Groups on both sides uncertain of rules
Frustration mounts as B.C. proportional representation campaign launch nears
VICTORIA — Groups on both sides of the proportional representation debate are struggling to prepare for the July 1 launch of the referendum campaign because the province has yet to set the rules to get public funding.
The groups say they are frustrated that Attorney General David Eby has yet to sign regulations that spell out who can apply for the $500,000 for each side in taxpayers’ money that official groups will receive to conduct campaigns.
Also not spelled out yet are the criteria for how official groups will be selected and whether they will be allowed to spend money already raised in the weeks before the official campaign begins.
“Not only is proportional representation confusing, the rules are confusing, the situation is confusing, the timing is confusing,” said Bill Tieleman of the No Proportional Representation Society of B.C. “I’m honestly mystified. I don’t understand why we haven’t heard yet.”
Eby’s ministry said Thursday that “the regulations are currently going through the approval process and will be official in the coming days.”
Business groups, unions, environmental organizations, political parties and activists are jockeying behind the scenes to raise money, sign up supporters and try to capture the public’s attention during the pre-campaign period when there are no limits on fundraising or spending.
After July 1, groups will be forbidden from accepting corporate and union donations, and will only be allowed to collect individual donations with a limit of $1,200. Thirdparty spending on advertising will be capped at $200,000 for each registered group.
The former CEO of Canfor, Jim Shepard, has placed a series of ads in The Vancouver Sun and Province and paid for robocalls encouraging people to join his campaign, called Fair Referendum.
“I am not promoting the Yes vote and not promoting the No vote. But I’m definitely against the unfair vote, where you have a referendum designed by the government in power,” said Shepard, 79. “It’s little wonder why you are hearing outcry.”
His campaign argues government should change the ballot to a single clear question, with fairly funded campaigns and a threshold of a majority of voters required for any change.
Fighting for pro-rep is the Vote PR B.C. group, backed by the B.C. Federation of Labour, B.C. Government and Services Employees’ Union, environmental groups, the left-leaning Broadbent Institute think-tank, activist groups like B.C. ACORN and the Leadnow political action organization. Vote PR B.C. is the merger of several groups.
The third player in the race is the No Proportional Representation Society of B.C., run by veteran NDP organizer Tieleman, former Liberal attorney general Suzanne Anton and retired senior bureaucrat Bob Plecas.
They are likely to be the official no-side group, while Shepard said he’ll continue after July 1 as a registered third-party advertiser.