Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

November 28th, 2007

Government bails on bungled attempt to interfere in Electoral Boundaries Commission

In a surprise move in the House this afternoon, Government House Leader Mike de Jong stopped debate on Bill 39 (Electoral Boundaries Commission Amendment Act, 2007). Liberal members then voted in favour of the termination of this bill.

“Bill 39 was a clear attempt to interfere in a process that must be independent of politics,” declared Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald. “The Liberals tried to sell the idea that their interference would protect rural representation but anyone with a basic understanding of mathematics could see that wasn’t the case.”

The Opposition did not support the adjournment of this debate. Macdonald along with other members of the Opposition were prepared to bring forward amendments to Bill 39 which would ensure that rural areas really were protected, and they would have voted in favour of Bill 39 with those amendments. But protecting rural representation was not in the interest of Campbell or his government.

“Obviously this government isn’t interested in doing the right thing for rural communities. If they were really concerned about representation for my communities they would have allowed debate to continue and would have supported the Opposition’s amendments.”