2017 Legislative Session: 6th Session, 40th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

MR. GARY HOLMAN

BILL M 209 – 2017

CONSTITUTION (FIXED FALL ELECTION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

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

This Act amends the Constitution Act in order to bring transparency and accountability to the budgeting process surrounding a general election. Moving the general election from May to October will allow for the auditing and scrutiny of the state of the province's finances through Public Accounts documents prior to an election. This change will remove the perceived possibility of distorting budget numbers in advance of a general election.

Section 23 of the Constitution Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 66, is amended by repealing subsection (2) and substituting the following:

(2) Subject to subsection (1), a general voting day must occur on October 3, 2017 and thereafter on the first Tuesday in October in the fourth calendar year following the general voting day for the most recently held general election.

Explanatory Note

This Act amends the Constitution Act in order to bring transparency and accountability to the budgeting process surrounding a general election. Moving the general election from May to October will allow for the auditing and scrutiny of the state of the province's finances through Public Accounts documents prior to an election. This change will remove the perceived possibility of distorting budget numbers in advance of a general election.

Copyright (

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