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On 17th May 2005 British Columbians will vote in a referendum on whether to replace their current Plurality voting system with STV and also elect a new provincial legislature (using the old system for hopefully the last time).<BR>
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I have created the following online STV poll featuring declared and potential candidates in the 2005 provincial election.<BR>
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<A HREF="http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=BCSTV">http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=BCSTV</A><BR>
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<B>Party Information (in 3 lines or less)</B><BR>
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<B>Liberal Party</B>. An economically right wing, socially liberal party. The Liberal leader Gordon Campbell is an admirer of the economic policies of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.<BR>
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<B>NDP</B>. A left wing socialist party with strong links to the trade union movement. Much further to the left than most US politicians. <BR>
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<B>Green</B>. An environmentalist party.<BR>
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<B>Democratic Reform</B>. A recently formed centrist party which presents itself as a moderate party amongst a number of extreme ones.<BR>
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<B>Unity BC</B>. A conservative party in which fundamentalist christians have a considerable degree of influence.<BR>
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<B>Marijuana</B>. This party, whose main platform is the legalisation of cannabis, obtained 3% of the vote in the 2001 provincial election under plurality.<BR>
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The candidates are:<BR>
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<B>Liberal </B><BR>
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Richard Neufeld (Liberal) Minister of Energy and Mines, MLA for Peace River South<BR>
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Patrick Wong (Liberal) Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Services, MLA for Vancouver Kensington<BR>
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Gordon Campbell (Liberal) Premier, Leader of the BC Liberals, MLA Vancouver-Point Grey<BR>
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Shirley Bond (Liberal) Minister of Health Services, MLA Prince George-Mount Robson<BR>
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Colin Hanson (Liberal) Minister of Finance, MLA Vancouver-Quilchena<BR>
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<B>NDP</B> <BR>
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Joyce Procure (NDP) Candidate for Okanagan-Westside<BR>
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Jagrup Brar (NDP) MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge won seat in a recent by-election<BR>
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Rob Fleming (NDP) Former student activist, candidate for Victoria Hillside<BR>
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Jenny Kwan (NDP) MLA for Vancouver-Pleasant, Minister in NDP government 1998-2001<BR>
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Carole James (NDP) Leader NDP in British Columbia, Candidate for Vancouver Beacon Hill<BR>
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<B>Green</B> <BR>
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Robert Broughton (Green) Local environmental activist, candidate for New Westminster<BR>
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Ian Gregson (Green) Paralympic athlete, writer, candidate for Vancouver-Hastings<BR>
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Adriane Carr (Green) Leader Green party of British Columbia<BR>
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Colleen McCrory (Green) Deputy Leader Green party British Columbia<BR>
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<B>Democratic Reform</B> <BR>
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Elayne Brenzinger (Democratic Reform) Elected as a Liberal for Surrey-Whalley in 2001, resigned Liberal party in 2004, joined DRBC in 2005.<BR>
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Tom Morino (Democratic Reform) Interim leader DRBC, candidate for Malahat-Juan de Fuca<BR>
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Shirley Abraham (Democratic Reform) Vice President DRBC<BR>
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<B>Unity</B> <BR>
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Tom Landers (Unity BC) President Unity BC.<BR>
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Wayne McGrath (Unity BC) Deputy Leader Unity BC.<BR>
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<B>Marijuana</B> <BR>
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Dana Larson (Marijuana) Leader Marijuana party<BR>
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David Gamble <BR>
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