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2011 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 39th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

MS. DAWN BLACK

BILL M 201 – 2011

RECALL AND INITIATIVE AMENDMENT ACT, 2011

This Bill amends the Recall and Initiative Act to require an initiative vote be held within 6 months of the initiative petition and draft bill being referred to the chief electoral officer to hold an initiative vote.

This Bill addresses the concern that the time period between an expression of the will of the people being made through a successful initiative petition and the actual initiative vote is too long. It also addresses the concern that such a time delay on a matter of significant public policy may create uncertainty with respect to the province's economy.

Additionally this bill allows an initiative vote to be held within 9 months of referral if that referral occurred before the coming into force of this act.

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

Section 14 (1) of the Recall and Initiative Act, R.S.B.C. c. 398, is repealed the following substituted:

(1) An initiative vote must be held no later than 6 months after the date the initiative petition and draft Bill are referred to the chief electoral officer under

section 11 (2)(b).

The Recall and Initiative Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 398, is amended by adding the following section:

Transitional

(1) If prior to the coming into force of this

section

(

a) an initiative petition and draft Bill was referred to the chief electoral officer under

section 11 (2)(b), and

(

b) an initiative vote has not been held,

the chief electoral officer must ensure the initiative vote is held no later than 9 months from the date of the referral under paragraph (a).

Explanatory Note

This Bill amends the Recall and Initiative Act to require an initiative vote be held within 6 months of the initiative petition and draft bill being referred to the chief electoral officer to hold an initiative vote.

This Bill addresses the concern that the time period between an expression of the will of the people being made through a successful initiative petition and the actual initiative vote is too long. It also addresses the concern that such a time delay on a matter of significant public policy may create uncertainty with respect to the province's economy.

Additionally this bill allows an initiative vote to be held within 9 months of referral if that referral occurred before the coming into force of this act.

Copyright (

c) Queen’s Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada