In the last six months or so, the New Democratic Party now has more supporters ready to cut the party a cheque and is raising more money than the Liberal Party of Canada. This is partly a result of some great hustle by the NDP but it's also a sign of just how inept the once-might Liberal Party machine has become. The Conservatives, meanwhile, are raising more than twice as much money a year as every other federal party combined.
Now, we learn, that it will be up to Rocco Rossi to revive the Liberal Party's financial fortunes. Indeed, in announcing Rossi's appointment this afternoon as the new national director of the Liberal Party, we learn about Rossi's prowess as a fundraiser in the third sentence of the announcement:
With Mr. Rossi at the helm [of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, his last job], innovation of the Foundation’s fundraising practices led to revenues rising to record levels.
He brings to his new post a breadth of experience in working with the private sector and not-for-profit boards – including Torstar, Labatt/Interbrew and The United Way. He is also a Founding Director and former Board member with the Internet Advertising Bureau of Canada.
Mr. Rossi’s accomplishments while at the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario include:
- Successfully funding the world-class Heart&Stroke Centre for Stroke Recovery with the single biggest investment in stroke research in Canadian history
- Spearheading the Foundation’s current major initiative directed at childhood obesity
- Launching a critical Diversity Initiative making the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario one of the first health organizations to implement culturally diverse resources that promote prevention and awareness among populations with increased cardiovascular risk
- Partnering with the Ontario government and colleagues at Cancer, Lung, Ontario Medical Association and the Non-smokers' Rights Association to create “Smoke-Free Ontario”, one of the toughest anti-smoking pieces of legislation in the world
- Raising and committing sufficient funds to place more than 2,000 defibrillators and providing associated training across Ontario, with the result of having already saved 11 lives
- Sponsoring and helping pass the Chase McEachern Act, which removes the threat of civil liability for those using defibrillators.
In 2007, as part of the annual Ride for the Heart event that the Heart and Stroke foundation puts on, Rossi (left) did the entire length of Yonge Street. That would be the world's longest street — running from Rainy River at the southern tip of Ontario's western border to the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto, about 1,900 kilometres.
All those accomplishments have just earned Rossi one of the toughest jobs in federal politics: Asking Canadians to give money to the federal Liberal Party. Good luck and congratulations!