2544 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

^ The City Clerks comment was that Victoria is much bigger than any of the other municipalities who are running bi-elections and that like Surrey, we are more complex.

[Nparker]

The City Clerks comment was that Victoria is much bigger than any of the other municipalities who are running bi-elections and that like Surrey, we are more complex.

Population of Surrey = 617,000; 316.4 km²

Population of Victoria = 95,000; 19.47 km²

Yeah, we're just like Surrey.

[A Girl is No one]

Hoping to get more College/university students back in town? More homeless? Every vote counts. And the way the province is going, they are buying this council a lot of votes at our expense...
😤

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria council is pushing for a December byelection despite city clerk Chris Coates expressing “trepidation” at the move.

 

A byelection was planned for earlier this year after Laurel Collins stepped down from council after being elected an Member of Parliament in October, but – like so many other events – had to be cancelled as the pandemic took hold.

 

A report by Coates came forward during Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting. It said a byelection might not be possible until early next year so as not to overlap with statutory holidays. Coun. Jeremey Loveday voiced the idea of piggybacking onto the possible provincial election so as to share Plexiglas dividers and other relevant infrastructure that would assist the city in holding a safe and healthy byelection this year.

 

Coates said the earliest date Victoria could hold a byelection with all the necessary procedures in place would be Dec. 12 but he was hesitant due to the immense amount of planning still required. A more favourable date would be in February or March of 2021, said Coates.

 

“I find it extremely challenging to make a commitment that we could pull this off on Dec. 12,” said Coates.

 

https://www.vicnews....ber-byelection/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 September 2020 - 06:58 AM.

[spanky123]

^ Well perhaps he would have had less trepidation had staff actually done the work they were asked to do a month ago on planning and budgeting for an election. 

[Mike K.]

The ground work should have already been undertaken in the run-up to the April 4th by-election, considering $90,000 had already been spent.

 

Meanwhile we'll have wasted two weeks just talking about trepidation.

[Rob Randall]

The big obstacle is getting voting venues. But with Christmas craft fairs, concerts and such most likely cancelled, it could be easier than they think. It's doable, just going to take some hustle.

[Mike K.]

The big obstacle is getting voting venues. But with Christmas craft fairs, concerts and such most likely cancelled, it could be easier than they think. It's doable, just going to take some hustle.

 

"Hi, Barb, is that hall of yours available for three days this December for our staff to setup and run a by-election polling station?"

"Oh yeah, we're not holding any craft or Christmas fairs this year so our calendar is wide open."

"Ok, thanks."

 

Is it more complicated than that? I don't know if it is.

[spanky123]

"Hi, Barb, is that hall of yours available for three days this December for our staff to setup and run a by-election polling station?"

"Oh yeah, we're not holding any craft or Christmas fairs this year so our calendar is wide open."

"Ok, thanks."

 

Is it more complicated than that? I don't know if it is.

 

The venues he is referring to are the homeless shelters. Apparently they are pretty busy.

[Rob Randall]

They'll have to run a lot of numbers. They know from past elections what neighbourhoods the big crowds are, when rush hour is. And they have an idea how widely spaced people should be. Now calculate how the traditional venues (James Bay New Horizons, Baptist Church etc.) can handle these loads. Then find new venues for the anticipated excess. Or spread the election over two days..

 

It's too late to come up with any good mail or internet voting plan so it'll all have to be in person. 

 

City staff have to put their crying hankies away and figure this out. They've had the whole summer to mull it over.

[Stephen Andrew]

The big obstacle is getting voting venues. But with Christmas craft fairs, concerts and such most likely cancelled, it could be easier than they think. It's doable, just going to take some hustle.

Here are a few suggestions:

McPherson Playhouse
Royal Theatre
Crystal Pool
Conference Centre
Any one of the school gymnasiums
Any vacant store front
Set up a tent in any neighbourhood
Place a social media post asking for suggested locations.
The list is endless.

[Mike K.]

Indeed, they have.

The pushing to 2021 is either politically motivated or shows a lack of desire to get this over and done with, perhaps stemming from the fact nothing was done between March and September. If it’s political, we deserve to know what staff know (someone is going to run provincially) and then we can decide how to move forward. But this shouldn’t be a back room decision hinging on what happens if a councillor or two or even the mayor want to run.

What a mess this has become.

[Stephen Andrew]

An update to the allowable contribution discussion earlier.

I checked with Elections BC and it said it’s “Per event, per year”.

That means in “this” by-election, contributors may max out their contribution now and if the vote is delayed, a contributor may add more
More to the campaign.

[Rob Randall]

Then of course, you have the City's biggest facility: SOFMC.

 

Having an election funded in three calendar years is an incredible advantage to candidates with access to plump wallets.

[Mike K.]

Province could be headed for an October 24th election. One month away.

 

And Victoria City Hall can't figure out a comparatively puny by-election in three months, after having five months to sit on it?

[Rob Randall]

That's because Mayor Helps slashed the communcations/assistant payroll. Oops, actually it's been expanded, I take that back.

[rmpeers]

Province could be headed for an October 24th election. One month away.

And Victoria City Hall can't figure out a comparatively puny by-election in three months, after having five months to sit on it?

If it turns out that the predictions about Victoria councillors seeking provincial nominations are true, I guess we will have our answer.

[Rob Randall]

Time for FOCUS magazine to FOI emails among City election planners and council for the last seven months.

[Spy Black]

Time for FOCUS magazine to FOI emails among City election planners and council for the last seven months.

It may not turn up much, as it is very likely that Mayor, Council, and senior COV bureaucrats are doing absolutely nothing to advance an election ... including talking or emailing about it.

[A Girl is No one]

Time for FOCUS magazine to FOI emails among City election planners and council for the last seven months.

In wish they would do a deep dive into the homeless housing and industry in Victoria. But of course, that’s a total no-go zone for any journalist that wants to keep working in the field... or in the poverty industry (eg Grant Mackenzie).