Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

South Asian Community Leaders Launch NO Campaign on Proportional Representation Referendum

Darpan News Desk , 26 Oct, 2018 09:52 PM
    A number of respected and influential leaders in BC’s South Asian community have thrown their support behind the “NO” campaign when it comes to changing the voting system in our Province. Dr. Gulzar Cheema, a former MLA in Manitoba and British Columbia and a practicing family doctor and Puneet Sandhar, a lawyer and a community advocate will be leading the South Asian campaign for the No BC Proportional Representation Society.
     
     
    They join former BC Attorney General Suzanne Anton, QC and Mr.Bill Tieleman, both directors of the No to BC Proportional Representation Society, to encourage voters to reject Proportional Representation in the referendum being held this month.
     
     
    "Proportional Representation has been proven to give extremist parties an easy access to power all over the world," said Sandhar. "These groups bring with them divisive politics that often target immigrants and minority groups. There is no place for that in BC, and that's why we must choose to continue with our current system that gives representation to people not power to extremists".   
     
     
    From October 22nd, voters started receiving a mail-in ballot on the future of our electoral system, asking whether they would like to keep the current First Past the Post system, or replace it with Proportional Representation. ProRep is a form of voting used in some countries including Sweden, where a recent election saw anti-immigrant, far-right extremists elected into government, where they now hold the balance of power.
     
     
    “Proportional Representation would see the loss of local MLAs around BC, a loss of accountability, & the rise of single issue and extremist parties.” said Cheema. “ProRep would end BC’s simple-to-understand voting system, a system which has led us to having one of the most stable & successful jurisdictions in the world”.
     
     
    To vote in the referendum, voters must be 18 years or older as of November 30th, 2018, a Canadian citizen and a BC resident for at least six months prior to November 30th, 2018. Voting packages need to be completed and returned by November 30th 2018.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Family, Police Say Body Of Missing Vancouver Island Man Found Near Duncan, B.C.

    Family, Police Say Body Of Missing Vancouver Island Man Found Near Duncan, B.C.
    DUNCAN, B.C. — Police and the family of a British Columbia man who has been missing on Vancouver Island since mid-May confirm his body has been found.

    Family, Police Say Body Of Missing Vancouver Island Man Found Near Duncan, B.C.

    Ammonia Leak At Langley, B.C. Facility That Makes Dog Food Prompts Evacuation

    LANGLEY, B.C. — An ammonia leak at a dog-food manufacturing facility in the Township of Langley south of Vancouver has forced the evacuation of an industrial area.

    Ammonia Leak At Langley, B.C. Facility That Makes Dog Food Prompts Evacuation

    B.C. Man Who Killed Parents And Two Others As Teen Granted Full Parole

    B.C. Man Who Killed Parents And Two Others As Teen Granted Full Parole
    VANCOUVER — A British Columbia man who murdered four people as a teenager and left his two-month-old niece in a room with her dead mother has been granted full parole.

    B.C. Man Who Killed Parents And Two Others As Teen Granted Full Parole

    Federal Government Confirms New Champlain Bridge Won't Be Ready Until 2019

    MONTREAL — The federal government is confirming that the opening of the new Champlain Bridge will be delayed until next year.

    Federal Government Confirms New Champlain Bridge Won't Be Ready Until 2019

    Prices Easing But Canada’s Housing Market Still 'Highly Vulnerable': CMHC

    OTTAWA — Despite an easing in prices, the Canadian housing market remains "highly vulnerable," according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

    Prices Easing But Canada’s Housing Market Still 'Highly Vulnerable': CMHC

    New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson Seeks Nod In Nanaimo, B.C., Byelection

    NANAIMO, B.C. — Federal New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson says she's been pondering her jump to provincial politics in British Columbia since the summer when she was approached by officials in Premier John Horgan's office.

    New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson Seeks Nod In Nanaimo, B.C., Byelection