BC CONSERVATIVE LEADER ANNOUNCES PROVINCE WIDE PETITIONS FOR SENATE ELECTIONS AND PREFERENTIAL BALLOTING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2006
Cranbrook: BC Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni announced the start of two Province-wide petitions, urging Premier Campbell and the BC Liberal government to improve the democratic process in British Columbia.
The first petition urges Premier Campbell to participate in Senate Reform by holding elections for the six Senate positions in British Columbia in conjunction with the next Provincial Election. "Campbell says he is dedicated to electoral reform in British Columbia," said Hanni. "Here is an opportunity for him to prove it!"
Hanni said the Opposition NDP have already demonstrated their support for Senate reform. "In 1997", said Hanni, the NDP Government passed a private member's bill, M 202 - 1997, which called for the election of six federal Senators from British Columbia in conjunction with the provincial election." Although this bill had a sunset clause, Hanni said that it could easily be revived with a simple motion in the Legislature.
Hanni stated that it is BC Conservative policy to hold senatorial elections for the six Senate seats in British Columbia. "If Premier Campbell fails to take up this challenge and hold Senate elections in conjunction with the next provincial election," said Hanni, "the first British Columbia Conservative government that is elected will do it in conjunction with the provincial election that follows."
The second petition also deals with electoral reform by urging Premier Campbell and the BC Liberal government to utilize "Preferential Balloting" for the election of MLAs in the 2009 provincial election. "Premier Campbell has rejected the BC-STV system," said Hanni, "because it was too complicated and too expensive to implement. Here is an opportunity for him to utilize a very simple and cost effective alternative to the current first past the post system -- one that will eliminate the fear of splitting the vote, which is the biggest problem we have with the current system."
The first petition urges Premier Campbell to participate in Senate Reform by holding elections for the six Senate positions in British Columbia in conjunction with the next Provincial Election. "Campbell says he is dedicated to electoral reform in British Columbia," said Hanni. "Here is an opportunity for him to prove it!"
Hanni said the Opposition NDP have already demonstrated their support for Senate reform. "In 1997", said Hanni, the NDP Government passed a private member's bill, M 202 - 1997, which called for the election of six federal Senators from British Columbia in conjunction with the provincial election." Although this bill had a sunset clause, Hanni said that it could easily be revived with a simple motion in the Legislature.
Hanni stated that it is BC Conservative policy to hold senatorial elections for the six Senate seats in British Columbia. "If Premier Campbell fails to take up this challenge and hold Senate elections in conjunction with the next provincial election," said Hanni, "the first British Columbia Conservative government that is elected will do it in conjunction with the provincial election that follows."
The second petition also deals with electoral reform by urging Premier Campbell and the BC Liberal government to utilize "Preferential Balloting" for the election of MLAs in the 2009 provincial election. "Premier Campbell has rejected the BC-STV system," said Hanni, "because it was too complicated and too expensive to implement. Here is an opportunity for him to utilize a very simple and cost effective alternative to the current first past the post system -- one that will eliminate the fear of splitting the vote, which is the biggest problem we have with the current system."
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posted by Ryan @ 10:13 AM
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