Â鶹ӰÊÓ

The federal Liberals must spend the next few months figuring out how to become "relevant to the average Canadian" before choosing a new leader next spring, says the party's former president.

After last month's poor showing in the federal election, the Liberals need to re-establish their relationship with Canadian voters, former Liberal Party president Stephen LeDrew said Sunday.

"(The party) didn't resonate in the last election and I think that, what I understand, the president and the party executive this weekend are looking at a long-term plan, not only to deal with membership, but to deal with policy," LeDrew said during an interview with Â鶹ӰÊÓnet.

"To deal with the fundraising apparatus, which is very, very outdated, hence the party has very, very meagre financial resources, and to make sure that the party is more relevant to the average Canadian."

The party will choose a new leader at a convention in Vancouver, which will run from Apr. 30 to May 3, the party executive said after a meeting on Saturday.

The party also released new rules for candidates who choose to enter the leadership race. The entrance fee is now $90,000, a significant jump from the $50,000 leadership hopefuls were charged in 2006.

Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy, who ran for the leadership in 2006, said the new entry fees would certainly "preclude" some potential candidates from running.

However, Kennedy told Â鶹ӰÊÓnet Sunday evening that fewer candidates could be for the best, as many Liberals are hoping for a "streamlined" race this time around.

Kennedy still owes $200,000 from his failed 2006 bid and has yet to announce any intention to run again.

"I think it's daunting to anybody," he said of the new entry costs. However, Kennedy noted that any potential leadership hopeful should be prepared to raise large amounts of money regardless of any official guidelines.

As well, the spending cap is now $1.5 million for each candidate, down from the 2006 limit of $3.4 million.

On Friday, the party's Quebec wing proposed new rules that would prohibit any candidate who still has debt from the last leadership campaign from running this year.

LeDrew said the recommendation did not get a great deal of support among party officials and this year's race should be wide open.

"From what I understand the party executive has rightfully made the decision to keep the race open and leave it accessible so there's a good debate and a good variety of candidates and their plans," LeDrew said. "So it's probably a good thing for the rebuilding of the party."

If the party does reject the proposal, two Toronto MPs still saddled with debt from the previous leadership race could consider another run at job.

Only two candidates have so far declared their intentions to replace outgoing leader Stephane Dion. Toronto MP Bob Rae and New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc have both thrown their hats into the ring, while Toronto MP Michael Ignatieff is also expected to join the race.

Other potential candidates include former Quebec cabinet ministers Denis Coderre and Martin Cauchon and Ontario MPs Ruby Dhalla and David McGuinty.

Former deputy prime minister John Manley said last week that he would not seek the Liberal leadership.

Dion announced his intention to step down shortly after October's federal election, where the Liberals only won 76 seats in their worst showing since 1984.