FVC congratulates the BC government on introduction of BC-STV referendum legislation, calls on all parties to resolve issues

Today, Fair Vote Canada congratulated BC Premier Gordon Campbell on the introduction of referendum legislation on the BC-STV voting system, tabled in the BC legislature on March 6, 2008.

"With the introduction of Bill 6, the BC government has honoured its commitment from the 2005 Throne Speech to hold a second referendum on the BC-STV electoral system, in conjunction with the May 2009 provincial election," stated Fair Vote Canada President Stephen Broscoe. "BC-STV was recommended by the independent BC Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform to replace our unfair and archaic First-Past-the-Post electoral system."

"However, we are concerned to see that the 2009 referendum question is still unknown. The legislation introduced last week states that the referendum question will be determined by an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council," continued Broscoe. "In the 2005 referendum, the question was determined by the Citizens' Assembly, as part of their mandate. We call upon the government to implement the same referendum question from 2005, free from political interference."

"We are also disappointed that the artificial and undemocratic 60% threshold has been retained for the second referendum," added Fair Vote Canada Executive Director Larry Gordon. "In 2005, nearly 58% of British Columbians voted to switch to BC-STV, which should have been more than enough for the referendum to pass. Now, the 2009 elections will be contested using a voting system which only has the support of 42% of BC voters. A simple majority voting in favour of BC-STV should be sufficient for the new system to be approved."

"We also call upon all parties in the BC legislature to find a solution to the impasse surrounding the final report of the BC Electoral Boundaries Commission," concluded Broscoe. "The report contains two sets of electoral district maps, one for our current First-Past-the-Post system, and one for the proposed BC-STV alternative. When it comes time to vote in the referendum, the electorate will need two official sets of maps to assist them in making their decision."

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Fair Vote Canada is a national non-partisan, citizen-driven advocacy organization working for electoral reform in Canada.

For More Information:

Stephen Broscoe, President (Vancouver): (604) 817-5400, stephen.broscoe@fairvote.ca
Larry Gordon, Executive Director (Toronto): (647) 519-7585, larry.gordon@fairvote.ca