British Columbia's Provincial Election May 12th 2009

We are in the last days going into the May 12th provincial election here in BC.

I thought I'd share some final thoughts...

[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="Vote Here (flickr credit: myJon)"][/caption]

If you care about the environment, and have concerns about the unbalanced power held by corporations, especially in light of what appears to be the Liberal agenda to sell out public infrastructure / legacies to corporations, then you should definately watch the video here: http://www.callingfromthecoast.com 

In the last election I Did not vote Liberal because they basically said "You don't want the dishonest NDP do you?", and I didn't vote NDP because they basically said "We hate everything the Liberals stand for", so I voted Green because they spoke of a triple bottom line of Economic, Ecological and social responsibility.  It was the freshest thing I had heard in Canadian politics since the Reform party was formed.  

This election, I think I must stop the Liberals who seem to want to sell everything they can to greedy corporations. BC-rail, BC-Hydro transmission, BC-Gas, BC-Tel... "What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?" There is more to life and government than money. Much more. Justice, compassion, vision, planning, responsibility, leadership, inovation.  Money? come on some of the things being sold are irreplacible.

I'm not impressed with the green party this election, because our local candidate keeps mentioning the legalization of marajuana on par with other issues.  Serious hit to your credibility guys.  THAT green agenda is something entirely different than the one I'm concerned with.

This leaves me with the NDP.  I don't think their record is much worse than the Liberals, and when I look at the Millenium line and much of the provincial land reserves, the NDP deserve full credit.  

The only thing I'm excited about this election is the STV, the "BC-STV" to be precise.  After researching it, I've now blogged about BC-STV here, and here.

BC-STV in 3 easy steps. (video)

1. At the polling station you mark your choices 1,2,3,4....   instead of marking an X by only one candidate.

2. Your riding or electoral district is joined with others to contain more than one MLA. (same total number of MLAs)

3. Your vote goes to your first choice.  If there is a surplus of votes for that candidate, or if that candidate is eliminated, then your second choice comes into play (and so on).  Your vote goes farther.  The BC Citizens Assembly on electoral reform explains this in detail in their website.  Read their PDF "how the votes are counted"


BC-STV gives British Columbia the opportunity to have proportional representation in the legislature.  It will likely weaken the "2 party pendulum effect" we have been seeing where policy swings far to the left and far to the right.  This should lead to more moderate and stable government policy.  This should reduce the party rhetoric because MLAs are going to have to work WITH each other.  

By the way "The Corporation" is pretty much required viewing if you want to be informed about the world around you. Check out the copy at your local library.

Cheers friends, make me proud, vote for BC-STV and give that first video a watch. 
Greg.