T

—N. Van District ‘explores a. ‘new approach

(The — following is the second In a fvo-part serics on direct democracy. The first part appeared in the Sunday, Non & News.)

Andrew McCredie - Editor andrew@nsnews.com

A year ago this month

” North Vancouver District launched a task force that could change the way the municipali- ty is governed.

The Direct Democracy Task. Force’s mandate is to examine the possibility of Adapting ‘a. referendum-like approach to deciding big issues ‘that face the district. In other words, citizens could circulate petitions on issues and if they got cnough district voter sig- natures the issue would go to a district-wide vote. The task force, made up of district citi-

‘zens and academics, will release »

“= its-findings in February... According ..to: North , Vancouver District Mayor Don », Bell, the task. force is setup: “more to answer questions than - craft legislation. : “Questions: that . must be

e cra

‘the referendum process will - result: in unnecessary costs, delays and bureaucracy in deal- ing with any issue,” Bell said. “The potential costs fora refer- endum range from $30,000 to $80,000 depending on whether it is held in conjune- tion with a regular local clee- tion.”

Last November, Canadians for Direet Democracy, a then three-month-old North Vancouver-based “advocacy

group dedicated to changing

the way our governments oper- ate, approached district council with the idea for the task force.

Reimar Kroccher is a tound- ing member and president of the group. When he retired last vear from a 30-year career as an economics professor at Langara Coilege last year, Kroecher turned his cnergy and time to the concept. of direct democracy. :

Asked why he is so raken by the idea, he recounts the most important lesson he ever learned at university.

“The professor. asked the class which day they would like an exam, next Monday or the following Friday,” the North

- Vancouver man. remembered.

A. show. of hands revealed all but_a few. students voted for the Friday.

“The professor then said, ‘Right, the exam is set for

addressed’ include the kinds of BP

oo topics ‘cligible, the minimum , Signatures for an eligible peti-

tion, the role and responsibiliry f of the elected council, and if :

7 E ist, Wan

le of a revi

Monday,’ ”. Kroecher contin- ved. “T put my hand up and asked why he had even asked

our Opinion if he was going to.

side with the small minority.

“He said, you live in a democracy, but the Important ‘decisions are made by one person. The exam is Monday.”

Kroecher smiles. at the memory: “Most important thing I learned at school.”

That lesson still hits home for Kroecher,

“Over the years I have become more and more disillu- sioned with the Canadian sys- tem,” said the fit 60-some- thing year-old. (For the Jast 15 years he rode his bike from North Vancouver to Langara

College. A faded sticker pro- claiming “One fess car” is proudly pasted on his helmet.)

Over the past few years nvo municipalities in B.C. Rossland and Pirt Meadows — have adapted aspects of direct democracy .to the way they govern themselves. Only Rossland continues to do so.

According to Pitr Meadows director of administrative ser- vices Alberto De-Feo, the first test of the city’s referendum law, passed in 1997, proved a learning experience for direct democracy supporters.

Last summer ’a private golf course in Pitt Meadows sought

‘You may think ©

to build a hotel and 450 resi-

dences on its property. Citizens: were alarmed and a’ petition was circulated. Over 40% of Pitt Meadows’ voters’ signed the petition — only 15% was needed to take the issue to ref erendum. However, the devel- oper threatened legal action, chiming the referendum was illegal. Turns out it was.

“The (referendum). bylaw didn’t take into account some laws,”

stumbling block.

According to the act, an ¢lected council can’t be bound by a referendum decision. He added that although Pitt Meadows has for now struck the referendum bylaw from its

books, council has adopted a.

resolution to lobby the Union of B.C. Municipalities to

change the Municipai Act so :

that councils can legally enact direct democracy bylaws.

“We'll urge (NV. District) =:

counci] to do the same,”said North Vancouver MP’ Ted White, ‘a member-at-large_ of the North van District Task Force.

As for Kroecher, he still. thinks the most. compelling.

argument for direct democracy is this fact: “in Canada, the people have a voice only one day every 1,460 days — on voting day.”

IDEAS FOR _ GIFT GIVING AND HOME DECORATING

De-Feo said, citing the - Municipat Act as the biggest -

» Pacific Basin Update

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