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VICTORIA – The government is introducing a motion in the legislature to establish a citizens’ assembly that will strengthen public confidence in the electoral system, by providing a forum to consider options for how MLAs are elected, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.
“It’s critical that our electoral system has the trust and confidence of the people,” said Campbell. “For the first time ever in Canada, we are letting the people decide directly the best way for how their representatives should be elected.
“The appointment of a citizens’ assembly was an integral part of our New Era platform and is a commitment we first outlined in 1996. We are honouring that promise today. It is a historic and precedent-setting initiative that will strengthen our democracy, by allowing the public to evaluate a variety of electoral models and have a direct vote on any new option that is recommended.”
The assembly will hold public hearings across B.C. to look at all possible models for electing MLAs, including preferential ballots, proportional representation and our current electoral system.Current politicians and those who have recently served or run for office will not be part of the assembly.
If the assembly recommends a different electoral system, that option will go directly to a referendum on the date of the next provincial election, May 17, 2005. For the option to be ratified, it must receive 60 per cent overall voter approval as well as approval in 60 per cent of the province’s electoral districts. The legislature will debate the terms of reference for setting up the assembly. The terms of reference specify that the assembly will:
The government is nominating Dr. Jack Blaney as the chair of the assembly. Blaney has extensive experience as a facilitator who can bring people together around a common goal. He is a former president of Simon Fraser University and is currently chair of the Fraser Basin Council.
A special legislative committee will meet with Dr. Blaney to review his qualifications. With the committee’s endorsement, the government will formalize his appointment.
“For the first time, a major piece of public policy will be turned over to the people most affected by it,” said Attorney General Geoff Plant. “The assembly will consider the views and opinions of all interested British Columbians who want to have a say.”
The announcement today builds on a report by Gordon Gibson, who was appointed last fall to outline how a citizens’ assembly should be chosen, function and be structured. Gibson’s report provided the blueprint for setting up the citizens’ assembly.
Gibson’s Report on the Constitution of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform and the terms of reference are available on the ministry Web site at http://www.gov.bc.ca/ag by clicking on Citizens’ Assembly under Key Initiatives.
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