News release

Citizens' Assembly welcomes new member

The Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform welcomes a new member today: James McConaghy of Prince George.

The 44-year-old farmer (and pet cemetery owner) was selected from the electoral district of Prince George-Mount Robson. He replaces Dave Hodgson of Prince George, who withdrew for personal reasons after being selected in Prince George on Wednesday.

"We’re delighted to welcome James as one of the two members from Prince George-Mount Robson," said Jack Blaney, Assembly chair. "We’re sorry to lose Dave, and thank him for the interest and energy that brought him to the Assembly."

Ten more members of the Assembly will be selected tonight, at meetings in Terrace and Williams Lake. That will bring the current total to 20. By Nov. 25, the Assembly will have 158 members from all over B.C. – one man and one woman from each of the 79 provincial electoral districts.

The 158-member Assembly will spend much of 2004 examining electoral systems in use around the world, and will decide if they should propose a change to B.C.’s current system of translating votes into seats in the Legislature.

If the Assembly members recommend a change, it will be the subject of a referendum for all voters in the 2005 provincial election. Any change approved by the voters would take effect with the 2009 B.C. election.