BC Green MLA, Oak Bay - Gordon Head (Victoria) Andrew Weaver shares his views on the BC Govts Bill 2 Electoral Boundaries Commission Amendment Act. quote: I do not think it is helpful for us in this House to pit rural B.C. against urban B.C. Nobody wins when we start to politicize this process. Freezing the number of ridings in 3 regions of the Province while at the same time freezing the overall number of ridings at 85 appears to me to be a rather blunt tool to ensure effective representation. In fact, I would argue that it fails to do so. It will inflame the issues of representation in the fastest growing parts of the Province, primarily in the Lower Mainland, making their votes worth relatively less. While I am not a lawyer, I question whether or not this legislation would actually survive a court challenge. Dispersion is different from density. Population dispersion is a measure of the degree of population scatter around a region whereas population density is a measure of the population per unit area. Mathematically, population density is determined by dividing the total population in a riding by the total area of the riding. Population dispersion is calculated as the ratio of the distance scaled population to the unscaled population. In my view, it provides a very effective tool to measure representation. When I look at the list of ridings being protected I see an inconsistency between the arguments the government is advancing about why regions need to be protected and which areas have subsequently received it in this legislation. I use these ridings merely to highlight the point that there is a lack of explanation around the criteria the government used to select these ridings. In order to protect the integrity of the Electoral Boundary Commission now and in the future, I feel it is in the government’s best interest to clarify why certain ridings are to be protected, while others will not. unquote Appears probable that BC Liberals Govt & BCs Attorney General/Min of Justice Susan Anton will be legally challenged on this Bill 2 if enacted through their BC Legislature majority vote. andrewweavermla.ca/2014/02/25/bill-2-reaction/
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:50:54 +0000
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