Initiative
A. History
B. Overview
C. Frequently asked questions, forms and guides
D. Frequently asked initiative questions for business owners
E. Initiative petition proponent application package
F. Initiative petition opponent application package
A. History
The Chief Electoral Officer has approved six initiative applications since 1995. The applications addressed a wide range of topics, from electoral reform to balancing the provincial budget. None of them obtained the required number of signatures.
Summary of Initiative Petitions
B. Overview
Any registered voter can apply to have a petition issued to gather support for a legislative proposal. A legislative proposal can be on any matter within the jurisdiction of the provincial legislature. A registered voter who wants to start an initiative petition must obtain an application form from the Chief Electoral Officer. The completed application form must be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer with a processing fee of $50 and a copy of the proposed law in the form of a draft Bill.
If the application is approved, a petition is issued to the applicant (called a proponent) 60 days later. The proponent then has 90 days to collect signatures of 10% of the registered voters in each electoral district. The proponent may be helped by volunteers when canvassing for signatures.
When all the signed petition sheets are submitted, the Chief Electoral Officer has 42 days to verify that enough valid signatures have been collected. If the verification process shows that sufficient signatures have been collected and the financing requirements have been met by the proponent, the Chief Electoral Officer sends a copy of the petition and draft Bill to a Select Standing Committee of the Legislature.
The Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives must meet within 30 days of receipt of the initiative petition and draft Bill. The Select Standing Committee has 90 days to consider the legislative proposal. The Committee must either table a report recommending introduction of the draft Bill or refer the initiative petition and draft Bill to the Chief Electoral Officer for an initiative vote.
If an initiative vote is required, a vote will be held on September 24, 2011, and on the last Saturday of September in every third year after that date. If more than 50% of the total number of registered voters in the province vote in favour of an initiative, and more than 50% of the total number of registered voters in each of at least 2/3 of the electoral districts in the province vote in favour of an initiative, the Chief Electoral Officer must declare the initiative vote to be successful and the government must introduce the Bill at the earliest practicable opportunity.
After a Bill is introduced into the legislature, the requirements of the Recall and Initiative Act have been satisfied, and any subsequent reading, amendment, or passage of the Bill will proceed as with any other Bill, with no guarantee of passage.
C. FAQs, forms and guides
General information, detailed guides and forms to the initiative process are available, see links below.
Frequently Asked Initiative Questions
D. Frequently asked initiative questions for business owners
E. Initiative petition proponent application package
It is recommended that anyone planning to apply for an initiative petition carefully study the forms and guides listed below before making an application. The application package contains:
- Guide to the Initiative Process (869)
- Application for Initiative Petition (910)
- Application for Canvasser Registration (911)
- Proponent Appointment of Financial Agent (915)
- Appointment of Assistant Financial Agent (950)
Individuals who apply for an initiative petition are considered to be acting as their own financial agent until another individual is appointed.
F. Initiative petition opponent application package
It is recommended that anyone planning to apply to be an opponent to an initiative petition carefully study the forms and guides listed below before making an application. The application package contains:
- Guide to the Initiative Process (869)
- Initiative Petition Opponent Application - Organization (912)
- Initiative Petition Opponent Application - Individual (913)
- Initiative Opponent Application for Financial Agent (914)
- The Application Process for Opponents of an Initiative Petition (952)
The initiative petition application package is also available at Elections BC’s Victoria office or call toll-free 1-800-661-8683 / TTY 1-888-456-5448 or email at electionsbc@elections.bc.ca.
