Comments on: Impressions of New West candidates http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/05/07/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:05:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: will http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/05/07/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-499 will Fri, 08 May 2009 06:53:13 +0000 http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/02/05/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/#comment-499 Also, the Aboriginal land Claims referendum was a political sham. Anyone who has taken a biased survey or a 'push poll' knows the questions on that 'referendum' were designed to engineer a pre-determined outcome. And unlike Meech Lake, Chtn Accord and the Native Treaty Referendumb,the BC-STV ballot initiative is not promoted or presented by the government. It is the results of the citizens assembly and is arguably not in the interest of either of the parties currently in the legislature. Lastly, like Briana said, BCSTV needs 60% of the vote. It also needs 50% or more of the vote in 60% of the ridings. This is a very high bar to get over. If BC-STV wins, it can only win overwhelmingly. Also, the Aboriginal land Claims referendum was a political sham. Anyone who has taken a biased survey or a 'push poll' knows the questions on that 'referendum' were designed to engineer a pre-determined outcome. And unlike Meech Lake, Chtn Accord and the Native Treaty Referendumb,the BC-STV ballot initiative is not promoted or presented by the government. It is the results of the citizens assembly and is arguably not in the interest of either of the parties currently in the legislature.

Lastly, like Briana said, BCSTV needs 60% of the vote. It also needs 50% or more of the vote in 60% of the ridings.

This is a very high bar to get over. If BC-STV wins, it can only win overwhelmingly.

]]> By: Briana http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/05/07/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-498 Briana Fri, 08 May 2009 05:04:22 +0000 http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/02/05/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/#comment-498 Hi Dave, I agree that there's a danger the referendum issue will get lost amid hockey talk and general electioneering. I agree that it may have been better to hold a separate referendum, but we get what we get! One thing: I don't believe it's 50+1 to pass the referendum. If you recall, last time the threshold was 60% - B.C. voted 58% in favour, and so we were just two percent shy of that goal. Hi Dave,

I agree that there's a danger the referendum issue will get lost amid hockey talk and general electioneering. I agree that it may have been better to hold a separate referendum, but we get what we get!

One thing: I don't believe it's 50+1 to pass the referendum. If you recall, last time the threshold was 60% – B.C. voted 58% in favour, and so we were just two percent shy of that goal.

]]> By: Dave Lundy http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/05/07/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-497 Dave Lundy Thu, 07 May 2009 19:17:26 +0000 http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2009/02/05/impressions-of-new-west-candidates/#comment-497 I think that your comments on the various candidates are fairly accurate and would share most of the comments. But I do have what I think is a legitimate beef with the referendum. Step back and think about the campaign. We are in the midst of a provincial election and thats (rightly) where the major focus has been on. When you are talking about changing a fundamental part of our society, namely how we elect our provincial representatives: I believe that the issue itself deserves proper airing on its own, not muddled amongst a provincial election, or for that fact the Stanley Cup playoffs. I mean Campbell didn't put forward his Native Treaty referendum amongst a provincial election did he? And also the vote on the (either / or) Meech Lake / Charlottetown accord, didn't take place amongst a federal election either. Changing the electoral system is a major fundamental thing and the debate should have been more focused and the referendum held when people's attentions were on it. This mish mashing it within the provincial election is just a way to throw it in there. As well I don't agree with the thresholds as well. Something that fundamental should require at least 3/4 support of the voting public, not 50 plus one. It is akin to changing the constitution federally. But I think it'll be very close on Election Day. I'm personally against STV for previously stated reasons, given geographic and population factors. I think that your comments on the various candidates are fairly accurate and would share most of the comments. But I do have what I think is a legitimate beef with the referendum. Step back and think about the campaign. We are in the midst of a provincial election and thats (rightly) where the major focus has been on. When you are talking about changing a fundamental part of our society, namely how we elect our provincial representatives: I believe that the issue itself deserves proper airing on its own, not muddled amongst a provincial election, or for that fact the Stanley Cup playoffs. I mean Campbell didn't put forward his Native Treaty referendum amongst a provincial election did he? And also the vote on the (either / or) Meech Lake / Charlottetown accord, didn't take place amongst a federal election either.

Changing the electoral system is a major fundamental thing and the debate should have been more focused and the referendum held when people's attentions were on it. This mish mashing it within the provincial election is just a way to throw it in there. As well I don't agree with the thresholds as well. Something that fundamental should require at least 3/4 support of the voting public, not 50 plus one. It is akin to changing the constitution federally. But I think it'll be very close on Election Day. I'm personally against STV for previously stated reasons, given geographic and population factors.

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