On October 30, 2011, Fair Voting BC sent a survey on civic democratic reform issues to all mayoral and council candidates in the city of Vancouver.  This page presents their detailed responses.  We also invite you to check out the press release we issued on November 11, 2011, as well as a list of responses summarized by question.

Party Candidates:

Vision Vancouver

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Other

Vision Vancouver can not speculate what voters prefer, which is why we will consult with the public on the best voting method for the residents of Vancouver.  However, Vision Vancouver would consider #5 (proportional outcome) to be the most accurate reflection of voter intention in the hypothetical election scenario.  To date, the Province has declined the City of Vancouver’s request to allow for voters in Vancouver to consider proportional representation options in a referendum on electoral reform. With only two first past the post options on the table, it doesn’t seem that productive to have further public consultation on proportional representation systems. However, we have and will continue to lobby for expanded voter choice in electoral reform.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Other (please elaborate)

Online voting is a very broad category and the reliability will depend on the checks and balances that are in place.

. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

Vision Vancouver advocates for electoral and campaign finance reform, including donation limits, and financial disclosure.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

1/ The Vision Vancouver led City Council established an all party committee to provide robust input to the Local Government Elections Task Force including advocating for electoral and finance reforms. 2/ Vastly increased citizen input into policies 3/ We will continue to support and expand the open data and open source initiatives that began in the last term of Council. 4/ The Vision Vancouver led City Council has put all City Councillor expense items on line available to the public. 5/ Advocated for online voting 6/ Increased the number of advance polls for this election.

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

1/ Support electoral reform We will continue to advocate for electoral and campaign finance reform, including donation limits, and financial disclosure. A Vision-led Council will also develop strategies to increase voter participation with young people. 2/ Drive meaningful, broad-reaching civic engagement Building on the successful Talk Green to Us program at the city, which engaged over 35,000 people in the development of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, we will develop new ways to reach our diverse communities, seniors, youth and aboriginal groups so they continue to have a voice at City Hall. This will include a wide-reaching task force on Expanding Citizen Engagement to bring forward options to make city processes more transparent, accessible, and accountable to the public. 3/ Expand public access to open data and city services We will continue to support and expand the open data and open source initiatives that began in the last term of Council. 4/ As smartphone use continues to rise, there is a need to find new ways to deliver services to the public. We will develop a Vancouver City App to make it easy to access city services, and report problems on your mobile phone.

Suzanne Anton (NPA)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

No

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Other

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is relatively secure and may be valuable for consulting citizens, but is probably too insecure to be relied on for civic elections

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

Citizen Engagement. Our platform proposes a number of new measures to promote citizen engagement and improve accountability at City Hall. Read for yourself at http://www.npavancouver.ca.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

In June, our NPA Common Sense Team of City Council, School and Park Board Candidates initiated a comprehensive neighbourhood consultation process to develop our campaign platform. This outreach included a series of neighbourhood roundtables, public meetings and telephone town halls. The results are featured in our final Taxpayers First platform which was released last week. It is availoable at http://www.npavancouver.ca.

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

Yes

Sean Bickerton (NPA)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

If you’re asking me to endorse Mayor Robertson’s advisory committees, the answer is no – they were cherrypicked to be highly partisan and unrepresentative, which is why we now have NSV running against Mayor. If question is whether or not new Mayor has right to choose what advisory committees suit them best and use them? Yes.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Other

I believe in our current system of representative democracy, one person, one vote. The question above only illustrates the arbitrariness of the alternatives proposed so far.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Other (please elaborate below)

Online voting is completely unsafe, subject to massive manipulation, and the data collected subjected to theft, meaning that every voter’s political affiliation, their most private affiliation, could be exposed or exploited by extreme partisans or unethical governments.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is currently too vulnerable to undetectable fraud to be used in a civic election

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

American interference in Canadian elections, particularly the outsize amounts of American cash fueling the current civic election.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

I would lobby to eliminate all foreign donations from Vancouver civic elections, and revamp public consultation to take place earlier in planning process and be more substantive.

