Government bails on bungled boundaries

The Golden Star

December 5 2007

In a surprise move in the house recently, 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 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 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.