FVAlta: BC referendum a model for Alberta (May 18, 2005)
May 18, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 For Immediate Release
British Columbia referendum on electoral reform a model for Alberta
Election shows 57 per cent of voters support change to a more proportional voting system
Edmonton - "Strong support for electoral reform was shown by British Columbia voters in yesterday's election," said Harvey Voogd, provincial spokesperson for Fair Vote Alberta. "57 per cent of voters supported a referendum calling for a change to the voting system. Fair Vote Alberta believes this historic exercise provides a model for change in Alberta."
"The support for a change to the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system showed widespread rejection of B.C.'s current first-past-the-post voting system. It is also an endorsement of the work done by the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. The B.C. Citizens'Assembly process worked. Although the Yes side did not win enough votes to pass the double majority needed to make the results binding, STV is clearly the choice of the majority of British Columbians."
"The important thing in British Columbia is that the politicians agreed to let the voters decide," said Voogd. "It is absolutely imperative that citizens undertake this initiative because only they can discharge this duty without being in conflict of interest. MLAs elected by our current voting system have a built in bias to the system that got them elected. Why would they change a system that works for them?"
"Fair Vote Alberta renews its call on the Government of Alberta to initiate a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. The Citizens' Assembly would assess all possible models for electing the Members of the Legislative Assembly. If it recommends changes to the electoral system, that option would be put to a province-wide referendum."
"Alberta also suffers from a democratic deficit," said Voogd. "The last provincial election results were a textbook case of why Alberta needs a citizens' assembly on electoral reform. The Progressive Conservatives were awarded 61 or 73 per cent of the legislature's seats, despite the fact that the party received only 47 per cent of the vote. As a result of our electoral system, the winning party has been over rewarded for its election performance, while all the other parties were under rewarded."
"Fair Vote Alberta's call for a Citizens' Assembly in Alberta is supported by all the opposition parties in Alberta. The provincial government has said it would consider electoral reform if there is public interest in the issue."
Fair Vote Alberta is a campaign of Fair Vote Canada. It is comprised of voters from all parties, all points of view and all walks of life. We are helping Albertans learn about the problems with our voting system and the availability of better alternatives.
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