Since his appointment, Mr. James has repeatedly sided with the government in decisions regarding the Citizen’s Initiative to block the implementation of the HST.
Mr. James immediately fired 2 very experienced and exemplary electoral officers.
He has made several mistakes regarding the HST, worded the question on the referendum in a very confusing way, allowed the referendum to be conducted via Canada Post and made no concessions with regards to the Lockout at Canada Post.
He also, upon learning that Christy Clark clearly violated the Elections Act during the recent Vancouver/Point Grey by-election by campaigning within the perimeter of a Voting Place, when she had no legal reason to be there. Mr. James decided to overlook the transgression of the Law.
The voters of BC were angered by these actions, and many, myself included, sent letters and emails to Mr. James demanding that he resign. We were accused of sending hate mail.
Just last week the BC Finance Department sent out an “information package” for voters, which was actually partisan propaganda and on the credits at the back of the mailer, it was incorrectly identified as coming from Elections BC.
I have obtained a letter where, in his own words, he outlines proudly his plan to facilitate access to Parliaments for business clients through his work for the World Bank. In fact, shortly after his appointment as ACEO he took a sabbatical to attend a conference for the WB. This does not strike me as the work of an impartial Officer of the Electoral Process.
The overall impression that BC voters are left with is that this man’s legacy is the corruption of a once proud Electoral Agency. I feel, as a citizen of BC and Canada, that corruption has infiltrated our most sacred and basic right to self determination. Our right to vote and have that vote counted impartially.
In light of these facts, I urge you, I implore you to investigate the actions of BC’s Acting Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Craig James and all of the actions he has undertaken since his appointment to this position. Act quickly, because Mr. James has already accepted a lucrative Parliamentary position and evidence tends to disappear quickly here.
I require a response to this request. Thank you for your solemn attention to this matter,
Kim