BC Commended on Voting Reform Move
September 23, 2002
FAIR VOTE CANADA: NEWS
September 23, 2002
Contact: Larry Gordon 416-410-4034
Doris Anderson 416-947-1380
BRITISH COUMBIA COMMENDED AS FIRST PROVINCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH VOTING REFORM PROGRAM
Fair Vote Canada commends the Government of British Columbia
for becoming the first provincial government to announce a specific
process and timetable for voting system reform.
On September 20, attorney general Geoff Plant announced the
appointment of Gordon Gibson to develop recommendations on
how to establish a citizens' assembly on electoral reform. The
assembly will study and make recommendations on alternative
ways to elect British Columbia MLAs. Gibson must table
recommendations by December 15. The process he recommends
must ensure the citizens' assembly can report to the attorney
general in time to allow a referendum question to accompany the
May 2005 general election.
"While the Government of Quebec is engaged in public consultation
on a variety of democratic reform issues and the Government of
Prince Edward Island is considering the issue, British Columbia is
the first to commit to a specific citizen-driven process and
completion date," said Doris Anderson, president of Fair Vote
Canada.
"At this time, it appears that British Columbians may be the first
Canadians given an opportunity to adopt a more proportional and
fair voting system," said Larry Gordon, executive director of Fair
Vote Canada. "But we may see similar announcements in PEI or
Quebec, or even Ontario, where the two opposition parties support
an electoral reform process. Interest in fair voting is growing so
quickly at both the federal and provincial levels, we are expecting
other related developments in the near future."
Fair Vote Canada was launched in April 2000 to press all levels of
government to engage citizens in a process to consider
proportional voting systems. The campaign has members and
chapters across the country, and has attracted supporters from all
points on the political spectrum. The National Advisory Board of
Fair Vote Canada includes a diverse range of prominent Canadians,
including Pierre Berton, Hugh Segal, Ed Broadbent, Claude Ryan,
Karen Kain, Lincoln Alexander, Maude Barlow, Walter Robinson
and David Suzuki, as well as current and former MPs from the
Liberals, PCs, Alliance and NDP.
-- 30 --
[ This Message was edited by: admin on 2002-09-24 12:40 ]