The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 18, 2002 - A5 Changing he system lf you’re a B.C. voter frustrated with lopsided election results that don’t reflect the popular vote, take heart — electoral reform may be on its way By JENNIFER LANG AS FAR as job descriptions go, it’s pretty grim: spend up to 16 weekends over 10 months far from home with a. bunch of strangers dis- cussing the merits of one voting system over another. . But’ it would be a dream assignment for Gordon Gibson, the consultant who's been hired by the provincial government to figure how a citizens’ assembly on changing B.C.'s ‘voting system would work. _On Dec. 22, he'll deliver a report to the At- torney General outlining a number of key re- commendations, including how members of a citizens’ assembly would be selected — a topic that’s ‘more complicated than it might seem. “This system has not been used for a con- stitutional purpose since Athens,” Gibson said during a recent tour of northern B.C. “We’re kind of inventing the wheel in terms of the process,” The assembly would evaluate different models for electing MLAs, including preferen- tial ballots, proportional representation and our current “first past the post” system. After holding a series of public hearings, the assembly would devise the options presen- ted to voters on a referendum ballot. “Tt should be a fascinating exercise for Brit- ish Columbians,” Gibson said during a recent tour of northern B.C, He said the provincial government — which promised to look at electoral reform in its New Era document — has assured Gibson his report will be made public and will be acted upon. Gibson, a former B.C. Liberal Party leader (1975-79) and MLA who is perhaps best re- membered in the northwest as an opponent of the Nisga’a treaty on constitutional grounds, was hired to make recommendations on how that assembly would operate, and how mem- bers would be selected, among other things. For instance, should members be picked at random from the voters’ list, or appointed ac- cording tova setiof criteria? 4, 0 6 te ae joPhere nafen2,9 million, eligible voters, but only; 2.2 .million are currently, registered: ‘Gib- son said. That means more than 700,000 voters are missing. > Another issue is size. How many members should there be? There’s also the issue of ensuring regional representation, a topic that hits close to home for northerners. And should members be selected to ensure the assembly reflects different ages, genders, and ethnic groups? It's what pollsters call stratification, Gibson SEATS OF POWER: B.C.'s legislature building in the capital city of Victoria. said, meaning selection isn't iruly random but reflects key segments of society. Participation should be optio- § nal, he said. “You can’t force § people to spend many weekends f and months working on this.” He may recommend a self- screening process, to encourage people who are interested in the project. . Covering expenses is another J issue. He said he leans in favour of paying members to atiend & meetings. Compensation for child care expenses is another matter he was considering. “We've got to make it easy for people to attend this,” he said. “These will be totally or- dinary people.” Gibson was.also ‘expected to ‘make a te- commeéndation on the” govérnalice structure and a proposed work plan for the assembly. He said he envisioned three work phases. The first would be an education phase where the citizens’ assembly would hear from experts from university faculties and other countries. “We could bring in champions for each sysiem.” The second phase would be a series of pub- lic hearings, possibly as many as 30, to be held in the spring of 2004, That would be followed by a deliberation Gordon Gibson period when the assembly would figure out a list of feasible op- tions, He envisions lively debates on the nature of democracy as the members whittle down the options to the final list to be presented to voters on the referendum ballot presented to voters in spring 2005. He foresees having volers choose from among three or four systems, including our present one, Those options would be explained in detail in a publication that in B.C. . Gibson also indicated he may re- commend that the legislature au- thorize the citizens’ assembly and appoint a chair this spring. He said the whole exercise will cost less ‘than the $9 million estimate for the mail-in re- fereiidum’ on treaty ‘negotiations conducted earlier this year. That ended ‘up costing “tax- payers $4.5 million in the end. Gibson said he consulted with a wide varie- ty of people and groups, including political science instructors at universities, the B.C, Fe- - deration of Labour, Fair Voting B.C., and poli- tical parties. He also sought input from voters by email through a Citizens’ Assembly link on the fol- lowing provincial government website: www.gov.be.ca/ag Vote reform is centrepiece of Green electoral strategy By JENNIFER LANG THE LEADER of B.C.’s Green Party is urging everyone to parti- cipate in the upcoming citizens assembly on changing the pro- vince’s voting system. Adriane Carr came here for the first time Nov. 6, making her pitch for electoral reform to a small but enthusiastic crowd of less than a dozen. “This is a real chance to change our voting system,” she says. “This is the biggest potential positive thing I've seen in B.C. for a long time.” It was one stop on her tour of 40 communities this fall to dis- cuss her failed citizen's initiative on proportional representation — and talk ta voters about what's on their minds. She says there have been no “unite the left” talks between the Greens and the NDP, which holds just two seats in the legislature following the 2001 election that “saw the Liberals sweep to power. She denies the Green party, which’ shares some common ground with the New Democrats on social issues, split left-leaning votes with the NDP. “The Liberals would have ac- tually. got a stronger majority,” Cart says, adding the Green party ADRIANE CARR visited Terrace to talk politics and vote reform. 