Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

May 16th, 2008

Bill 42 is a sweeping infringement on people’s democratic rights: Macdonald

Bill 42, the Election Amendment Act, 2008, is one of many bills being pushed through the House by the BC Liberals, and it is one bill that is particularly troubling according to the MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke Norm Macdonald.

The Election Amendment Act changes the definition of third party advertising and makes changes to voter registration requirements that could disenfranchise low income earners and the homeless.

Bill 42 severely limits advertising by citizens and citizens groups not only during the election but for 120 days before the election.  The definition for third party advertising will now include ‘an advertising message that promotes or opposes, directly or indirectly, a registered political party… including an advertising message that takes a position on an issue with which a registered political party or candidate is associated’.

“Bill 42 means that for 5 months only political parties will be speaking on issues of importance to the electorate,” said Macdonald.  “In fact, spending limits for political parties have been raised while other voices have been silenced.

“This is a sweeping infringement on people’s democratic rights and I believe that British Columbians reject this kind political interference.”

Bill 42 will also make it much more difficult for people who are either homeless or who have recently moved to vote.

“Premier Campbell’s policies have created a crisis in homelessness, resulting in more homeless people than any government since the Great Depression of the 1930’s, and now he is removing their right to vote.  That is fundamentally undemocratic.”

Macdonald and his colleagues are fighting to stop Bill 42 but need British Columbians to add their voices by writing to the Premier and the Attorney General and copying those letters to his office.

“We need to take our democracy seriously and fight against any efforts to undermine it.”