May 12, 2003

This survey on Citizens Assembly shows it's not the way we elect our government that needs fixing, it's the government itself that needs fixing.
Ron Gamble

ROBBINS-SCE Research
(604) 942-3757

For immediate Release

Coquitlam- 1,422 respondents in 79 ridings in British Columbia were contacted between April 26-May 7, 2003 regarding matters pertaining to political party support, on pressing issues for government, Citizens Assembly, views on Proportional Representation re political and electoral reform. This survey has an error rate of plus or minus 2.5% 19 times out of 20, at 98% competency rate.

Highlights

BC Liberals are beginning to play Russian roulette with support. NDP remains at the same level of support but that support is becoming more committed. Green declines slightly in urban areas and Reform BC is becoming a major factor in Northern and Interior ridings.

Economy and Health-Care are first and second respectively as the most pressing issues for British Columbians.

British Columbians believe that former BC Liberal leadership candidate Gordon Gibson's Citizens Assembly is a political stunt, distraction, and a waste of taxpayer's money. Respondents also believe that the BC Liberal party should pay Mr. Gibson’s $1,500 per Diem salary.

Respondents cannot reconcile cuts to Ombudsman, other independent institutions, and lack of funding to poor and homeless with taxpayer funding for Citizen's Assembly. Should Elections BC be better funded to educate British Columbians on current electoral system?

Respondents are 50/50 in their opinion of major news in province.

There is over whelming support for elimination of all large union and corporate political donations to BC political parties.

Majority of British Columbians believes a political party member should be required to win, minimum, one seat by personally getting elected and attain at least 16% of popular vote before party appoints any seats through proportional representation.

NDP Leader Joy McPhail has strong platform after 'pinning tail' on Gordon Gibson and Citizens Assembly.

Question #1
Which political party did you support in the last BC provincial election?

BC Liberal (55.30%) NDP (20.63%) Green (12.14%) Unity (3.74%) Marijuana (2.85%) Other (5.37%)

Question #2
If an election were held tomorrow in British Columbia, for which political party would you cast your vote?

BC Liberal (34.69%) NDP (28.32%) Green (10.25%) Reform BC (9.83%) Unity (4.86%) Marijuana (2.79%) none of these (9.18%). (7.20%) of "none of these" voted for BC Liberals in Question #1.

Question #3
In your opinion, which of the following is the most pressing issue facing BC today?

Economy (39.12%) Health (32.78%) Education (15.42%) Environment (6.64%)

Electoral Reform (4.35%) Settlement of Native Land Claims (1.61%) Other (.65%)

Question #4
In your opinion has Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals done a good job of managing the economy?

No (62.22%) Yes (29.19%) It's too early to tell (12.59%)

Question #5
In your opinion has Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals done a good job managing our health care system in British Columbia?

No (65.34%) Yes (25.45%) It's too early to tell (9.21%)

Question #6 (two parts)
Gordon Gibson, a former BC Liberal leadership candidate, will lead a Citizens Assembly and be personally paid $1,500 per day. This assembly will be comprised of 158 'ordinary' citizens who will travel around the province with Gordon Gibson, listening to British Columbians and asking their thoughts about electoral reform.

Part A
In your opinion, is it ethically right or wrong that Gordon Gibson, a former BC Liberal

leadership candidate in the early 1990's be appointed to lead a Citizens Assembly designed to independently represent a cross-section of all British Columbians?

It is ethically wrong (71.23%) It is ethically right (17.21%) 2) No opinion (11.55%)

Part B
In your opinion, is this Citizens Assembly on electoral reform?

A) Likely a valuable and worthwhile exercise toward necessary electoral reform in BC (25.25%)

B) Another political stunt and distraction by a BC government that is losing public support (26.23%)

C) Just what is needed right now to trigger political change in BC (10.56%)

D) Another example of The BC Liberal government's desire to waste taxpayer's money (32.96%)

E) I have no opinion (5.05%)

Question #7
The Citizens Assembly for electoral reform may cost anywhere from 3 million to ten million dollars. This is approximately the amount of money required to properly fund the Ombudsman Office, Freedom of Information (BC), Privacy Commissioner and Elections BC, all of which have been faced with significant budgetary cuts

Since government money is taxpayer money, of the following choices offered, where would you prefer the government direct taxpayer dollars?

A) Former BC Liberal leadership candidate Gordon Gibson's 3 to 10 million-dollar Citizens Assembly for electoral reform (20.37%)

B) Ombudsman Office, Freedom of Information, Elections BC etc. (42.81%)

C) Feed the Poor, shelter the homeless (27.59%)

D) Don't spend the money at all (9.45%)

Question #8
The major media in British Columbia is promoting the Citizens Assembly, despite potential conflicts that NDP Opposition Leader Joy McPhail sees with the appointment of Gordon Gibson,a former BC Liberal leadership candidate appointed by the BC Liberal government to lead the Assembly. In your opinion which of the following statements best explains why the major media is behaving this way?

A) The media simply reports the news (19.35%)

B) The media is bias in favour of whatever government is in power (22.61%)

C) The media hopes to benefit as a result of the Citizens Assembly 3 to 10 million dollar budget and doesn't care who leads the Assembly (23.55%)

D) The media is not responsible for choices government makes (19.64%)

E) All of the above (14.85%)

Question #9
Do you agree or disagree with NDP Leader Joy McPhail's concern regarding the appointment of former BC Liberal leadership candidate Gordon Gibson's appointment to lead the Citizens Assembly?