George Affleck (NPA)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Other

Sorry. I don’t get the question. They are contesting a result so what was the result not what was the pre poll. From that, we could better determine what to do.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is relatively secure and may be valuable for consulting citizens, but is probably too insecure to be relied on for civic elections

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

No Response

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

How we get more people to vote and deal with the issues surrounding why they don/t

RJ Aquino (on behalf of COPE)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

COPE has been advocating for electoral reform in Vancouver for the last 40 years. Vancouver’s current at large system fails to represent the diversity of our city. COPE continues to call for the implementation of a wards system to give neighbourhoods a voice and to insure that we all have a voice at City Hall.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

COPE strongly agrees that the community must be engaged with deciding democratic mechanisms in our city. The Berger Commission in 2004 held community meetings across Vancouver fostering deliberative dialogue and came to the conclusion that Vancouver would be better served through a ward system. COPE would like to continue that process.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 8 seats and Party C wins 2 seats because they formed an electoral alliance with one another

In absence of a ward system parties that represent low income and working people have become obliged to form alliances to make sure progressive voices are not split and as many voters across Vancouver can be enfranchised. If there was a ward system City Council representatives would be more accountable to neighbourhoods and this sort of alliance would not be needed.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is now sufficiently robust and secure to be used in civic elections

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

COPE has a long history and continues to call for campaign finance reform. COPE will call for a a $500 annual cap on financial donations by individuals to local political parties. COPE will ban out of country donations. COPE would mandate a spending limit of $0.05/resident of Vancouver for electoral organisations and a limit of $0.10/resident for independent candidates, pegged to inflation. If these spending limits were implemented COPE would move to ban donations made by corporations and unions.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

COPE included a submission for Electoral Finance Reform that would take money out of politics and put democracy back in the hands of the public. COPE continues to call for better neighbourhood consultation and representation at City Hall. COPE as an organisation is dedicated to turning to its membership for policy development and we support the same model city wide.

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

COPE will continue to call for more democratic engagement and consultation on a community level. We will continue to support the implementation of a ward system.

Adriane Carr (on behalf of Green Party of Vancouver)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

I support deliberative dialogue in the form of actively engaging citizens at the beginning of planning and policy development processes, including presentation of impartial, factual information to inform the process (this was not done during the Citizens’ Assembly), and true commitment to ensuring the outcome reflects the citizens’ wishes. Hand-picked advisory councils can generate community backlash.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

I believe in proportional representation: a party’s share of vote should equal its share of seats.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

Youth in particular are asking for online voting. I have concerns regarding the security of online voting systems.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is currently too vulnerable to undetectable fraud to be used in a civic election

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

1. voter turnout – only 30% in civic elections 2. campaign financing – should be limits on spending, no corporate or union donations 3. too many citizens currently feel their voices are being ignored–even after overwhelming response in public “input” meetings by Council in its decisions

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

1. reform citizen input process so that citizens play a more clear role in decision-making and outcomes 2. push for electoral finance reform 3. push for electoral reform – I support the replacement of the current system with STV based on current number of seats

Elizabeth Murphy (Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

No Response

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

No Response

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

No Response

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

No Response

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

No Response

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response

Chris Shaw (De-Growth)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

pretty clear pro rep outcome

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

I’m not sure the issue is ease of voting, although this may appeal to a more web-savvy younger audience. My concern, and belief, is that many people do not vote because of laziness, easy of voting, etc. but rather a perceived lack of real choices.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Other (please elaborate)

I don’t know having heard variations on all of the above.

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

campaign finance reform; direct bottom-up, grassroots democracy…

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

It’s one of our key platform measures: total grassroots democracy. Not much more basic in terms of reform than that.

Ian Gregson (De-Growth)

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

proportional voting rocks

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is now sufficiently robust and secure to be used in civic elections

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

campaign financing and being open on who donates to who is very important

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response

Independent Candidates:

Amy “Evil Genius” Fox

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

I just hope that the specifics of any proposed change are left up to a group of citizens drawn from concerned groups, and not up to councilors looking to game the system.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Other (please elaborate below)

It’s a much more accessible means of voting for those with tech skills and restricted mobility or time. But will it improve engagement? I don’t know.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Other (please elaborate)

I can see ways of creating auditable internet voting systems, but it might involve giving up some anonymity.

