Login / RegisterB.C. chief electoral officer to leave post before HST petition submitted
Harry Neufeld has a lot of things on his mind nowadays that aren’t related to his job as B.C.’s chief electoral officer.
He’s talking about taking some time off and perhaps reinventing himself.
In late April, according to Neufeld, he was advised by Bill Barisoff, the Speaker of the legislative assembly, that he will not be appointed to a second term.
“My term ends on June 5,” Neufeld told the Straight in a phone interview from his residence in Victoria today (May 21).
At around midnight on June 5, “the camper will be loaded and the next morning, we’ll be leaving,” he said.
Neufeld’s term ends one month before the July 5 deadline for proponents of the anti-HST initiative to submit their signature sheets to B.C.’s chief electoral officer.
Under the Recall and Initiative Act, after the petition is submitted, the chief electoral officer has 42 days to determine the results.
The legislative assembly has struck a bipartisan committee to look for a new chief electoral officer.
In recent weeks, Elections B.C. has twice ruled against the B.C. Liberal government on matters relating to the ongoing initiative against the harmonized sales tax.
In late April, the electoral body decided that the government cannot mail flyers to voters in order to defend the controversial revenue measure.
Earlier this month, Elections B.C. also dismissed a complaint by Finance Minister Colin Hansen that proponents of the anti-HST initiative were misleading the people.
Neufeld said that he received a letter from Hansen on May 20, in which the finance minister, according to Neufeld, was “very grateful for the explanation that I gave to his complaint”.
“I think he was frustrated,” Neufeld said. “I don’t have any doubt that he would have preferred that our ruling was that he could have advertised in the way he wanted to with regards to what he thought the benefits of the HST program were. But you know, I think after reflection, after receiving my response to his complaint, he seems quite understanding of the realities of the fact that the independent officers of the legislature are assigned to uphold the laws as they were written, and we try to do that consistently, fairly, and impartially.”
According to Neufeld, there are three “roads” that he can explore after his term is over.
“One would be to take another job, and all of the soft offers that I have so far are out of the country. So I’m considering whether it’s worthwhile to move to Stockholm, Sweden, or Atlanta Georgia, or Washington, D.C.,” Neufeld said, without offering more details.
“The other options are to go into consulting, which I’ve done before in electoral management,” Neufeld said.
“And third would be to do something different: teach, or start a business, or who knows,” Neufeld added.
Before his appointment as B.C.’s chief electoral officer in 2002, Neufeld held positions in electoral bodies like Elections Canada. He was also an electoral management consultant with the Canadian Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and with several international organizations and electoral agencies around the world.
The BC Liberals are really getting out of hand with their tactics to ram the HST down the throats of British Columbians. Too bad for them the electorate is smarter than they think and they'll all soon be out of jobs.
Now he has done this??? Give me a freakin' break.
Now I'm mad. I live in Nechako Lakes and John Rustad is my MLA. Look out John. Your job is on the line.
Three cheers to Harry Neufeld for his courageous and ethical work - and all the very best to him, wherever he ends up.
This is a blatant attempt to interfere with our democratic process and Interfere with our ability to exercise our rights as citizens.
Q: Did the Liberals or their Corporate buddies BRIBE or Threaten Harry?
Their are Serious Consequences... When Harry Neufeld took the job of Chief Electoral officer he became bound by the laws of Canada to represent the best Interests of the people of British Columbia and follow the rules of the electoral process without bias. His resignation, at a pivotal time is cowardice and done with intention.
I know it will back fire, and cause even more people to join this Fight against the HST because it's now linked to the Fundamental Rights in which of our Democracy stands on and it is intentionally being eroded.
Now Campbell and the Liberals will really have a Fight on their hands and could possible see themselves removed from power by force. Hopefully that can be avoided, but if this abuse of power continues it could spark a New "REVOLUTION".
It has happened in the past and it could happen again, right Here, right Now in our Province.
Q: Does Harry realize, this Act of his will UNDERMINE our very Democracy?
Q: Does he want to go down in History as the person who walked away from his duties and allowed our Democratic VOICE to be destroyed?
Because the cats out of the bag and everyone now knows, the Liberals will put in his place a new chief electoral officer that will protect the Liberals best interests so they can attempt to maintain power and push the HST through.
Q: Is their a skeleton Harry's closet about how the Liberals won the last few elections?
He should know, People "Will" find out and Expose all those Responsible, and criminal charges will be laid and all involved will be held accountable for their crimes.
* I sincerely believe, Harry should come clean now, and Testify against those who may have Bribed and or Threatened him.* There are no, coincidences in politics.
My message to everyone that reads my posting.
Defend your Democracy Now! Peacefully & within the Law.
It's our responsibility to preserve and protect it for our children and our children's children because they have no voice in which to speak... We do! We must and WE CAN.
Respectfully, with Mr. Neufeld's departure -- and considering the seriousness of this Initiative -- and given BC's tawdry political reputation as a banana republic of sorts -- I am concerned that anything might happen.
Mitigate against the surprises.
If so! Revolution it may be then! My great grandfather was one of the generals responsible for helping America win their Independence, he worked directly with the founding fathers of America.
If our democracy is truly broken, I may be forced to help do the same for Canada.
In all seriousness, I am more than upset. I am furious. ONE person does their job, upholding the law in BC... and he's let go.