News release - Week two of public hearings

Assembly hears mixed messages

British Columbians offered members of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform a range of views at 10 public hearings held this week in four different regions of the province – as well as some innovative electoral options.

People in the Peace River area plead for an electoral system which strengthened, rather that diminished, local representation and local accountability.  Northerners want representatives that understand local issues and concerns and fear that the voice of the north would be diminished if the Assembly recommended an electoral system which resulted in enlarged ridings.

In the West Kootenays, there was a clear consensus that change in our electoral system is overdue.  Most favoured some form of proportional representation (PR) – either mixed member proportional (MMP) or single transferable vote (STV).

Like Peace River residents, British Columbians in the Cariboo and Prince George, expressed the need for direct representation from their region and an electoral system that recognized the wide regional disparities in the province.  They urged the Assembly to recommend an electoral system that allowed meaningful representation of the diverse needs and interests of all regions of the province.  Others proposed innovative electoral systems and broadened ballot choices for voters.

Hearings on the Island and Sunshine Coast saw the majority of presenters call for increased proportionality, but proposals varied widely in how that proportionality should be achieved. 
Many favoured a form of MMP, but cogent arguments were also made for PR-STV.  While the Ucluelet meeting heard calls to retain local representation, the Victoria hearing heard a defence of the current first-past-the-post electoral system.  

Other themes of this week’s meetings have included:
• voter disenchantment
• an anti-party sentiment
• displeasure at the concentration of power in the cabinet and Premier’s office
• frustration with the effect of party discipline on MLAs’ ability to represent constituents
• a desire to see more women and minorities represented in the Legislature
• a concern for the perceived political disengagement of youth
• a call for ongoing citizens’ assembly to review other public policy issues

The Assembly has 35 more hearings scheduled between now and June 24th.  Next week, hearings will be in Chilliwack (Tuesday, May 18), Maple Ridge (Wednesday, May 19) and Langley (Thursday, May 20).  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.