STRATHGARTNEY – In a last-ditch effort to prevent an unnecessary and environmentally destructive highway project, a citizen’s group has formed to push the agenda via plebiscite.
The NDP supports the plebiscite and the voices of all Islanders who feel disenfranchised or neglected by the government.
A group of concerned citizens say they have adapted the mechanism of the Citizen Initiated Plebiscite to the controversial highway project. The plebiscite will not be conducted by Elections P.E.I., but instead will allow voting through mail-in ballots or on-line through a secure website.
According to organizers, the largest petition ever tabled in the legislature was in protest to this highway.
The NDP uncovered that the province is moving forward with this project, having allocated fees for it in Orders in Council.
NDP President Andrew Want says that this display of democracy is important and necessary.
“The NDP applauds these citizens for taking a stand against this government.”
Mr. Want says that Islanders are tired of being ignored by their democratically-elected government. He says that this plebiscite is part of a process to holding Ghiz accountable to Islanders
“The government just isn’t listening to people. Now passionate, engaged citizens are forcing them. They’re telling Ghiz and the cabinet that they need support of the people to make decisions that involve spending our money, and, in this instance we’re telling them no.”
Mr. Want says that the government loses its legitimacy when it spends the people’s money without their permission.
“The arrogance in the decision to ignore the voices of Islanders and instead spend their money on an unwanted highway – it’s absurd. The NDP stands firmly with Islanders in protest of Plan B.”
A full description of the plebiscite has been published at http://votePEI.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact Andrew Want.
Andrew.want@ndppei.ca
(902) 892-1930
