Vancouver City Council |
MOTION ON NOTICE
Submitted by Councillor Sullivan for consideration at the Regular Council meeting on October 7, 2003.
3. Commission on Electoral Reform
MOVER: Councillor Sullivan
SECONDER: Councillor
WHEREAS this Council passed a motion on July 29, 2003 called "Establishment of Commission on Electoral Reform" whose purpose and mandate is "to receive input .......... for the implementation of electoral reform that includes wards";
Numerous elements of the terms of reference are integrally linked to the implementation of wards for 2005;
THAT
On July 8, 2003 this Council defeated a motion to give this Commission an open mandate and rejected the principle that the decision should be "made by the citizens of Vancouver in a referendum";
THAT
During the Council meeting Councillor Louis declared "there has been enough debate about wards" and in two different Council meetings Councillor Stevenson said "Hear ye, hear ye, NPA wards are coming for 2005 and you better get used to it";
AND WHEREAS
The Mayor's Office issued a press release on September 18, 2003 stating the new single person Commission would be making recommendations "including a possible change from an at-large system to wards" and that "the Commission is free to consider the merits of a ward system";
This press release was misleading and directly contradicts the duly passed motions of Council and the public statements of COPE Councillors;
Media articles and even public statements from the newly appointed single person Commission have perpetuated this inaccuracy. Council has budgeted $250,000 of taxpayers money for this process for this year alone and a lack of clarity for the Commission could waste tax dollars;
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Changing these decisions would require a rescinding motion and agreement by 2/3 of Councillors.
Advice from the City staff indicate that the provincial government would require time to process an Order In Council of this type and City staff will require a full year to implement a new electoral system therefore requiring a firm decision by the Commission and the Council by May 2004.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
The Mayor's Office be directed to correct the news release of September 18 entitled "Tom Berger appointed by City of Vancouver to head commission on civic electoral reform" as it is in contradiction to the motions passed by Council.* * * * *