B.C. Liberal vote to proceed despite glitch

B.C. Liberals say their leadership vote will go ahead as planned Saturday despite an embarrassing glitch in issuing personal identification numbers to members.

Party officials believe the steps they've taken will ensure all members have a chance to get their numbers, party executive director Chad Pederson said Friday.

"Our provincial executive decided today based on the remediation measures we're taking, based on the call volume that we've had today this vote should move forward," Pederson said.

Without a PIN, a party member cannot vote and thousands of party members are reported to have not received their PINs in the mail as of Friday.

The company overseeing the process, Intelivote, advised people to call a special help line to get their numbers over the phone.

It's brought in extra operators at its Nova Scotia call centre, and will keep them working tonight to handle the flood of calls, the company said.

Candidate Kevin Falcon said earlier Friday that party members are upset and frustrated.

"What we're concerned about is the party might not even be ready," he said.

"The concern I have as a candidate, quite frankly, is that I have worked hard in signing up rural and northern residents and, frankly, every campaign is probably worried this is disenfranchising a lot of people unnecessarily."

Company confident

Dean Smith said Intelivotehas handled hundreds of elections in Canada and abroad and has never had an issue. Hesaid the company will make things right.

"We're making arrangements to set up additional bumsin seats to be able to take the calls," he said.

Canada Post said it's not sure why Liberal party members have not received their PINs in the mail.

Regional communications director Colleen Frick said they've been moving out the mailings out as fast as they've been coming in.

"Well, all the product that has come from the mailing from Ottawa, as it's been arriving we've been trying to get it sorted as quickly as possible for delivery," she said.

"At this stage, I've got contacts at our mail processing plant that are looking for whether or not there is product there so it can be sorted and out for delivery."

The B.C. Liberal leadership vote takes place on Saturday.