News release - Prince George public hearing

Remake of legislature proposed

A complete remake of the B.C. legislature was proposed Monday night to members of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, as well as a complete remake of the electoral ballot paper.

These proposals came from two speakers who addressed a standing-room-only crowd at a public hearing held by the Assembly in Prince George. Some other speakers made calls for forms of proportional representation, and several stressed the importance to them of local representation.

The proposed remake of the 79-seat legislature, outlined by Chad Bester of Prince George, called for 55 MLAs elected at the local level, plus 12 regional "senatorial" members from six economic regions, and 12 more members elected through proportional representation.

"My greatest concern is that the urban majority opts for a pure form of proportional representation, one in which we lose all form of local representation for the rural regions of the province," he told 11 members of the Assembly and 91 members of the public.

Bester's 12 regional "senatorial MLAs" would have the power -- through a two-thirds majority -- to veto legislation until after the next election, at which time the bill could be reintroduced. His 12 MLAs elected through proportional representation would help bring in independents, and people from small parties and minority groups, he said.

A brand-new style of ballot paper was urged by Bill Barnes of Prince George, under a "Value Vote" system. It would allow voters to vote for a candidate or party or allow them to record a "discipline vote" or protest vote.

These "discipline votes" would not be counted towards the election of a candidate or candidates, but would be recorded and publicized and in that sense held against the politician or party. "The political climate of our province will be known throughout the world, so business will improve due to the stability of our political climate."

Barnes also proposed that a sub-section of the ballot paper allow voters to indicate positions and give input on political issues such as the environment.

While a number of speakers called for forms of proportional representation, saying it would improve the representation of women and minorities, some had concerns about what impact it might have on regional and local representation.

Virginia Karr of Crescent Spur said that whatever system is used must allow for "truly rural representation." Hilda Crowley of Summit Lake said the system must be managed "ethically and democratically so that the Northern and rural vote are fairly represented."

But John Rustad of Prince George saw proportional representation as simply meaning "the loss of geographic and local representation." He proposed, instead, a preferential balloting system so that winning local candidates could at least finish up with a vote of better than 50%.

And Betty Abbs of Summit Lake said geographic representation is "the critical factor" in the electoral system. Proportional representation, she said, is "misconceived and undermines the very essence of the 'geographic mandate' of either the provincial government or the federal government."

Joan Chess Woollacott of Prince George proposed that parties be abolished, and that provincial elections be conducted like municipal elections. Citizens would vote for a number of candidates for their region, filling perhaps 2-4 seats from a longer list of "all those willing to run."

The Assembly's run of 50 public hearings continues Tuesday (May 11) with sessions in Fort Nelson, Quesnel and Nelson, followed by Fort St. John on Wednesday (May 12) and Dawson Creek on Thursday (May 13).

A full schedule of hearings – as well as information on how to sign up to make a presentation – is on the Assembly’s website at www.citizensassembly.bc.ca.

The Assembly is an independent, representative, non-partisan group of 160 randomly selected British Columbians. They must decide by December 15 whether to propose a change to BC’s electoral system. If they recommend a change, it will be the subject of a referendum for all voters in the May 2005 provincial election.