The BC Liberals are cheering a court challenge by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association which could scuttle a fall referendum on electoral reform.
ICBC president Chris Gardner maintains the process has been rushed, the threshold is too low, and voters haven't had time to consider the change. And the Liberals echo that, adding the current first-past-the-post system has served British Columbia well.
But NDP MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, Bowinn Ma says don't be fooled:
" I don't think anyone is surprised that Andrew Wilkinson and the BC Liberals are working with big business, who try every trick in the book to prevent people from having their say in this referendum. I think what this shows is that they are terrified of proportional representation because the status quo that has allowed the BC Liberals to win majorities with less than half of the votes is beneficial to them."
The referendum will ask voters if they want to keep the first-past-the-post system, or change to one of three types of proportional representation.
Attorney General David Eby says the technical questions raised are before the courts and vows the province government will vigorously defend the right of people to vote on whether to change B.C.'s voting system or keep the current system.