What is the BC Citizens' Assembly?
The BC Citizens' Assembly is an independent, non-partisan assembly of 160 randomly selected British Columbians who will look at how votes cast in provincial elections translate into seats in the Legislature. Their final report and recommendation to the people of B.C. must be delivered by December 15, 2004.

Their proposal will frame a referendum question that will go directly to the voters in the provincial election of May 2005.

What Went Wrong?
The BC Citizens' Assembly has voted to recommend a Single Transferable Vote electoral system for the province of BC: totally ignoring public input, totally choosing a system that does not promise true proportional representation and totally selecting a system that does nothing to help women become major parts of the elected representative.

Why did they do this?
Only they know, but the fact that they had STV experts on staff and an avoidance the many supporters of a Mixed Proportional Electoral System has obviously had a great impact on the 146 Yes, 7 No vote.

Are We Surprised?
No. As we stated below STV was already being favoured in the minds of the citizens' assembly.

Let's Make This Clear - The Single Transferable Voting System:
- is not a truly proportional representation
- does nothing to bring women into elected office
- entrenches big vested parties
- is only in two countries - Ireland and Malta
- is not easily understood
- is not easily counted

Wow, way to go Citizens' Assembly - more of the same old same old.

www.DeepCoveBC.com
If you are reading this page on it's own, please view the full DCBC BC Citizens Assembly page here.