Pat Bell Devastated NDP Would Kill Bill to Retain Rural Constituencies

Thursday, November 29, 2007 03:58 AM

Prince George, B.C. - MLA Pat Bell says he, along with Premier Gordon Campbell and all of his colleagues from the rural and northern parts of the province are devastated by the move Wednesday that allowed the Electoral Boundaries Bill to die on the order paper.

The NDP have denounced the bill as “Interference “by the Liberal Government in the work of the Electoral Boundaries Commission. The NDP question the need to create eight more seats.

Following strong opposition from the rural and northern parts of the province, Premier Campbell interceded in the matter and said he would introduce a bill to guarantee the north did not lose its representation.

The NDP wanted to see the bill die on the order paper and would not agree to allow for its passage. The NDP had threatened to line up speaker after speaker to denounce the bill so it would die on the order paper.

Bell can’t understand why the New Democrats would take this kind of stand " Shirley, John (Shirley Bond, and John Rustad) and I have fought hard to ensure that we in the north don’t lose any seats. We are a very large geographical area and we should receive representation" Bell said. "It is very strange the NDP are saying the Liberals are hoping to shore up their rural support when in fact two of the three seats recommended to be cut by the Commission are occupied by the NDP."

"They are trying to build on their urban roots" said Bell "and that is exactly what the Premier was trying to achieve and that was a opportunity for an important part of the province to have proper representation."

Bell says he is deeply disappointed "Even suggesting that the Bill was politically motivated leaves me wondering. When we appeared before the Commission in the north I believe we all were there trying to defend our region, NDP, Green, Liberal or whatever. We just didn’t want to lose our voice. "

The Liberals have said they won’t vote for a final report that eliminates seats in the north and interior.

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Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: ammonra on November 29 2007 6:45 AM

Bell doesn't understand? Of course he does!

He knows that the NDP opposition to the bill has nothing to do with the constituencies in Prince George. New Democrats are quite happy to keep three constituencies there. It has to do with the fact that Gordon Campbell overruled the Boundaries Commission and ordered them to create 8 new constituencies in Liberal strongholds.

As Doug Routley puts it, not Gracie's finger, Gordo's forearm!!

Posted by: ammonra on November 29 2007 7:43 AM

We will soon be voting again on a proposal to change the voting system in BC to BCSTV. It was almost approved last time, and there is a very good chance that it will pass this time. When it does, the Boundaries Commission will have to redefine every constituency in the province for BCSTV voting.

Why, then, do Liberal MLAs insist it must be changed now? It seems to me that changing a system for one election is pointless, unless you want to make sure that election is skewed to help one of the parties.

Just leave the boundaries alone until we know whether BCSTV is to be used here. Keep three constituencies in PG.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 29 2007 8:25 AM

Good points ammonra.
You can bet it is not quite as simple as Pat(devastated)Bell would have us believe!
I too think it should all be left alone until another vote is held on BCSTV and I think this entire mess IS politically motivated by the Liberals.

Posted by: REALIST on November 29 2007 11:14 AM

I have just looked at a variety of sources including the Globe and Mail who have covered this story. In comparing those articles to what Pat Bell has tried to sell as the truth it can plainly be seen his manipulation of the facts to make the Liberals look good. I urge other Opinion 250 readers to look into this so they can see first hand how they have tried to twist the truth to make them look good, when in fact they are to blame for this mess. In terms of Honesty, I urge you to see who tells the truth and who is lying. We have a house of snakes on our hands

Posted by: Silent Bob on November 29 2007 3:21 PM

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 29 2007 3:35 PM

Good article in the Globe and Mail today as REALIST mentioned.
So who answers for the 3 million in taxpayers dollars and 18 months that was just wasted when the Campbell government allowed the NDP to kill the bill?
Stinky...very stinky, and I think there is much more to this farce than meets the eye!
Just one damn thing after another with these overpaid spin doctors, and it will be interesting to see just how this one plays out in the end!
Pat Bell's retoric on the issue is a joke!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on November 29 2007 6:16 PM

So should we just allow the BC Electoral Commission to eliminate a couple seats in northern BC or what?

So what if you don't like the BC Liberals, do you want to go with BC Electoral Commission to eliminate seats? Yes or No, easy question. The NDP gave their answer, what's yours?

The Globe and Mail is in the business of making money, so don't be confused that they give an ats ras about northern BC. There bread is buttered in the south eastern climes. The G&M has a record of being a kindred spirit with the NDP or socialists in most situations never mind what the people want. Don't get too caught up in what that rag has to say about people they don't like.

Posted by: Palopu on November 29 2007 8:43 PM

We should abide by the BC Electoral Commissions findings,and if that means the elimination of a few ridings, so be it.
\
BCSTV sucks. This is one of the most hairbrained ways to elect a Government that has ever been devised. In essence it allows a bunch of no name,NDP, Green, Communist, Socialist, individuals to participate in Government from a Minority position and influence, and actually change the wishes of the Majority. Hopefully it will not rise its ugly head again.

I would sooner sleep in a graveyard with a pack of pitbulls on the loose than say something nice about the NDP, however in this case, forceing this issue back to the Electoral Commission was a good thing

Posted by: enviro on November 30 2007 9:07 PM

"It has to do with the fact that Gordon Campbell overruled the Boundaries Commission and ordered them to create 8 new constituencies in Liberal strongholds."

Sheesh, at least be fair about the situation.

Both the NDP and Liberals oppose the reduction of the three seats in the north, central interior, and the kootenays as recommended by the boundaries commission.

The commission already increased the seats from 79 to 84 then eliminated the three interior seats reaching a final number of 81.

Add in those three lost seats one comes to 84. Add in 3 extra seats created by the amended legislation (one likely in the NDP stronghold of Greater Victoria) and one arrives at 87.

So where are those "8" new constituenies in Liberal strongholds?