What is a plebiscite? Eligible voters answer a question on a secret ballot, to vote and give their opinion about an important public issue. Three examples of issues from past plebiscites: Dividing the NWT and Nunavut. Where to have Nunavut s capital Iqaluit or Rankin. Should each Nunavut constituency elect one female and one male MLA. A plebiscite may be binding OR only an expression of public opinion. Main purpose of the new Plebiscites Act: To give Nunavummiut a chance to express their opinions about issues that interest and concern them. To set up a system to conduct plebiscites that works well with the Nunavut Elections Act. This Act does cover Liquor Plebiscites. Only a Plebiscite Authority can start up a plebiscite: Only on matters they are responsible for. The Plebiscite Authorities are: Legislative Assembly. Commissioner in Executive Council / Government of Nunavut. Minister of a Department of the Government of Nunavut. Municipal Council. Another body that enters into an agreement with Elections Nunavut. 1
A Plebiscite Authority MAY plebiscite if they: Want to know what people think about an important issue. Receive a public petition that asks for one. Basic rules about petitions: At least 20% of eligible voters in the affected area local or Nunavut-wide - must sign the petition. A petition is a request for a The Plebiscite Authority can decide to plebiscite or not. Basic rules about the plebiscite process: The Plebiscite Authority writes to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to tell her to The Plebiscite Authority pays for it. Must ask a clear and neutral question -one that people can understand. The CEO can re-write the question if needed. Plebiscite Authorities can add their own question if the plebiscite comes from a petition. State voter qualifications if a plebiscite affects a limited group. Eligible voters: Canadian citizen, 18 years or older on the plebiscite date, AND an area (local or territorial) resident for at least one year on the plebiscite date. Say if the results are binding. Not hold another plebiscite on the same or similar question in that area for five years. Allow advertising or promoting one side of the plebiscite question only for Nunavut-wide plebiscites. A group must register with the CEO if it wants to collect money and advertise. 2
What happens after the vote? CEO sends results to the Plebiscite Authority. Plebiscite Authority MUST follow the results if the: i. Plebiscite question is about a bylaw under the Cities, Towns and Villages Act or the Hamlets Act. ii. Plebiscite Authority stated at the start that the results are binding and the public know, and more than 50% of the votes are the same. 3
Scenario - Curfew Issue: Curfew for children under 16 years. Plebiscite Authority: Municipal Council Community Residents in Cambridge Bay. 132 eligible voters (20% of total) in Cambridge Bay sign a petition to ask for a plebiscite about the curfew. Municipal Council sends instructions to the CEO to conduct Question: Do you support a 10 pm curfew for children under 16 years old? YES / NO Plebiscite results binding. date, Cambridge Bay resident for at least one year on plebiscite date. CEO gives plebiscite results to Cambridge Bay Council. 90 people vote. 60 people vote NO and 30 people vote YES. Results not binding even though more than 50% vote the same. Cambridge Bay Council considers the results before they decide whether or not to have a curfew. 4
Scenario - Curfew Issue: Curfew for children under 16 years. Plebiscite Authority: Municipal Council Community Residents in Cambridge Bay. Municipal Council sends instructions to the CEO to conduct Question: Do you support a 10 pm curfew for children under 16 years old? YES / NO Plebiscite results binding. date, Cambridge Bay resident for at least one year on plebiscite date. CEO gives plebiscite results to Cambridge Bay Council. 90 people vote. 60 people vote NO and 30 people vote YES. Results not binding even though more than 50% vote the same. Cambridge Bay Council considers the results before they decide whether or not to have a curfew. 5
Scenario Voting Age for Legislative Assembly Elections Issue: Lower voting age to 16 for territorial elections. Plebiscite Authority: Nunavut Legislative Assembly Nunavut Residents 2,987 eligible voters (20% of total) in Nunavut sign a petition to ask for a plebiscite about a lower voting age. Legislative Assembly sends instructions to the CEO to conduct Question: Do you agree that we should lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for elections to the Legislative Assembly? YES / NO State that plebiscite results are binding. Groups register with CEO if they want to raise money and advertise. day, Nunavut resident at least one year on plebiscite day. CEO gives plebiscite results to the Legislative Assembly. 11000 people voted. 4300 voted YES and 6700 voted NO. Binding results. Legislative Assembly does change the voting age because more than 50% of the ballots voted the NO. 6
Scenario Voting Age for Legislative Assembly Elections Issue: Lower voting age to 16 for territorial elections. Plebiscite Authority: Nunavut Legislative Assembly Nunavut Residents Legislative Assembly sends instructions to the CEO to conduct Question: Do you agree that we should lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for elections to the Legislative Assembly? YES / NO State that plebiscite results are binding. Groups register with CEO if they want to raise money and advertise. day, Nunavut resident at least one year on plebiscite day. CEO gives plebiscite results to the Legislative Assembly. 11000 people voted. 4300 voted YES and 6700 voted NO. Binding results. Legislative Assembly does change the voting age because more than 50% of the ballots voted the NO. 7
Scenario Wildlife Quota Issue: Change wildlife quota. Plebiscite Authority: Minister of Environment Nunavut Residents 2,987 eligible voters (20% of total) in Nunavut sign a petition to ask for a plebiscite about changing quota for a species of wildlife. Minister sends instructions to the CEO to conduct Question: Are you in favour of changing the quota? YES / NO Plebiscite results binding. Groups register with CEO if they want to raise money and advertise. date, Nunavut resident at least one year on plebiscite date. CEO gives plebiscite results to the Minister of Environment. 10000 people voted. 6100 voted YES and 3900 voted NO. Not binding even though more than 50% voted the same. Minister can not make decision alone, Nunavut Land Claims Agreement process must be followed. 8
Scenario Wildlife Quota Issue: Change wildlife quota. Plebiscite Authority: Minister of Environment Nunavut Residents Minister sends instructions to the CEO to conduct Question: Are you in favour of changing the quota? YES / NO Plebiscite results binding. Groups register with CEO if they want to raise money and advertise. date, Nunavut resident at least one year on plebiscite date. CEO gives plebiscite results to the Minister of Environment. 10000 people voted. 6100 voted YES and 3900 voted NO. Not binding even though more than 50% voted the same. Minister can not make decision alone, Nunavut Land Claims Agreement process must be followed. 9
Consultation Questions 1. Do you have any comments about the basic rules for petitions under the new Act? What parts will work well? If some parts will cause problems, what changes would make things work better? 2. Do you have any comments about the basic process for a plebiscite under the new Act? What parts will work well? If some parts will cause problems, what changes would make things work better? 3. Do you think Nunavummiut can understand and use the plebiscite process if they want? If not, what would help to make it better? 4. Do you think Nunavummiut would use plebiscites more often if this process was adopted? 5. Do you think Nunavummiut can understand and use the petition process if they want? If not what would help to make it better? 6. What would encourage eligible voters to participate and vote during a plebiscite? 10