There is a province-wide movement afoot amongst candidates for local government to endorse the forthcoming referendum next may on reforming the provincial voting system, by adopting the BC-STV proportional voting system. I’m pleased to support this movement as I approving BC-STV is the best thing we could do for improving accountability at the provincial level. STV is used at the local level in many parts of the world (Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, and elsewhere) and is worth looking at as an alternative voting system for municipal elections in the future, too.
For Immediate Release
November 6, 200812 municipal candidates declare support for B.C. electoral reform
Vancouver, BC – Twelve civic candidates from across British Columbia have publicly declared their support for electoral reform, and in particular for the proposed British Columbia Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV) system. This multi-partisan group includes candidates from across the province, such as members of Vancouver’s Non-Partisan Association (NPA), Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE), and Green Party; Richmond’s Independent Team of Electors (RITE); Victoria’s Green Party; and numerous other independents. The movement is also supported by directors from the NDP, federal Conservatives, BC Liberals, and BC Greens.
“Change is sweeping across North America, but taking a public stand for change can be difficult,” said Damian Kettlewell, organizer for I Vote Municipally for Candidates Who Support the Citizens’ Assembly. “From Kamloops to Victoria, from the heart of the city to the suburbs of Vancouver, we have identified twelve candidates who will voice their support for a more democratic, proportional electoral system: the Single Transferable Vote (STV). We encourage voters to engage with the twelve candidates: volunteer, donate and campaign for these candidates who support change. As well, we are encouraging voters to respectfully contact anti-STV civic candidates and thoughtfully suggest to them that they consider supporting electoral reform.
“Voter turn-out rates are declining throughout most of Canada, and apathy is becoming an unsettling problem. B.C.’s Citizens’ Assembly has proposed a new voting system, and considering that B.C. is often a catalyst for change, we feel the time is right for democracy to evolve in our province. It is time to embrace BC-STV.”
List of municipal candidates who support BC-STV:
Vancouver – Ellen Woodsworth ~ ellenwoodsworth.com
Vancouver – Michael Geller ~ michaelgeller.ca
Richmond – Michael Wolfe ~ voterite.ca
Coquitlam – Fin Donnelly ~ votefin.com
Coquitlam – Neal Nicholson
Coquitlam – Richard Stewart ~ richardformayor.com
Electoral Area A (UBC) – Ben West ~ votebenwest.ca
Victoria – Sonya Chandler ~ www.vicgreens.com
Langford – Steven Hurdle ~ stevenhurdle.ca
Esquimalt – Norman Swan
Kamloops – Arjun Singh ~ yourkamloops.com
Kelowna – Angela Reid ~ angelareid.caAnti-STV municipal candidates:
Vancouver – Andrea Reimer ~ andreareimer.ca- end -
Background
The BC-STV electoral system was developed and recommended by the non-partisan, 158-person Citizens’ Assembly in 2004 and achieved 58% support in a referendum question in the 2005 provincial election. The question will be posed to B.C. voters again in May 2009, and requires 60% support to succeed. The B.C. Single Transferable Vote system reflects the following three values: (1) fairness, (2) better local representation and (3) more voter choice, and is best explained at: http://www.stv.ca/watch . Proponents of BC-STV feel that our current system for electing politicians (first past the post) does not reflect those values as effectively.
For more information:
Damian Kettlewell
Organizer, I Vote Municipally for Candidates Who Support the Citizens’ Assembly
(778) 840-8049
damian.kettlewell@gmail.com
