STV or not?

Single Transferable Vote ( STV) has been a part of the provincial election debate in BC.

As polls open for BC’s 39th election today STV still is a contentious issue. It has been ridiculed, criticized and even disregarded but history demonstrates it has worked successfully for some governments.

In order to encourage voters and to minimize loss of votes the voters have to list the order of preference for their favoured candidates.

” I am not sure if I want anyone else to take the place of my candidate just because enough people did not vote for him.” says Robin Macahalar of Vancouver.

Machalar admits she does not understand the STV system and admits her boyfriend made jokes about the acronym when she tried to talk to him about it.

British Columbia voters could make Canadian history according to their referendum decision they make on their ballot today.

Voters’ ballots for the provincial election will contain not only the names of the candidates in their riding, but also a crucial referendum question.

Electors will choose 85 MLAs and a new government – but they also will see a question similar to one on their ballots in the May 2005 election.

Their answers will determine the degree of satisfaction with British Columbia’s current first-past-the-post system of electing MLAs – the system used in every other jurisdiction in Canada.

Or will they opt for something new – the STV or single transferable vote method?

In the last election, the question on the ballot read: “Should British Columbia change to the BC-STV electoral system as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform?”

This time, voters will be asked: “Which electoral system should British Columbia use to elect members to the provincial Legislative Assembly?

There will be two choices:

-The existing electoral system (First-Past-the-Post)

-The single transferable vote electoral system (BC-STV) proposed by the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform

If STV passes it will be used for the next election in May 2013 and voters’ ballots will be much different looking.

For more coverage on the issue:

STV Vote could be last chance for reform

Party Leaders cast their votes in B.C. election

Bounty Bust in Bountiful, BC

Canadians are still recovering from the effects of the U.S. economic crisis rippling through our side of the border. Now the recent polygamy arrests and convictions in Bountiful, BC drives home the notion that anything affecting our southern partners will surely ricochet through here.

The saga that started in 2005 finally reached it climax with the arrest of the these men. But what more will unravel is yet to be seen.

Winston Blackmore, 52 and James Oler, 44 the two leaders in the polygamous community of Bountiful, B.C. have been charged with practising polygamy, which is a Criminal Code offence.

Both held powerful positions; Oler is the bishop of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, while Blackmore is the former FLDS bishop who was ousted in 2002 after a power struggle with the sect’s prophet Warren Jeffs.

Blackmore has been charged with “practising polygamy” on May 1, 2005, according to provincial court files. The file says the unusual charge was sworn on January 6 against the 52-year-old man, but there is no reference to a court appearance being made yet.

Oler is charged with practising polygamy and the date of his alleged offence on record is Nov. 1, 2004.

A seven-month charge assessment review led to these arrests said Attorney General Wally Oppal said in an official statement. RCMP officers arrested Oler and Blackmore on Wednesday after an intensive, seven-month charge assessment review by special prosecutor Terrence Robertson. The investigation was into allegations that “these individuals breached section 293 of the Criminal Code by entering into a conjungal relationship with more than one individual at a time.

Here is more coverage on the issue:

B.C. polygamist leaders charged in case that will test ban on multiple marriage

Polygamy charges laid against Bountiful, B.C. leaders