Citizen Initiative & Referendum Reform Act
Category: Governance — Governance
Summary
Lower petition thresholds for citizen initiatives and make referendum results binding.
What this proposal changes
- Reduces the signature threshold for a citizen initiative petition from 10% of registered voters in every riding to 8% of registered voters province-wide.
- Makes referendum results legally binding when turnout exceeds 50% of registered voters and a proposal receives 60% support.
- Requires the province to respond in writing to any citizen initiative petition that achieves the reduced threshold within 90 days.
- Creates an independent Citizens' Assembly to review and recommend on any citizen initiative before it proceeds to referendum.
Arguments for
- BC's current citizen initiative threshold is among the highest in the world; lowering it brings BC in line with other direct-democracy jurisdictions.
- Binding referendum results at the 60%/50% threshold prevent governments from ignoring clear democratic mandates.
- Citizens' Assembly review provides expert deliberation between public petition and referendum, improving proposal quality.
Arguments against
- Province-wide signature thresholds may allow urban population concentrations to drive province-wide referendums without rural participation.
- Binding referendums on complex policy questions may produce technically unimplemented or constitutionally invalid outcomes that the legislature must then manage.
- Citizens' Assembly review adds an additional governance layer that could slow the initiative process and be perceived as a delay tactic.
Cost & implementation
Citizens' Assembly (when convened): $3–8 million per assembly. Administrative costs for petition processing and referendum conduct: $15–30 million per referendum event. Net cost depends on frequency of use.
Jurisdiction & legal authority
Citizen initiative and referendum processes are fully within provincial jurisdiction under the Recall and Initiative Act. Constitutional amendments and federal matters cannot be subject to provincial referendum.
How to vote
Visit cascadia.vote/questions/pnwc-A40 to cast your vote: Yes, No, or Maybe.
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