Recall

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In British Columbia citizens can initiate a recall of their MLA. Volunteer canvassers have sixty days in which to collect signatures from 40% of the electors in the riding. If successful, a bye-election is triggered with the sitting MLA allowed to run again for the seat. The Atlantica Party wishes to bring recall here to Nova Scotia. So it is interesting to speculate on outcomes if we had had recall here in the last few months. Would only two by-elections be in the offing as a result of the expense scandal? Would Mr. Zinck still be sitting in the legislature come next election?

Recall is a wonderful and democratic tool. The representative works for the constituents so it is reasonable and fair that they may attempt to fire their representative. Note that the thresholds used in British Columbia are quite high, 40% in sixty days. Anyone who has canvassed door to door knows this is quite difficult to achieve. But this is a good thing since it stops recall from being used as a partisan weapon and reserves it for extreme cases. In BC there have been twenty recall attempts but only one that resulted in change. It empowers the electorate since they do not have to wait around for the party in question to take action, this keeps the party on its toes. And it solves conundrums like the situation of Mr. Zinck who can serve at his own pleasure until the next election perhaps contrary to the wishes of his constituents.

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The Atlantica Party binds itself with Recall

As part of its Five Point Democracy Plan the Atlantica Party supports Recall legislation for Nova Scotia similar to the Recall mechanism currently in use in British Columbia. Recall allows a riding signature campaign to trigger a by-election.

Until Recall is established all elected Atlantica Party MLAs vow to be recallable; they will resign their seat after a successful signature campaign according to the BC model.

"Public trust is at an all time low in Nova Scotia. Constituents deserve a voice within the legislature, yet have none since voting is not free. What is needed is a legislature that works for the people of Nova Scotia, not one that just 'represents' them.", said Dan Wilson, Atlantica Party candidate for Glace Bay.

"We propose Recall to make an elected member better motivated to serve his constituency to the best of their ability. If for some reason, said MLA were to lose the confidence of those within the riding, the constituents would be able to trigger a by-election."

"This legislation is not a new idea, it already exists in the province of British Columbia." said Jonathan Dean, Atlantica Party candidate for Yarmouth. "Forty percent of the riding has to sign on within sixty days, that is quite tough but good since it stops partisan and frivolous recalls. In fact 19 of 20 recalls in BC failed since they could not reach the target."