News release - Quesnel public hearing

Future role urged for Citizens' Assemblies

The B.C. Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform was urged Tuesday night to recommend that it, or something like it, be continued after its term expires in December.

"This mechanism could be ongoing, to monitor the electoral process," proposed Peter Ewart of Prince George, speaking at a public hearing of the Assembly in Quesnel.

"An electoral model is only one aspect of the democratic process," he added. "A permanent citizens' assembly could continue the work of expanding the democratic process."

While there were calls for change in the electoral system, a number of speakers focussed on the democratic process itself. They complained of childish behaviour in the legislature, of tight party control of MLAs, of the erosion of the role of MLAs, of the authority wielded by the cabinet and office of the premier, of the power of bureaucrats, and of the alienation of youth from politics, as reflected in low voter turnout.

Several speakers emphasized the needs of northern and rural areas to be represented, in any electoral system, by effective MLAs elected in local constituencies.

"We live in a province with wide regional disparities, and I would hate to see an electoral system recommended that fails to take this reality into account," said Bob Simpson of Quesnel. "Only those of us who live 'beyond Hope' can truly understand, and therefore represent, the interests of those of us who choose to live outside the LOwer Mainland and the Island.

"I sincerely hope that the Assembly does not give in to any argument that suggests we can truly and meaningfully represent the wide range of needs and interests of this province without direct representation from all of these regions."

Sarah Hilbert-West echoed Simpson: "Rural MLAs have a vital role to play in advocating for their area, to . . . raise issues that cabinet may have missed . . . and to ensure that a piece of the pie makes it out of the Lower Mainland."

Mayor Nate Bello of Quesnel closed the meeting by asking Assembly members to consider what the legislature would look like after any change they propose. "Will there be a diversity of views? Will there be real debate?"

The hearing was one of three held by teams of Assembly members Tuesday night. Others were in Nelson and Fort Nelson. The Assembly's series of 50 public hearings in May and June continues Wednesday in Fort St. John, Thursday in Dawson Creek, and Saturday in Powell River, Victoria and Ucluelet.

A full schedule of hearings – as well as information on how to sign up to make a presentation at a public hearing – 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.