Democratic Reform British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Democratic Reform British Columbia (Democratic Reform BC or DRBC) is a progressive–centrist political party
in the Province of British Columbia
, Canada
.
as an attempt to recreate the Progressive Democratic Alliance
(PDA) that had been formed by Gordon Wilson
. The party is the result of a merger between the British Columbia Democratic Coalition
(an umbrella grouping of the British Columbia Democratic Alliance
, British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement
and British Columbia Labour Party) and the All Nations Party of British Columbia
. It also attracted some members of the Reform Party of British Columbia
, including its president, and all its executive. In the year preceding the formation of Democratic Reform BC, Tom Morino had founded the British Columbia Democratic Alliance which later became the British Columbia Democratic Coalition after a merger with a number of other fringe parties. This provided the momentum for the mergers with Reform Party and the All Nations Party to form DRBC.
DRBC had one member in the Legislative Assembly, Elayne Brenzinger
, who was elected as a BC Liberal
in 2001 but left the party and sat as an Independent from March 22, 2004 to January 19, 2005.
DRBC claims to be "fiscally responsible, socially progressive, while supporting the Single Transferable Vote
" system of electoral reform proposed for provincial elections.
The party held its founding convention on January 15, 2005 in White Rock, British Columbia
, and adopted a policy manual and constitution. Tom Morino was unanimously elected as interim party leader.
, but was unable to run more than 38. None were elected as the party received only 14,023 votes throughout the province, or 0.80% of all votes. Morino received 4.65% of the votes in his riding, coming fourth behind BC Green Party candidate Steven Hurdle. Brenzinger received 3.75% of the votes in her riding. Alan Clarke, the party's agriculture critic, Kelowna - Lake Country, finished a top all DRBC candidates with 8.9% of the vote in Kelowna. Janice Money of Westbank also fared well. With limited and sporadic coverage from the established media, the highest any DRBC candidate placed in their local race was fourth.
. He was replaced as leader by Graeme Rodger.
.
Up to April 8, 2009, the party website had not been updated for more than a year. Most of their online work had been done by Matthew Laird
who has left the party to run for the Green Party of BC. A new version was launched on April 8th with very little information on their election plans.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Formation of the party
The party was brought together by Tom MorinoTom Morino
Tom Morino is the former leader of Democratic Reform British Columbia, a progressive/centrist political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.Tom currently is a councillor for the municipality of Sooke. He works as a lawyer in Victoria BC....
as an attempt to recreate the Progressive Democratic Alliance
Progressive Democratic Alliance
The Progressive Democratic Alliance was a centrist political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Powell River—Sunshine Coast....
(PDA) that had been formed by Gordon Wilson
Gordon Wilson (Canadian politician)
Gordon Wilson is a former provincial politician in British Columbia. He served as leader of the Liberal Party of BC from 1987–1993, leader and founder of the Progressive Democratic Alliance from 1993–1997, and in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance and Minister of Employment, Investment...
. The party is the result of a merger between the British Columbia Democratic Coalition
British Columbia Democratic Coalition
The British Columbia Democratic Coalition was a short-lived coalition of minor political parties in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in September 2004 to bring together four minor parties: the British Columbia Democratic Alliance, the British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement, the...
(an umbrella grouping of the British Columbia Democratic Alliance
British Columbia Democratic Alliance
The British Columbia Democratic Alliance was a political party at the provincial level in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.It was founded in June 2004 by "individuals who are progressive in their policies, democratic in their principles, and represent an alliance of interests reflecting the...
, British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement
British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement
The British Columbia Moderate Democratic Movement is a minor political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Its current status is unclear:...
and British Columbia Labour Party) and the All Nations Party of British Columbia
All Nations Party of British Columbia
The All Nations Party was a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. Its primary base of support was the First Nations aboriginal peoples of Canada....
. It also attracted some members of the Reform Party of British Columbia
Reform Party of British Columbia
The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
, including its president, and all its executive. In the year preceding the formation of Democratic Reform BC, Tom Morino had founded the British Columbia Democratic Alliance which later became the British Columbia Democratic Coalition after a merger with a number of other fringe parties. This provided the momentum for the mergers with Reform Party and the All Nations Party to form DRBC.
DRBC had one member in the Legislative Assembly, Elayne Brenzinger
Elayne Brenzinger
Elayne Brenzinger was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, Canada representing Democratic Reform British Columbia, a progressive/centrist political party formed in January 2005....
, who was elected as a BC Liberal
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
in 2001 but left the party and sat as an Independent from March 22, 2004 to January 19, 2005.
DRBC claims to be "fiscally responsible, socially progressive, while supporting the Single Transferable Vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
" system of electoral reform proposed for provincial elections.
The party held its founding convention on January 15, 2005 in White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
, and adopted a policy manual and constitution. Tom Morino was unanimously elected as interim party leader.
2005 election
It planned to run candidates in all 79 ridings in the 2005 provincial electionBritish Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
, but was unable to run more than 38. None were elected as the party received only 14,023 votes throughout the province, or 0.80% of all votes. Morino received 4.65% of the votes in his riding, coming fourth behind BC Green Party candidate Steven Hurdle. Brenzinger received 3.75% of the votes in her riding. Alan Clarke, the party's agriculture critic, Kelowna - Lake Country, finished a top all DRBC candidates with 8.9% of the vote in Kelowna. Janice Money of Westbank also fared well. With limited and sporadic coverage from the established media, the highest any DRBC candidate placed in their local race was fourth.
Resignation of Tom Morino
On June 1, 2005, Morino announced his departure from politics to care for his ailing wife. Morino officially resigned at the party's annual general meeting October 1, 2005 in KelownaKelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
. He was replaced as leader by Graeme Rodger.
2009 election
The party did not nominate any candidates in the 2009 provincial electionBritish Columbia general election, 2009
The 39th British Columbia general election was held on May 12, 2009 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
.
Up to April 8, 2009, the party website had not been updated for more than a year. Most of their online work had been done by Matthew Laird
Matthew Laird
Matthew Laird is a Canadian academic, activist and politician. Having helped lead numerous political campaigns he continues to work with community groups on social and environmental issues....
who has left the party to run for the Green Party of BC. A new version was launched on April 8th with very little information on their election plans.
Leaders
- Tom MorinoTom MorinoTom Morino is the former leader of Democratic Reform British Columbia, a progressive/centrist political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.Tom currently is a councillor for the municipality of Sooke. He works as a lawyer in Victoria BC....
(January 2005 – October 2005) - Erle Martz (October 2005, interim)
- Graeme Rodger (October 2005 – present)