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

No Response

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response

Menard Caissy

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

I believe it’s time to allow the ward system of voting for Vancouver, it allow for up to 14 Counillors to run.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

No

deliberative dialougue means what? No , it’s too vague to configure in short time. I will as Mayor of Vanacouver have an advisory council , they’d be our City Council.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 6 seats and Party B wins 4 seats

It’s mostly likely with two main parties always dominating elections at all levels six to four is most likely Visions 8/9 – 1 is a bit much but it’s funny watching Anton try to put a puzzle together and the last nine pieces are missing.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting is unlikely to significantly change democratic engagement

The city backed off when myself and many others expressed a grave concern about fraud in elections by allowing advanced voting on-line which just introduces on-line voting in general elections. It’s ridiculous you must physically be present to vote as a Canadian Citizen in this Country. It’s the smallest requirement let’s consider the fraud of no Scrutineers being present at counting or voting polling stations? It would a total loss of fairness.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is currently too vulnerable to undetectable fraud to be used in a civic election

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

There should be a local per vote subsidy so more people run. We’ve got young leaders that are waiting to lead. Most money goes to people over fifty, it’s a fact. Just let go all ready, mostly anger.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

Not a councillor.

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

I’d hold a referendum in Vancouver during the next civic election in three years about the at large/ ward voting reform

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Grant Fraser

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

No

I support this idea but would expect my voice to be drowned out by a majority government due to our current faulty election system.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins all 10 seats

This is tricky because of the wording. I think the best scenario for B is the 6/4 split, for C&D the proportional scenario, each 30%, but 40 % (A) would be charmed by an overwhelming majority. The answer could differ depending on the closeness of alliances also.. It’s unfortunate that so many people fear minority governments from proportional representation because it is clearly the ideal result.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting is unlikely to significantly change democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is currently too vulnerable to undetectable fraud to be used in a civic election

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

Primarily achieving proportional representation, and using that to deal with other electoral reform processes, most notably campaign financing. I also support direct democracy and more grassroots style governance.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

N/A

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

I would likely only be able to continually drive home the imperfections of our current system and work towards having more like-minded people also run for election.

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Ted Copeland

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

Its important to get people out to vote but if they feel that thier vote is meaningless they won’t do it, allowing people to vote for who they want representing them in thier nieghborhoods will get the vote out.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

No Response

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

No Response

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

No Response

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

No Response

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

No Response

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Gölök Zoltán Buday

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

No

I can not guarantee that the city council will allow me, or even if that issue will reach, but I can saw wards are a priority issue with me: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150351434004822 or http://youtu.be/7H7ylN1Ul70 are recent. May make sense to have a Candidate Transferable Vote if they want to have a 50+1 winner in multi-candidate scenarios, since a vote trusted may as well be used. Also ballot access must be re-liberalized to the standards before the election of 1999.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

No

Isn’t being elected to be trusted to act with wisdom? Sounds like more government to create more government to me. I am a proponent of secret ballots, for reasons of even fraudulent voting, and I too worry about e-voting for the same reason of mail-ins, the fear of a slack assed society. In case of house ridden disability, a voting booth on wheels like system is good, like meals on wheels. I do not support proportionate or majoritist methods. Even like to see WARDS and a Mayor win by winning the Majority of WARDS rather than populous as a whole.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Other

None be elected at-large, but by constituency. Unless a small non-resident property voter house is elected separately by land/business sole owners, this would have to be at-large, although this I prefer they run for seat A, B, C, and D and either winner take all or the Candidate transferable vote caucus decide a 50% winner based on the candidate second to choices; I’d recommend 4 seats for this. Also removing property voters from regular councillors if non-resident.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Other (please elaborate below)

Lazy society, and unlikely to change voter turnout much. Voter choice will, ballot access should be re-opened for anyone who wants to run again. 2 Signatures is extreme to me.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Other (please elaborate)

Insecure, lazy, secret balloting would be even worse under this.

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

Ballot access should require a fee, presuming guilt of not filing papers, and 25 signatures are obscene requirements. Even worse the accountant demand. Cuts into campaigning time for smaller more worthy candidates. Debate access. Secret ballot gambit that scams us into having to trust Government to count the votes as we votes, votes should be counted as by the person and publicly available so we can complain when there is a miscount. Evidence. Campaign Finance should be allowed to vote for only. Wards are a must, taxation requires representation. My experience on the how hard it is for an en individual to get ballot access from 25 people, shows not enough citizen engagement. Online they could test by putting up nomination signatures via electronic method. The papers can be filed and placed on display in city hall requiring voters to go their and support the ballot access while the fascist 25 signatures are required. Put our ads letting them know about how the nomination process works, to look for white binder people maybe. I do not support the by-law in 2008 or the Brian Salmi law initiating the fine-in-advance of 100 bucks.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

N/A

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

Move to initiate wards, move cut politician pay and link it to inflation, move to limit all state pay to inflation, move to repeal the by-law of 2008 (save in paper), to end the filing fee used since 1999 election. Demand a non-secret ballot from the province. Nomination papers that you write the name of the office you are running in. I’ll ask the province for a separately elected commissioner, despite under the Mayor, replaces the whole commission and demand the Mayor be allowed a running mate and his choice of Deputy Mayor. I would like to inform council on the concept of separation of powers. Mayor’s could stand to know they are a merger of a Pres and VP, tie breaking vote and commander-in-chief of police. Make demands that Mayoral Candidates only be permitted to sit or run as independents on the ballot. Impartial adjudicator among the caucuses. A new Vancouver Caucus. I’d be fine with going San Marino on BC and Canada if some things are not done.

