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2004 Legislative Session: 5th Session, 37th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational

purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

HONOURABLE GEOFF PLANT

ATTORNEY GENERAL AND

MINISTER

RESPONSIBLE FOR

TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

BILL 52 – 2004

ELECTORAL REFORM REFERENDUM ACT

Contents

Section

Referendum required if Citizens' Assembly recommends change

Referendum to be conducted under Referendum Act

Special rules for electoral reform referendum

Commencement

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly, enacts as follows:

Referendum required if Citizens' Assembly recommends change

1 If the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform recommends, in its final report, a model for electing Members of the Legislative Assembly that is different from the current model, a referendum respecting the recommended model must be held in conjunction with the general election required under the Constitution Act to be held in May 2005.

Referendum to be conducted under Referendum Act

2 Subject to this Act, the Referendum Act applies to a referendum required under

section 1.

Special rules for electoral reform referendum

(1) Section 4 of the Referendum Act does not apply and, instead, the results of a referendum under

section 1 are binding on the government only if

(

a) at least 60% of the validly cast ballots vote the same way on the question that is stated for the referendum, and

(

b) in at least 48 of the 79 electoral districts, more than 50% of the validly cast ballots vote that same way on the question.

(2) Section 5 of the Referendum Act does not apply and, instead, if the results of a referendum under

section 1 are binding on the government, the government is required to introduce the legislation needed to implement the results in sufficient time for the new electoral model to be in place for the general election required under the Constitution Act to be held in May 2009.

Commencement

4 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.

Explanatory Note

This Bill will

require a referendum to be held in conjunction with the next general election if the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform recommends change to the system by which Members of the Legislative Assembly are chosen, and

establish special rules respecting such a referendum.

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© 2004: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada