***Mar 2006 Focus pg 1-32 - Focus Magazine

Resuscitate the legislature’s committeesParliamentary committees have been so underutilized in recentyears, many British Columbians probably don't even remember whatthey are. The BC government’s website explains that committeesare made up of small, representative groups of MLAs who cantravel around the province soliciting input and holding hearings onissues, which they can then summarize into reports and recommendationsto the whole legislature.Carole James: There are currently standingcommittees of the legislature in a range of topicareas, such as education, First Nations, andhealth. These committees have members fromboth government and opposition…They rarelymeet. I believe these committees could be betterused, taking topic areas out to the public forreal public engagement.Rob Fleming: As the NDP’s environmentcritic, I’m always pointing out that the Legislature’s Standing Committeeon the Environment hasn’t met since 1996! At a time when BC needsa well-informed public to understand the climate change and energychallenges and policy choices we face, this just makes no sense. We needa robust committee system that addresses the big issues out there. Andthis will give MLAs more opportunities to work across party lines whileproviding a key avenue for the public to influence government.Andrew Weaver: The Legislative Committee structure needs to bereinvigorated. The last time the Standing Committee on Education metwas in 2006 when they developed a report outlining a strategy for adultliteracy…As far as I can tell, the Select Standing Committee on AboriginalAffairs has not met since 2001. Policy needs to be debated openlyand needs to be informed through input from diverse stakeholders,such as those who would present to standing committees.Empower independent officesJessica Van der Veen: The Liberal government has weakened ourenvironmental assessment process…and undermined key governmentwatchdogs such as the Auditor Generaland the BC Utilities Commission. Two specificnegative outcomes are: the giveaway of forestlands at Jordan River, despite the findings ofthe Auditor General; and the privatizing ofrivers and streams for private power projects,despite the finding of the BC UtilitiesCommission that these projects are “not inthe public interest.” We need to strengthenenvironmental assessments and fully includethe public…[and we] need to give government watchdogs the powerthey need to do their jobs.Reform campaign financingRob Fleming: The BC Liberals get more than 75 percent of their fundsfrom corporate donations and a very small percent from actual peoplewho can vote…I’m all for getting big money out of politics by putting inplace limits on donations from corporations and unions like we see federallyand in Manitoba. This will put the average voter at the centre ofpolitics again. Campaign finance reform would reduce cynicism aboutpoliticians being in someone’s pocket and increase voter participation.Jane Sterk: [The Green Party would] eliminate corporate and uniondonations to restrict donations to British Columbian [citizens], andlimit the size of donations. We would also lower the amount of moneythat could be spent on campaigns.Branko Mustafovic: How can we expect that a politician will be unbiased,when they literally owe those who made substantial contributionsto their campaign to have their needs heard loudand clear? There’s only one way to be 100 percentsure no elected politicians will ever dangle fromthe strings pulled by special-interest groups whohelped put them there. The ultimate solution isfor government to provide an identical amountto each eligible candidate to spend on theircampaign, with that amount being the maximumthey may spend. That’s truly democratic.Engage disenfranchised and cynical votersAccording to Elections BC, about 75 percent of eligible BC votersare registered, while in 21 districts that number falls to fewer than halfof eligible voters.Jane Sterk: The fixed election date is in the spring, which disenfranchisesstudents…We no longer enumerate house to house. “Registered”voters are now identified by driver’s licence and filed tax returns. Thisdisenfranchises people who don’t drive and those who don’t pay taxes.Rob Fleming: Reversing the decline in voter participation won’tbe accomplished overnight. But we have to make voting opportunitieseasier so that low-participation groups, like young people, get on thevoters list…I like Adrian Dix’s idea to begin voter registration earlier,at age 16, in order to be enumerated by their 18th birthday…We alsohave to change the tone of how politics is conducted. BC has a reputationfor “politics as a blood sport” and this is reflected in statementsby politicians and the media. It seems to me that this may be the biggestcontributor to disenfranchising voters and turning them off what governmentand public service in elected office ought to be about.Carole James: We have seen the government using public money forpartisan advertising, creating cynicism in politics and the politicalsystem, which leads to lower voter turnout and involvement…TheNDP has introduced legislation that would result in the Auditor Generalreviewing all government advertising to build back trust in the processof the use of public dollars.Implement electoral reformJane Sterk: Should I be elected premier…[I would] instruct ElectionsBC to prepare a plan to implement a system of proportional representationfor the 2017 election. To avoid debate about which system toadopt, I would mandate use of the Single Transferable Vote (STV),which was recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reformand accepted in 2005 by 58 percent of BC voters. To prepare for useof this system, I would include a requirement that Elections BC finda structure for STV that would address the concerns from the large andrural ridings. I would also require that Elections BC conduct a processof [educating the public about STV].Rob Wipond thanks all the candidates for participatingin our democracy by running for election.18 April 2013 • FOCUS