Recount Update

Fifth recount requested by Liberals
CBC News, (May 26 2005).

VICTORIA – There are now at least five seats in question
as officials at Elections B.C. prepare for recounts next week.
All five are in ridings where New Democrats appear to have
won close victories. The latest is Skeena, where Liberal
cabinet minister Roger Harris lost to New Democrat Robin
Austin by 439 votes on election night.

"We anticipate that because of the recounts, these five
electoral districts probably won't have final counts completed
until the end of the day on the 31st or even possibly the first
of June," says Elections B.C. spokesperson Jennifer Miller.
"But we do anticipate the final count in the other 74 ridings
will be completed by the end of the day on May 30th."
There are also enough absentee ballots still to be counted
in all five of those ridings to affect the outcome.

As of now, the Liberals elected 45 members in last week's
election and the NDP 34.
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Teachers call Premier Campbell to account for
defamatory statements made prior to election
May 26, 2005

The B.C. Teachers' Federation has filed suit in B.C. Supreme
Court, calling Premier Gordon Campbell to account for
defamatory statements he made five days prior to the election.
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James wants greater voice for NDP at legislature
CBC News, (May 26 2005).

VICTORIA – NDP Leader Carole James says New Democrats
will push for a longer question period and a more active committee
system to make proceedings at the legislature more accountable.

At 15 minutes, B.C.'s question period is the shortest in the
Commonwealth.