News release - Fort St. John public hearing

Local representation crucial to northerners

Peace River residents passionately argued for local representation at a public hearing of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform in Fort St. John Wednesday evening. 

More than 50 participated in what Assembly chair Jack Blaney called a vigorous and enthusiastic session.  Many traveled some distance to join the discussion, coming from remote communities – or what northerners call “the bush.” 

Assembly members repeatedly were told of the importance of the local MLA in rural areas, where information and communications infrastructure is not as wide-spread as in urban centres.  Northerners worried aloud that moving to a more proportional electoral system would weaken local representation. 

“The rural agricultural sector is a growing minority, and their voices are often lost to the urban majority,” stated Fred Banham, representing the Peace River Regional District.  Banham reminded Assembly members of the importance of the Peace region to BC's economy and the need for the region to have a strong voice in provincial affairs. 

Another concern was the effect of party discipline on the local MLA’s ability to represent constituents.  “Party discipline totally shreds accountability,” said Arthur Hadland, who suggested a Swiss canton-style election system.

Assembly members were impressed by the passionate, yet non-partisan discussion.  “It was one hell of a meeting,” concluded Assembly member Wilf Chelle, himself a rancher from north of Fort St. John.  

The next Citizens’ Assembly public hearing is in Dawson Creek on Thursday (May 13), followed by three on Saturday (May 15) in Ucluelet, Powell River and Victoria.

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.