A) I am in agreement with NDP leader Joy McPhail (47.32%)

B) I disagree with NDP leader Joy McPhail (28.34%)

C) I don't care about Joy McPhail's opinion (24.33%)

Question #10
If an election were held tomorrow in our province, for which of the following leaders and their parties would you cast your vote?

Gordon Campbell and BC Liberals (28.45%) Joy McPhail and New Democrats (27.28%) Adrienne Carr and Green Party (12.05%) Ron Gamble and Reform BC (9.41%) Chris Delaney and BC Unity (6.51%) Steve Emery and Marijuana Party (3.14%)

None of these (13.19%)

Question #11
Which of the following statements best describes your opinion of British Columbia's major news, including newspaper, television, and radio?

A) I only believe half of what I read, see and hear (41.15%)

B) I generally accept the news in the media as accurate (27.15%)

C) I do not pay very much attention to the news (31.82%)

Question #12
Do you know in the political world what the term "first past the post" means?

No 86%

Yes 14%

Question #13
In your opinion should the BC Liberal Party, be required to pay past BC Liberal leader candidate Gordon Gibson's $1,500 daily salary as leader of the Citizens Assembly rather than the BC taxpayer?

Yes (81.12%)

No (18.65%)

Question #14
In your opinion, which of the following best reflects your idea of what government action would best lead to electoral and political reform in BC?

Eliminate all union, corporate and otherwise large donations to BC political parties (60.55%)

Nothing will help; government is not legitimately interested in solving problems. (20.15%)

Send former BC Liberal leadership candidate Gordon Gibson and 158 'ordinary' citizens around the province discussing electoral reform, at a cost to BC taxpayers of 3 to 10 million dollars. (19.34%)

Question #15 (two parts)
Generally speaking, proportional representation is an electoral process whereby a party can be appointed seats in the legislature based on a percentage of the vote it receives during a provincial election, even if that party member did not win in any of the riding contests.

Part 1 In your opinion, what is the minimum threshold of percentage vote during a provincial election that a political party should be required to achieve in order to be eligible for an appointment of seats by way of proportional representation in the legislature?

A) Zero to 5 per cent (2.34%)

B) 6 to 10 per cent (11.28%)

C) 11 to 15 per cent (21.76%)

D) 16 to 20 per cent (55.14%)

E) Over 20 per cent (9.54%)

Part 2 In your opinion should a political party first have to succeed in winning at least one of BC's 79 political ridings, before it can be deemed eligible for an allocation of seats based on popular vote through proportional representation?

Yes (54.43%)

No (29.29%).

Undecided (16.35%)

Commentary:

The BC Liberals may see 30 per cent before they see 40 again, however it is early yet, and the BC Liberals still dominate 30 constituencies in BC and will contest another 25. The NDP vote is solid and most supporters have forgiven Leader Joy McPhail. Green vote is consistent and the more impressive results from May 2001 have settled down. No Green support in any riding exceeded 20 per cent. North and Interior Green around 7%. Reform is bubbling in North and Interior. The Chris Delaney party threatens to encroach on BC Liberal support in Lower Mainland where BC Liberals and NDP will go at each other in 16 ridings. If Reform can match Unity growth in Lower Mainland then May 2005 is anyone's guess.

BC Liberal leadership is unimpressive, but despite awkward performance, polling numbers reveal the situation is still salvageable, particularly if forestry deal arrives soon. Communications remains most obvious problem.

Gordon Gibson may be well liked and respected in the political industry, but respondents aren't buying what the BC Liberals (and a cooperative media) are trying to sell. NDP Opposition Joy McPhail should thank the Liberals for this opportunity, as it provides a platform to match her earlier criticisms in this area about conflict and political patronage.

Cutting funding to democratic institutions like the Ombudsman Office and Freedom of Information(amongst others) while funding Gibson et al is inexcusable to respondents.

Public has no idea of the nuances surrounding present electoral system.

British Columbians believe that one conventional seat plus 15-20 per cent of popular vote equals expectation of proportional representation in the legislature. Only BC Liberals and NDP are certain to meet requirements. NDP can only grow from Green, and Green from NDP. Green can't win this battle without higher profile.

May 12, 2003

What do you believe should be the minimum threshold of popular vote for a BC political party to achieve proportional representation in the house?

BC Liberals Press Secretary Andy Orr: "We've kicked all of that into the Citizen's Assembly"

Reform BC Leader Ron Gamble: "Electoral change is a waste of time and tax-payers money.

We need to reform the way government currently works by making it more accountable and

responsive to public opinion."

Unity Party Communications Director Blake McKenzie "we'll welcome any reforms to the existing electoral system in British Columbia".

Green Party (2002) initiative: 5 per cent is an acceptable threshold.

NDP: didn't return telephone calls

Glen P. Robbins
BA Political Science

For More Information contact:

Ron Gamble, Leader
PO Box 466, Surrey Main Surrey, BC V3T 5B7
Phone: 604-980-7779
E-mail: info@reformbc.net
Web site: www.reformbc.net