Vote Yes BC-STV has successfully passed the NO-STV campaign – along with all major party candidates – in online supporters, suggest numbers released today by British Columbians for British Columbia Single Transferrable Vote.
British Columbians for BC-STV has more than 4,000 members on Facebook, while the NO-STV campaign has a little more than 150. The BC Liberal leader Gordon Campbell and BC-NDP leader Carole James have failed to break 2,000.
"The support for electoral reform in BC is a real grassroots initiative, instead of having support from a few elites, we have lots of support from thousands of British Columbians," Tony Roy, director of communications at British Columbians for BC-STV told The Tyee.
New media such as Facebook acts as, "a real lever for us to increase our vote," Roy said.
Bill Tieleman, president of the NO-STV campaign expressed no concern over the Facebook numbers."At best they’re a minor indication of interest, but they’re not anything like a public opinion poll," he said.
"It’s an interesting way of getting the word out, but it’s mostly people who are fairly hardcore supporters who join, it’s not worth spending a lot of time on."
Blaize Reich, a professor at Simon Fraser University’s Segal school of business, indicated the numbers do not reflect the possible outcome, but the trend behind them could be an indicator.
"I think the numbers themselves or not that interesting as an indicator as the trend," Reich said.
The STV campaign went from roughly 3,000 members in late march to more than 4,000 in early April, she said.
"Were trying to get people on Facebook, get them to start talking about the issues then we have a pretty good chance of getting them as supporters," Reich said.
Talking about the Facebook group’s effect, "The yes side benefits, the more people that know about it, the more people talk about it," which benefits the group when it comes to getting the message across, said Reich.
Morgan J. Modjeski is a reporter for The Hook
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Moonbug
3 years ago
I expect better reporting
I expect better reporting from the Tyee. 4000 people on facebook does not a referendum win.
BC-STV is a bad system. Period. It is championed by urbanites who have never driven north of Hope, and have no idea about the sorts of challenges they would impose upon rural BC just so they can have a ballot with 30+ names on it. Yes, having a ballot with 30+ names on it, and a system that is impossible to scrutineer, that will do wonders for democracy I am sure.
Why not do some real investigative journalism on the issue, you know, look at the two geographically tiny nations that have this system and then report back.
Van Isle
3 years ago
1st past the post electoral
1st past the post electoral system is the worst. If we don't vote for it this time, election reform will never raise it's head again in BC. If we vote for the STV and after a number of years we find that it really doesn't fit then we as a people could look at something else. As much as I think that Campbell's Government has been the worst since the coalition Government of the 40's, he has done something right and that's on how he set up a citizens forum on the whole issue. It was every day people who looked into all forms of government and the STV was their strongest recommenation by far. And I'm going to take their word on it. And Moonbug please don't imply that this is an urban/rural thing cuz it ain't.
Frank
3 years ago
Yes to STV
A change to the electoral system would be the best thing to happen to Canadian politics since we got rid of Mackenzie King.
cghzd
3 years ago
yes to STV
If we want a true democracy, instead of an elected dictator who can distroy everything we the people have spent the last 100 years building,as we have witnessesd with Gordo and his band of scumbags, the STV is the only way to go.
The group of people that were put together to decide what electoral would be best for BC got it right.
The reason most politicians are against the STV is that they would finally be accountable for their flawed decisions.
For a better world
3 years ago
Go STV
Although not perfect the STV proposal is better than "first past the post". The latter only instills dictatorial powers for the party in power. STV provides broader representation for the citizens of BC.
Dan the socialist
3 years ago
I am voting NO! I want a
I am voting NO!
I want a mmp system not this crapola...
Dan the socialist
3 years ago
** 4000 people on facebook
** 4000 people on facebook does not a referendum win.**
No kidding... I view all those Face Book groups as a bit of a 'joke', sure many sign up but usually just the very very few that actually post on them...they make it out like a big thing though "ooh ooh we will get a face book group and that will fix things' lol lol like whatever...
Van Isle
3 years ago
To Dan the socialist
Hey Dan, think of this for a sec; if electoral reform vote goes down the tube, we will never ever get a chance to change our system in our life time. But if we vote for it now and some time in the future we find it doesn't fit then we wouldn't be so afraid to try something else. If, for what ever reason, the thinking heads of the day think that MMP system would be better, we wouldn't be so hestitant to try it. Also think of this; when we have only 2 political parties who sit in the legislature our present system in BC is a dictatorship.