Proposed ward system rejected by voters

Vancouver voters have said no to the proposed ward system for electing city council by a margin of 54 per cent to 46 per cent.

Results listed on the city's website show that 30,499 people voted for change while 35,813 voted to keep the at-large system of government.

The question posed to voters Saturday was: Are you in favour of, or are you opposed to, abolishing the at-large system and electing members of City Council by a ward system, with boundaries as set out on the map on this ballot?

The ward system is the model used in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Winnipeg.

The ward system involves electing one politician per district, as in federal elections and would bring an additional four councillors to Vancouver's city hall.

Whereas with the current at-large system, voters vote for all 10 councillors, and the top 10 vote-getters are elected to council.

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell supported the ward system, but not former mayor Philip Owen, who said that model of government would only lead to increased fighting on controversial issues such as the placement of group homes and half-way houses.

It's now up to city council to decide whether or not to change the system.

A plebiscite is binding only if the authority that calls for the vote pledges to follow the results.

The last time the city held a referendum was in February 2003, when it asked residents where they stood on bringing the Olympics to Vancouver.

In that vote, there was a 46 per cent turnout. This time, the turnout was 22.6 per cent. Vancouver's 1981 plebiscite on Sunday shopping drew out 15.7 per cent of voters.