BC Civil Liberties Say They Will Fight Keeping Rural Ridings

Friday, March 14, 2008 03:58 AM

The President of the BC Civil Liberties Association says his group will go to court to seek orders protecting constitutionally guaranteed voting rights of all British Columbians from what he calls "the unconscionable attack on fundamental freedoms."

The Provincial government has accepted an alternate option contained in the Electoral Boundaries Commission report. Although not presented, the Commission did draw up a map that would retain the number of rural MLAs, however the regions would be shifted, and one of three ridings for Prince George, will be scrapped.

There was a great deal of pressure on the Government to retain the rural ridings, which left the Liberals and NDP agreeing to increase the house to 85 with 10 of the ridings having less than 25% below the average population in a riding.

Under the Act ,boundaries may diverge only up to 25% unless very special circumstances exist. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it will take the Province to court if it goes ahead with its plan to save those rural ridings.

Premier Gordon Campbell has said that the rural ridings that have retained their seats are needed to ensure the vast ridings they represent have ample representation. Under the recommendation presented by the Boundaries Commission, the rural ridings would fall well behind the urban lower mainland representation.

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Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 14 2008 7:28 AM

So the BCCLA, an arm of the NDP, wants rural ridings representing small populations scrapped? It's getting closer to the time when we will have to get uncivil and BC will have to split up, or there will soon be just one riding north of Hope called BC Lite.

Or maybe we should just be attached to whatever riding Hope is in?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 14 2008 8:32 AM

If the Campbell government is supporting this farce,then there is something in it for the B.C.Liberals, otherwise it wouldn't be happening.
What are we ...stupid?
Thank's Campbell,nice to see you sticking up for the north...as usual!
You WILL be remembered!
Somebody get a rope!

Posted by: Eagleone on March 14 2008 8:34 AM

The BCCLA in my opinion is a politically oriented organization. They crave a circumstance where an empire can be managed from the top down through majority rules.

It would be interesting to know who funds them (foreigners) and how much is our tax dollars?

First they will come for your right to effective representation with an arguement of fairness, and then they will come for your guns for your safety, and then they will take your job for corporate efficiency....

Posted by: Eagleone on March 14 2008 8:40 AM

The BCCLA is working on behalf of both of the political parties and their party minions, because in BC all power is in the 2010 region, and therefore the balance of power within the parties themselves resides in the 2010 zone, which is in favour of majority rules.

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if all three are dance partners.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 14 2008 8:46 AM

This move has everything to do with political clout and power and NOTHING to do with the people of the north.
To believe otherwise is not only dumb,it is dangerous.
And the BCCLA will have absolutely no impact on the decision whatsoever.
Just a lot of noise that will amount to nothing.
Once again,northern B.C. get screwed over by the very people we ELECTED to look after our interests.
Nice.