IS DEMOCRACY BEING DENIED?
“Democracy delayed is democracy denied,” says Steve Cardiff. “With that in mind, I will be tabling today a private member’s bill that proposes cutting in half the amount of time a government has to call a byelection.
“At this morning’s House leaders’ meeting, I gave notice to the government, the Liberals and the Independent member for Laberge that I think they need to go on record with their thoughts on this idea. I’m also asking Yukoners to let their MLAs know what length of time they think is reasonable.”
Cardiff, the party’s House leader, plans to call this bill for debate on November 3.
Under the current Elections Act, the government has 180 days to call a byelection. The proposed amendment repeals Section 421 and replaces it with the following wording: ‘If a vacancy occurs in the representation of an electoral district, a writ of election to fill the vacancy shall be issued within 90 days after the vacancy occurs.’
“I want all members of the Legislative Assembly to consider this bill seriously,” adds Cardiff. “I have looked at what is happening in other democratic countries. I believe the people should have the right to choose their representative in as expeditious a timeframe as is reasonable and prudent.”
Debating this bill will give the government an opportunity to explain why it isn’t delaying a byelection for its own political convenience. Also, this debate will give all MLAs an opportunity to tell Yukoners if and how they would do it differently.
“I have felt for some time that there has been a great deal of unproductive discussion in the House about this matter,” Cardiff says.
“The residents of Whitehorse Centre have been without their own representative since July 28, including the entire fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly. And the only way to reduce the likelihood of this happening again requires a change to the current Elections Act.”
Please contact the Yukon NDP Caucus office to receive a copy of the Bill and Backgrounder document.