34 “List” MLAs elected accord- ing to the number of votes each party receives and the same num- ber of constituency MLAs, would force politicians to do a better job. “[ don’t think they’re serving the public well at all now.” Under her system, voters would choose a constituency representa- tive as well as a party. votes, allowing people to vote party. an MLA from another party,” she says, “What happens is, they have to pull up their socks. They’re in direct competition for consti- tuents.” would have played out very differ- ently under Carr’s mixed pro-rep voting system: the Liberals would have won 43 seats; the NDP 15 and Greens 9. Her bid to force a referendum on maving to what she believes is a fairer voting system may have failed, but Carr says the Liberals have made good 'on their “New Era” promise to consider electoral reform, Gordon Gibson, the former party leader, has been appointed to make recommendations on how draws more. support from soft- a citizens assembly on changing would be sent to every household | In other words, they’d get two . their conscience — and support a “You have the choice to go fo. The last provincial election: > leaning Liberals than the NDP. :° “The vast support is in the middle,” she says, pointing to those voters wha are less likely to » remain committed to any particu- » lar parly. “They vole against the parly ! that- they really are loathing,” * Carr-says,. pointing to A particular- * ly distinctive reality about B.C.’s - * polltical landscape: we ‘don't -elect governments so much as turf them out. That's something her proposed mixed proportional representation voting system would end, she says. Carr’s “Free Your Vote" initia- tive needed the backing of 10 per cent of registered voters in all 79 ridings to’ succeed. She and her 4,000 canvassers had 90 days to - gather those signatures, ; Here in. Skeena, just 103 regis- yered voters signed the petition by the Aug. 12 deadline. “The message didn’t get out fast enough,” she says, blaming lime and not her proposal, which - some critics said would further re- duce the north's political clout, | “It would in my opinion do ex- actly the opposite,” she: says, agreeing the north gets short: shrift under the present system. _ Her proposal, which ‘called for B.C.'s yoting system would work. “T believe that's a direct out-. come of our initiative,” Corr says. “It raised ithe profile of the need to change our. Voting system.” Gibson has until Dec, 22 to submit a report. If the assembly goes ahead, it would hold public hearings on electoral reform in the Spritig of 2004 with a referendum May °16,; 2005-= the date of | the next provincial election, CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Keep our health care public and available Dear Sir: Publicly funded health care is what the people asked for and health commissioner Roy Romanow said loud and clear that is what the people should be given. Medicare founder Tommy Douglas said medicare needs to grow beyond the services that medicare covered. Mr. Romanow’s report will imniensely improve the quality of care in our public system. ¢ seads a clear message to the federal and provincial go ‘ernments that Canadians want a universal, publicly funded and administered, and accountable healthcare system. Medicare should be affordable, accessible, high - quality care based on need and not income. Under the Canada Health Act there are five principles of health care delivery — public accessibility, universality, publicly funded and administered, portability and comprehensive. , The sixth principle that needs to be added is accountability. We need to know what is happening with wait lists, health care budgets, hospital beds, doctors and nurses. Whether services in the home and community care are being closed, if the number of . diagnostic machines are adequate and treatment outcome is improving. This should be based on transparency. The governments’ concerns of accountability should be a non issue. I praise and applaud Romanow for not giving any funds for private for profit partnerships. He asked those in the private sector to provide evidence that it was cost effective and care would improve but they provided nothing. The reason is that there is no evidence that privatization provides cheaper and better care. What it does is take health care professionals from the public system to work in the private sector, further putting a strain on the system. There is evidence to show that wait lists don’t decrease. What does happen is that costs increase instead of decrease. What it does is allow those tc receive care that have the ability to pay for it. There are many other things in the report that will have a direct benefit for us citizens of Terrace. There will be a rural and remote access funds to improve timely access to care in rural and remote areas. This will provide training for nurses, doctors and other badly needed health care professionals. There is also more money for pharmaceuticals ta expand and improve coverage, diagnostic services to improve wait times for those services, rehab services, bringing parts of home care as a part of the Canada Health. Act, mental health, paltiative care in the homes in the last six months of life, national immunization prevention and much more. The ministers need to support and act on these recommendations immediately. Health care is a human right that belongs in the public system. If they do nol proceed it sure is not in the public's interest. ’ This report came from the people for the people. This _ is what the people of Canada neéd and deserve — public medicare. Penny Henderson, Terrace, B.C. More on theatre troupe Dear Sir: I was grateful to read your article in the Dec. 11 Terrace Standard about Skeena River Players. 1 would like to clarify, and expand, on some relevant points: Geraldine Gunanoot stepped dowa as president of our society, however remains as a valuable member of our board of directors. As a First Nations (and multi-cultural) organization that receives money from First Nations’ Health and Wellness coffers, it is imperative that we maintain a standard of conduct and accountability endorsed and understood by all First Nations. These standards include: respect, honesty, kindness, caring, generosity, sobriety and prayer. Maintaining these standards also contributes to a truly vibrant multi-cultural experience, which Skeena River Players seeks to be. . The “personal differences” cited by Marianne Brorup Weston are in regards to the above. The board of directors at Skeena River Players will continue to maintain those principles. We respect the rights of Alan and Marianne Weston, Larry Guno, et al to have their personal objections to our-maintenance of these principles. The Board of Directors of Skeena River Players looks forward to again entertaining residents of the beautiful Northwest. ' . Janice P. Robinson _ Secretary, Skeena River Players A sincere thank. you . Dear Sir: We would like to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who. assisted in the search for Chris on Mount Elizabeth form August 25 to September 24 this year. We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we received from the local communities. Your support helped us through what has easily been the most difficult period in our lives. - To everyone, from the searchers and pilots, to the local businesses and volunteers who prepared meals: we are sincerely grateful. We will always have fond feelings for the people of Kitimat and Terrace. You have communities to be proud of, We will never forget you. in addition we would like to take this time to publicly thank and acknowledge both Alcan and Telus, without wham a search of this magnitude would not have been possible. ‘The Markoff family, Vancouver, B.C. “About the Mall Bag The Terrace Standard welcomes letters. Our address Is 3210 Clinton Sti, Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2. You can tax us at 250-638-8432 or e-mail us at newsroom@terracestandard.com. No attachments, please. We need your name, address and phone number for veritication. Our deadline is:noon Friday or hoon Thursday if it's a long weekend.