QUISPAMSIS — Premier Sir Stephen Cameron has announced April 4 as the date of New Ulster’s electoral reform referendum.
Sir Stephen has been premier since November and committing to a referendum on the electoral system was one of his first remarks.
Currently, New Ulster uses the plurality-at-large system whereby voters in each riding (the locla name for electoral districts) have as many votes as there are MPs to elect. So, for example, the riding of Rothesay elects 2 MPs so voters there can vote for up to 2 candidates. The candidates with the most votes—regardless of whether or not they have an absolute majority—are elected.
Since its inception, the New Ulster Democratic Party (NUDP) of Sir Stephen has campaigned to replace the current voting system with Single Transferable Vote (STV) whereby voters rank candidates in their riding in order of preference. Candidates who pass a certain threshold are then elected with voters’ ballots then redistributed according to their preferences to the find the next candidate. This system claims to reduce wasted votes, be largely proportional, and keep the link between MPs and their local ridings.
Under proposals announced by the premier today, the three current ridings of Candlewood (2 MPs), Kennebecasis—Quispamsis (3 MPS), and Rothesday (2 MPs) would be replaced by two ridings: East New Ulster electing 3 MPs and West New Ulster electing 4 MPs.
Sir Stephen said the government would introduce its referendum bill in February with the official campaign period for the referendum beginning on March 7. The premier added the 4-week campaign would allow time for a ‘full discussion’ of the pros and cons.
The opposition Liberal Conservative Party (LCP) of former premier Sir Ethan McAllister has, however, claimed the current government ‘has no mandate’ to seek electoral reform. Sir Ethan added, ‘This government wasn’t even elected. It took office with back room deals.’
Reacting to the announcement in a virtual sitting of the House of Assembly, the LCP leader confirmed his party would campaign against the proposed electoral reform saying, ‘The current electoral system isn’t broke; it doesn’t need fixing.’ The former premier originally said ‘doesn’t need rigging’ but was told to withdraw the remark by Speaker of the House, Autumn Hunter, who claimed it was ‘unparliamentary’ language.
There has to date been one opinion poll conducted on the proposal to change the electoral system. The poll found 33% of those asked approved the change, 33% disapproved, and the remaining 33% were uncertain or felt they didn’t know enough on the subject.
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