Realwomen of BC - Archives - May2005 - Citizen's Assembly of BC

Citizens’ Assembly of BC
Nancy McAskill, Citizens’ Assembly member

The members of the Citizens’ Assembly have finished their work, completed and submitted the report to the B.C. government. A copy of the report has been delivered to every household in British Columbia.

I urge you to watch for YOUR copy. It is an 8.5 x 11 booklet with a blue and yellow cover. Read it carefully so that when you vote on May 17, 2005 you will be making an INFORMED choice on the referendum question:

Should British Columbia change to the BC-STV electoral system as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform? Yes/No

Through our work of learning about various electoral systems and by listening to British Columbians through public hearings and submissions, we identified three basic values which we believe should form the basis of our electoral system. These are:

Fair election results through proportionality

Effective local representation

Greater voter choice

The BC-STV electoral system we designed is unique to B.C. and we believe addresses well the above values. No one system is perfect or can solve all complaints. However, the overwhelming majority of Assembly members support the system that was designed. The final vote was recorded: YES — 146 NO — 7 to the question: Do we recommend the BC-STV system to the people of British Columbia in a referendum on May 17th.

Now that you have read this far, may I ask a favour of you?

Every B.C. citizen deserves to know about this important undertaking that has the potential to reshape politics in B.C. The B.C. Legislature has set the bar to pass this referendum high, as befits an endeavour of this magnitude, and every voter needs to make an informed vote on May 17th.

Further information can be found at: www.citizensassembly.bc.ca and/or

www.bc-stv.ca

You may request a speaker to come to any gathering of citizens by contacting speakers@caalumnic.ca