For the first time in BC history, an Electoral Boundaries Commission has scheduled a public hearing by conference call. Anyone who wants to make a submission can resister on the Commission's website at http://www.bc-ebc.ca/hearings/venues/37.

The need for this extraordinary hearing was generated by Premier Campbell's failed attempt to interfere with the Commission's mandate. Legislation which would have required the Commission to preserve unequal (by population) representation in select areas of the province was abandoned when opposed by the NDP. The Campbell government announced that it would not implement recommendations of the Commission if it failed to accommodate the essence of the abandoned legislative intrusion into its mandate.

The hearing by conference call, together with hearings in New Westminster, Castlegar. Kelowna, Quesnel and Nanaimo, will be the extent of oral public input before the Commission submits its final report to the Legislature.

It will be interesting to see how the public responds to the invitation from the Commission to participate by conference call. A dismal registration will confirm the cynicism of the Campbell government. Overwhelming registration and support for the Commission's interim recommendations of representation by population might stop Campbell from proceeding with his threat to ignore the Commission's report.