Last week, Premier Gordon Cambell indicated that the strong support for the past election’s referendum on electoral reform will not be discounted. His course of action is expected to be announced in the near future. The Single Transferable Vote system proposed by the Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform fell slightly short of the 60% majority required for implementation, with only 58% of British Columbians voting Yes. An opinion poll, however, concluded that many of those who voted Yes simply wanted change, while those who voted No did not understand the new system. The referendum is not only a strong indicator of B.C. support for reform, but it also shows the need for public education and exposure to the various systems that can be implemented.

For the full article see this Vancouver Sun article.
For more information on the Single Transferable Vote system, see the Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform website.

Fielding questions on Vancouver radio station CKNW’s talk show yesterday, Prime Minister Paul Martin weighed on the health care debate stating, “I don’t believe in a two-tier medicare system.” Despite the recent Supreme Court decision which declared laws preventing payment for necessary medical services unconstitutional, Martin emphasized the importance of a medicare system based only on need and denounced the hybrid models that currently operate in Europe. He stated his primary goal will be a reduction in waiting list times, to be accomplished through massive reinvestment in health care. In last year’s First Ministers’ Accord, Martin promised to invest $41 billion over 10 years for health reform.

For the full article click here.

After fifteen confidence votes last night, Paul Martin’s Liberals have made it through this week’s first round of challenges to their leadership. The closest call of the night was a 153 to 149 outcome where the Liberals teamed up with the NDP to win against the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois. The vote on Martin’s second budget bill takes place tomorrow, but the Liberals will likely maintain their control. The vote on the Liberal’s proposed same-sex legislation in Bill C-38 will likely be put off until the fall to avoid votes from MPs who are strongly opposed to same-sex marriage.

Reuters has a brief summary of the situation here.
For information on the progress of the same-sex marriage bill check here.

This week, Paul Martin’s Liberals will face a series of challenges to their minority government. A number of confidence votes will take place that have the potential to force a quick election. The close result of last month’s budget vote has many of us nervous. Fortunately, analysts are predicting the Liberals will hold out due to the notable absence of B.C. Tory Gurmant Grewal and a number of other Conservative MPs. Furthermore, polls show the Liberals pulling ahead of the Tories by 12 points.

For more information see this article.
For a recent poll check here.

A little plug for my other site: www.bcvote.ca. It’s a non-partisan, non-profit information resource of current media and events related to democratic events in BC. Log on to check out the latest developments in the Gomery inquiry, the upcoming BC election and the BC-STV referendum.