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Robin Lawrance

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

I will be coming thank you candidate Mr Robin Lawrance for Mayor

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

No Response

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

No Response

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

No Response

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

No Response

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

No Response

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Victor Paquette

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

This issue is at the forefront of my candidacy as mayor. I intend to facility discussions and the transition of an at large system or representation to a ward system before the next civic election.

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

Of course an Advisory Council made up of members each of whom would come from a different ward.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

This option allows for equal representation and consequently we come closest to participatory democracy.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

This exercise can only improve democratic engagement. The average citizen feels alienated from the forces that cause change. This exercise would go a long way in empowering voters and thus be benefit to all.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is relatively secure and may be valuable for consulting citizens, but is probably too insecure to be relied on for civic elections

I am personally unable to qualify the reliability of online voting in civic elections. Until I could be convinced along with others that this method is fool proof then I would certainly prefer the present method we have. However I would support online voting as a valuable tool for consultation

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

Citizen engagement is a definite issue with me. It seems that citizens are unable to appreciate that civic governments affect our lives from day to day more than any other government be it provincial, federal or even the united nations.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

I commit myself to facilitate the transition from an archaic at large system of electing council members to a ward system that is in keeping with democratic principles.

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Rick Orser

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting is proven to substantially improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is now sufficiently robust and secure to be used in civic elections

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

Citizen Engagement – we need to get more citizens involved in the democratic process and I believe the power of the internet is the way to do it.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

I would not only recommend but personally develop social media tools in order to improve dialogue with my constituents.

1. Name (please indicate if you are providing a single response on behalf of all candidates from your party by stating “Name, on behalf of Party Name”)

Michael Dharni

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is relatively secure and may be valuable for consulting citizens, but is probably too insecure to be relied on for civic elections

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

I feel that it’s a tragedy that Vancouver has asked for voting reform, yet Victoria won’t listen.

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response

Sam Pelletier

1. Do you commit yourself, if elected, to renewing in the first year of your term the city’s long-standing request for Victoria to grant Vancouver the power to choose our own voting system?

Yes

1. If elected, will you endorse expanded use of deliberative dialogue approaches (similar to the Mayor’s Advisory Council) to generate future policy options?

Yes

I believe deliberative dialogue approaches are vital to the democratic process and give the mayor access to multiple points of view.

2. Imagine a civic election contested by four parties. Pre-election polling indicates that Party A has the support of 40% of the voters, Party B has the support of 30%, C 20% and D 10%. Which of the following outcomes do you think would be preferred by the greatest number of voters?

Party A wins 4 seats, B 3 seats, C 2 seats and D 1 seat

Such proportional representation ensures everyone’s voice is heard. To those who claim it may cause partisan gridlock, I believe that to be a consequence of democracy and irrelevant.

3. Which of the following best describes your view of the benefits of online (internet) voting?

Online voting has good potential to improve democratic engagement

While I am opposed to the idea of online voting for security reasons, I do believe it would, overall, increase democratic engagement. If you make something easier, people will generally take the easier route. When faced with stairs and an escalator, most people take the escalator. If someone cant be bothered to leave the house to vote, that is their decision. I don’t believe they should be coddled.

4. Which of the following best describes your attitude towards the security issues related to online voting?

Online voting is relatively secure and may be valuable for consulting citizens, but is probably too insecure to be relied on for civic elections

As it stands I don’t believe online voting is secure enough. Perhaps it would be useful for gauging public opinion on various issues, but as far as actual vote-tallying, it’s a terrible idea of a system and would be too easy to manipulate.

1. Please comment on what democracy-related issues most concern you (e.g., voting, campaign financing, citizen engagement, etc.).

No Response

2. If you are a current council member, please highlight any democracy-related initiatives you or your party has undertaken in the past term.

No Response

3. If elected, what do you personally commit yourself to doing during the coming council term to promote democratic reform?

No Response