Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Premier Danielle Smith stepped up to fix Alberta’s fake citizens’ initiative legislation. I say 'fake' because the legislation was crafted by former Premier Jason Kenney’s government to keep a promise, but the legislation was purposely made dysfunctional so it could never be used. The bar to initiate a referendum had been set so ridiculously high, it was never going to happen. The bar to initiating a referendum has now been reduced to gathering signatures totalling 10% of the turnout in the last election on an official petition within a 120-day period. That’s about 177,000 signatures or so. It’s no small feat to garner that many signatures, but it is achievable if the issue is truly on Albertans' minds ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

Guest Commentator Ian MacLeod -- see full BIO below -- Today, we have a Guest Post from Ian MacLeod, who says ... the Proportional Representation (PR) referendum before BC today must be defeated, both due to the rigged and deeply flawed process and on the long-term damage a yes vote would do to BC.  Here's why ... FIRST , the process is rigged and fatally flawed, and fails on at least 3 counts: “A pig in the poke”: Unlike 2005 and 2009, there was no real consultation as to the options. If we vote yes to PR on this incomplete package, we then have to choose from three options without the real and meaningful details (size of ridings, number of members per riding, method of selecting PR “top-ups”, etc) – a real “pig in the poke”. A rigged choice: It is rigged to support the extorted deal with the Green Party. Proportional Representation (PR) is the only option offered, not surprisingly, the one most suited to the Greens. The Greens have never earned more than 17%...