• Response to Proportional Representation Question: 6/1/2018

    • Share:
    June 01, 2018
    NEWS RELEASE
     
    Response to Proportional Representation Questions
     
     
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
     
    Fort Nelson, BC – May 31, 2018 – The Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce  is concerned that the Province has not provided the public, including the business community, enough clarity and educational resources to make an informed decision in the upcoming referendum on Proportional Representation.
     
    During the 2018 BC Chamber AGM BC Chambers voted in favour of the following resolution:
     
    Engaging Business and Community on Electoral Reform
     
    This policy resolution carried the following recommendations for the Government of BC:
     
    • Appoint a non-partisan panel on the likely outcomes of an alternative system prior to issuing a referendum, comparable to the previous Citizens’ Assembly, examining the implications of the proportional representation being considered, particularly, its implications on rural/urban divide, measure to avoid corruption and promote greater loyalty to parties rather than the region the MLA represents;
    • Clearly define the system of proportional representation that is being considered, well in advance of any referendum;
    • Confirm that no changes will be implemented unless there is a clear majority overall and the referendum is supported in each riding; and
    • That the referendum on proportional representation be delayed until such time as a substantial educational campaign has been enacted and all constituents in the Province of BC are adequately knowledgeable as to the impacts of proportional representation system.
     
     
    Attorney General Etby’s first proposed question would ask British Columbians to choose between the current first-past-the-post system or an unspecified version of proportional representation with a second ballot offering a choice of 3 systems chosen by Etby  “dual member proportional, mixed member proportional and rural-urban proportional.”
     
    Mixed member proportional was rejected in the last electoral reform as it would undercut local representation. Dual member proportional and rural-urban proportional are not used anywhere at this time.  In addition no maps of what these boundary changes would mean will be made available prior to the referendum.  The referendum is scheduled to take place by
    mail-in ballot from October 22, 2018 to November 30, 2018.
     
    “British Columbians need to be provided with concise, understandable information so as to be able to make an informed decision.” said Bev Vandersteen, Fort Nelson Chamber of Commerce.
     
    The Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Government of BC to slow the process down and implement the suggestions proposed by the BC Chamber.
     
     
     
    Contact:
     
    Bev Vandersteen, Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce
    P: 250 774-2956, E: bvandersteen@fortnelsonchamber.com
     
     

  • Upcoming Events
  •