EBC File:84100-02
John Allen West
July 5th 2000.
#8 Arthur's Road
RR#1 Hornby IslandRobert A .Patterson
Chief Electoral Officer B.C.
Canada, VOR 1ZOElections British Columbia
1075 Pendergast Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8V 1X4Dear Mr. Patterson
Following our conversation of Wednesday June 28th 2000, I wish to offer an apology, for the forceful manner with which I expressed my concerns. I am striving to be a more understanding person. I am very sorry if I appeared ungrateful for your efforts to forefil the role of Chief Elections Officer for British Columbia. Just Getting up some days is challenge enough. Staying bright and Clean and patient in your role as public Servant makes huge demands on your lifetime. I am Simply Concerned that you grasp the point of your appointment
If like many people in Government Service you also have time for, Family, Friends, Hobbies,Sports, Spiritual, and Philosophical thoughts, Your Bio-computer must already be redlining.
The following Excerpts From the Act (Which for some reason is not available as vital information on your web site or through Links, ) with BOLD Added for Emphasis, and my brief comments at the end may be of some help, to guide us toward Intelligent electoral reform which is so vital for the challenges of the Twenty first Century.
7 (1) The chief electoral officer
(a) must be paid out of the consolidated revenue fund a salary equal to the salary paid to the chief judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia,
10(2) The Public Service Act Applies to appointments under subsection(1) and, for the purposes of the Act, the Chief Electoral Officer is deemed to be a deputy minister
12 (1) The chief electoral officer has the following duties in addition to all others established by this Act:
(a) to provide guidance and supervision respecting the voter registration process and the conduct of elections plebiscites;
(2) The chief electoral officer has the following powers in addition to all others given by this Act:
(a) to make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly respecting amendments to this Act or other enactments affecting election matters;
Emergencies and other extraordinary circumstances
280 (1) The chief electoral officer may, by specific or general order, make exceptions to this Act and the regulations under this Act in accordance with the purposes of this Act if, in the opinion of the chief electoral officer, this is necessary because of an emergency, a mistake or extraordinary circumstances in relation to proceedings under this Act.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the chief electoral officer may make orders extending a time period or establishing a new date in place of one set by or under this Act and giving any other direction the chief electoral officer considers appropriate in relation to this.
All of the Above Especially your Deputy Minister rank and chief justice pay indicate to me That you are not intended to be some new species of rubber stamp. It is Clear that you are a vital link in a chain of truth which will emancipate the PEOPLE OF THE PLANET from the injustice, blue meaness and dirty Tricks of Professional Partisan Polution of the Good Managenent of Collective Affairs.
Action is needed from you if the people of B.C. are ever to emerge from the pall of sadness and dissent which the low turnout at the polls indicate. It is possible to rejuvenate democracy.
At worst , enumeration of ballots clearly indicating none of the above would give you some Guidance of the popular feeling. At best a Formal Box and the process I have indicated to Every one from the Queen and Governor General on down should be Adopted..
The Attorney General has written that the NOTA Option is innovative, but He and The Cabinet Have No plans to incorporate such a system at this time. Hardly Surprising being as he is of course a Partisan Professional He Did not offer any serious criticism of the Idea he drew my attention to Article 21 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which Reads;
1.Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country..
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government ; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
He tells me he embraces these ideals . He also wrote "Your Suggestions for changes would be taken into account when the Election Act is next reviewed." I Shall Be writing to him to ensure this review is before the Next Provincial Election, and NOTA is Formally on the Agenda
The NONE OF THE ABOVE OPTION as you yourself called it is very real and alive in the hearts and minds of many, one might even say ,most Canadians, It is the return to Equality Justice Racial Harmony and fair play that Intelligent Evolving Democracy has always promised.
We must begin to think of ourselves as crew on a space ship. A mother ship in space and time .
The survival of the ship the rest of the crew and ourselves depends on our sense of Mutual Wellbeing whether destiny places us at the Head Table or outside the door.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter , I await your serious input. In many ways I see your role as similar to the Auditor general, or the Ombudsman.
Regulations of the chief electoral officer
283 Subject to section 16 (2) (e), the chief electoral officer may make regulations as follows:
(a) establishing procedures to be followed by the Election Advisory Committee;
(b) prescribing forms for the purposes of this Act and information that may be included or requested on them;
(f) specifying a form or other document under another enactment for the purposes of section 38;
38 (1) The chief electoral officer may authorize persons other than voter registration and election officials to act as agents of the chief electoral officer for receiving applications for voter registration or for updating voter registration information.
(2) Applications for voter registration must not be received under this section during a closed period under section 37.
(3) If a form or other document under another enactment is specified by regulation, despite any restriction or prohibition in the other enactment,
(a) the form or document may be combined with an application for voter registration or updating voter registration information, and
(b) the persons responsible for receiving that form or document may act as agents for the chief electoral officer in relation to this Division.
A common person reading the Act, will logically conclude, that the powers granted to your office particularly since there are limits to the time you may hold the office require that you do more than simply maintain the Status Quo. Changes are demanded on all sides to bring government back under the control of the people . The model I have presented is worthy of further study.
Thanks once again for your best efforts.
.Yours in the knowledge and of love and truth
John Allen West