Byelections just costly opinion polls

In an age when nearly every question can be answered with a quick Google search, it was surprising that we were unable to find what a federal byelection costs the taxpayer

Seeking only a ballpark figure, we contacted Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola member of Parliament Dan Albas. He forwarded our question to shadow minister Stephanie Kusie (Calgary Midnapore), whose staff did the research and pounded out some averages, using 2010 to present as the date range.

The cost will shock you — $937,000 per byelection.

To ensure a fair election, this is obviously the price of democracy ... and we support democracy.

But, this figure needs to be more widely publicized. With three federal byelections coming up — and with only nine months remaining prior to the general election — these ridings would be better serviced by infrastructure, social programs ... anything!

Staff, polling clerks, office space, advertising, voter cards sent in the mail — it all adds up ... to $937,000.

It’s a lot of money considering most constitutents have little-to-no interest in federal byelections. Voter turnout is generally the indicator.

We have to question the scruples of politicians who quit their terms early. Obviously, in the case of death or terminal illness, there’s no choice but to call a byelection. But for some, it’s a strategic move to benefit their party.

There is a new law that’s being proposed making the cutoff point for byelections nine months. Hopefully this passes.

In municipal government, the cutoff is about the same. Penticton city council played short-handed in 2011 when Albas resigned and again in 2014 when Wes Hopkin left a few months early. Ditto for the school board when Bill Bidlake missed the final two months of his term.

It created a few tied votes, but it wasn’t worth the cost of a byelection. (Former mayor Dan Ashton actually paid the price of a municipal byelection when he departed to become MLA.)

We suggest if an MP steps down within a year of an election, appoint someone or operate Parliament Hill with one less MP and allow the MP’s staff to deal with the day-to-day inquiries by constituents.

In the cast of the three upcoming byelections, the balance of power won’t change even if the Liberals are skunked.

On Feb. 25, Canadians will be paying close to $3 million for a public opinion poll.

—Valley editor James Miller