026 Liberal Convention" coverage (April 9-11, 2026)
Canada's National Observer, "Liberals set to debate age restrictions on social media, AI chatbots" (March 2026)
paNOW, "Most Canadians support social media ban for kids under 16: poll" (March 30, 2026)
Liberal Party of Canada, "2026 Open Policy Process" (2026.liberal.ca)