For immediate release
Winnipeg Green Party name Forbidden on Ballot Paper in October 25 Election
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
A number of Winnipeg Green Party candidates wrote the City of Winnipeg's Senior Election Official asking for the written reason why they are being denied party affiliation on the ballot paper in the October 25 municipal election. To date, they have received no response. The letters were sent the week of September 18.
The Senior Election Official has apparently interpreted the provincial legislation as forbidding the name of a municipal political party name beside the candidate's name on the ballot paper.
Dave Danyluk, Winnipeg Green Party candidate in Elmwood - East Kildonan is puzzled. "The Municipal Council and School Boards Elections Act states that no reference to a candidate's occupation, degree, title, honour or decoration may appear on the ballot. A candidate's municipal party is not on the list of excluded references." he observes.
This week, the Winnipeg Green Party formally requested the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend, if necessary, the provincial legislation to ensure that municipal party candidates in City of Winnipeg elections may in future put the name of their political party beside their candidate name on the ballot paper, as is the case on provincial and federal ballots.
Rob Galston, Winnipeg Green Party candidate for Mynarski says, "Everyone knows that party politics is alive and well at City Hall. Executive Policy Committee runs city council. It is made up of Conservatives and Liberals who choose to present themselves to the electorate as Independents."
"It is time for candidates to step out of the political closet and afford the voting public the same transparency and accountability that they have through the provincial and federal Elections Acts. Other likely positive benefits would be improved voter turn-out and a reduction in the number of acclamations," notes Galston.
---- 30 ----
Contact: Markus Buchart, Winnipeg Green Party Spokesman, Tel. 772-9869
