News release

Citizens' Assembly kicks off hearings

What do Lower Mainland residents think of BC’s current electoral system? What are their values related to political representation? And what electoral system do they think would best reflect those values?

Members of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform will be listening closely for answers to such questions at 49 public hearings taking place throughout BC, beginning Monday, May 3. The first five hearings are in the Lower Mainland:

May 3, Monday, 6:30-9:30 pm
Vancouver - Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Asia Pacific Hall, 580 West Hastings Street

May 4, Tuesday, 6:30-9:30 pm
Richmond - Vancouver Airport Marriott, Cypress/Blackcomb Rooms, 7571 Westminster Highway

May 5, Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 pm
Burnaby - Holiday Inn Metrotown, Ballroom, 4405 Central Boulevard

May 6, Thursday, 6:30-9:30 pm
New Westminster - Inn At Westminster Quay, Hyack Room, 900 Quayside Drive

May 8, Saturday, 1:30-4:30 pm
Surrey - Aston Pacific Inn, 1160 King George Highway

All residents are encouraged to attend, learn about the Assembly and share their thoughts on electoral options and what political values they hold dear, says Assembly chair Dr. Jack Blaney.

"Our PRELIMINARY STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA invited public input on the province’s electoral system, and on the values British Columbians’ want reflected in it – such as local representation, voter choice and proportionality.”

“Now we need people to get involved, make their voices heard and help shape our electoral system and political culture in BC. This is a time for discussion and debate and we invite all British Columbians to join us in this process."

Each hearing will begin with presentations from those who have pre-registered with the Assembly. At the Vancouver hearing, for example, a full slate of nine presenters is on the agenda. After the formal presentations, Assembly members hope to engage all attendees in an open dialogue.

Members will discuss what they learned from the May and June hearings at a meeting of the full Assembly in Prince George on June 26-27. Then in the fall, the 160 members of the Assembly, who come from all over BC, will hold several full weekends of deliberation, culminating in a final recommendation. 

Members must decide by December 15 if they will propose a change to BC’s current system of translating votes into seats in the Legislature. If they recommend a change, it will be the subject of a referendum for all voters in the May 2005 provincial election. Any change approved by the voters would take effect with the 2009 BC election.

A full list of hearings, the Assembly’s Preliminary Statement, fact sheets, background documents, and all learning materials provided to Assembly members – including audio and video recordings of their plenary sessions – are available on the Assembly’s website www.citizensassembly.bc.ca.

For further information, please contact:
Marilyn Jacobson
Director of communication 
Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform 
#2288 - 555 West Hastings St
PO Box 12118 Vancouver BC V6B 4N6
Phone:   604-660-1363 (1-866-667-1232)  
Fax:       604-660-1236
E-mail:   mjacobson@citizensassembly.bc.ca  
Web:      www.citizensassembly.bc.ca
Cell:       604-816-1232 

BACKGROUNDER

• The Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform is an independent, representative, non-partisan group of British Columbians.
• The Assembly was launched in May 2003 by the BC government with the unanimous support of the BC Legislature. It was created in response to a concern voiced by some British Columbians that the province’s electoral system needed a review.
• The 160 members were randomly selected from communities across BC in the fall of 2003. Dr. Jack Blaney, former president of Simon Fraser University, was appointed to chair the Assembly.
• During early 2004 members gathered over six weekends in Vancouver to review BC’s electoral system as well as other systems used around the world.
• Public hearings are being held during May and June in 49 communities throughout BC so Assembly members can hear what their fellow citizens have to say about electoral reform.
• In the fall, members will gather again over several weekends to deliberate and develop a recommendation – either to retain BC’s current system or to change to a different system.  This recommendation is due by December 15. 
• If the Assembly recommends a change to BC’s electoral system, the Assembly must specify the details of the proposed system.  And this recommendation would be the subject of a referendum for all voters in the May 2005 provincial election. Any change approved by the voters would take effect with the 2009 BC election.
• A full list of hearings, the Assembly’s Preliminary Statement, fact sheets, background documents and all learning materials provided to Assembly members – including audio and video recordings of their plenary sessions – is available on the Assembly’s website www.citizensassembly.bc.ca.