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Editorial, Nanaimo Daily News30th November, 2004 :
Vancouver (Internal)
A job well done
The Nanaimo Daily
News, 30 November 2004
We believe it important for the people of British Columbia to
recognize the valuable contribution given our province by the 160
individuals who made up the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral
Reform.
Four of those citizens were from Nanaimo and area: Linda
Nicolaisen, Tanis Dagert, John Chapman and Glen Mackinnon.
On Sunday, the Assembly met for their final gathering, the group
bidding farewell to new friends and colleagues. This celebration
concluded 11 months of extensive meetings, debate, pulling together
ideas and preparing what would be their recommendation - a proposed
new voting system called single transferable vote (STV), a
proportional representation system.
That recommendation will be put to voters in a referendum at the
next provincial election, which takes place on May 17, 2005.
The group is expected to deliver its final report to the
government, and the people of B.C., by Dec. 10, a copy of which
will be sent to every household in the province.
The assembly was created by the provincial government, giving
non-elected citizens a charge to evaluate our voting system and
bring forward suggested changes. Jack Blaney, chair of the
assembly, called this a "gift to British Columbia" and for
democracy.
"No government, in any democracy, has ever given such a charge
to non-elected citizens. You set new rules - the new gold standard
- for the true engagement of citizens in democratic governance.
And, it is now being copied in Ontario and watched around the
world."
That praise to the provincial government is deserved.
So, is full praise to these citizens who have given so much of
their time, weekend after weekend, and through the week many times,
month after month.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with their recommendation, they
have made an enormous contribution to democracy in this province,
and perhaps far beyond. (People from 148 countries have logged on
to the assembly's online website.)
The group started with 161 members and only one person withdrew
for personal reasons. That is remarkable. At the final weekend, 159
attended, also remarkable.
The Citizens' Assembly has clearly demonstrated that individuals
can come together for a common goal, and work their way through a
maze of theory and come to a conclusion for the benefit of all.
A tip of the hat to each and every member. Well done!
[© Copyright 2004 Nanaimo Daily
News. Reproduced here by permission of the Nanaimo Daily
News.]
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