Electoral Reform Backed In British Columbia (Falls Short In Referendum, Nother Try in November)

Times Colonist ^ | 05/19/05 | Lindsay Kines And Jeff Rud

[goldstategop]

Leaders back electoral reform

Lindsay Kines and Jeff Rud Times Colonist

Thursday, May 19, 2005

The leaders of B.C.'s three main political parties have got the message: Voters want changes to the province's electoral system.

In a rare show of harmony, Premier Gordon Campbell, NDP Leader Carole James and Green party Leader Adriane Carr agreed Wednesday that B.C. needs to keep working on the issue, even though a referendum on one suggested change failed to pass Tuesday.

"There's a real hunger to move and look at ways of improving our system," Campbell said. "I've been a clear advocate of that and I'm going to look at that in different ways in the future."

On Tuesday, a referendum asking voters whether they wanted to switch from the first-past-the-post system of electing politicians to a form of proportional representation fell just short of the 60 per cent support needed to pass, according to preliminary results from Elections B.C.

If the single transferable vote (STV) system had passed, the province would have been redrawn into fewer, larger ridings which would each elect between two and seven MLAs. Voters would rank candidates in order of preference with their votes transferring to other candidates once their first choices were either elected or eliminated.

Campbell called the referendum result "significant" and praised the work of the Citizens' Assembly that recommended STV. "They laid out a very clear plan for B.C. and it has fallen a little short," he said. "We should take the result and say to the legislature: 'What should we do with this?'"

James said her party will push Campbell to bring forward another option. She said the premier should either ask the Citizens' Assembly to look at another model, or put forward one they previously considered.

One proposal is mixed member proportional representation, where half of a legislature's members are elected as individuals, and the other half are elected based on the share of votes cast for political parties.

James said the government could hold another referendum during the municipal elections in November. "They (voters) didn't feel that STV was the right model," she said. "Let's look at bringing forward another model.''

Carr said the 57 per cent vote in favour of STV was a "resounding vote of support for changing our voting system." "Do I think we need to proceed with electoral reform? Absolutely. We can't drop the ball on this one, the public will is way too strong."

James said she voted against STV, because she was worried that rural ridings might not get adequate representation. "I didn't feel that STV was the direction to go. I felt that there were other models to look at. I think mixed member proportional representation (system) meets the population of British Columbia.''

STV VOTE

To pass, at least 60 per cent of votes provincewide must be in favour; more than 50 per cent of votes in at least 48 (60 per cent) of the 79 electoral districts must also be in favour.

Preliminary count:

Yes: 57.38%

No: 42.62%

Electoral district

majority support:

Yes: 77

No: 2

Source: Elections B.C.

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British Columbians today backed electoral reform in a provincial referendum. A bid to replace the province's first the past the post electoral system fell short of the required 60% vote with 57% in favor. Another try is planned for November. And all the political parties are taking notice of the need to address the province's "democratic deficit."

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[AntiGuv]

So Canada follows the EU system of referendums? (vote over & over until you get the result you want) I'm not surprised..

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Canada has held national referendums in the past. There is increasing dissatisfaction with the Westminster single member district plurality electoral system. It allows one party to win a legislative majority with as little as 38% of the vote. That is not democratic. Ontario is expected to follow suit soon with its own referendum on ditching the system.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[AntiGuv]

I don't have a problem with the objective. I lean toward agreeing with it. I just find it odd when you can hold a referendum on something just six months after the same topic was defeated.

[goldstategop]

The vote was very, very close. So the voters ought to be another chance to decide if they want adopt a new electoral system for the next provincial election. The BC Liberals were returned to power. The socialist NDP and its Green Party ally posted some gains in today's election.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[TheMole]

No, this is something more like the California system of initiative and recall.