VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals are robbing the independent Electoral Boundary Commission of the ability to deliver recommendations free from government manipulation, say the New Democrats.

“We believe the Electoral Boundaries Commission should be allowed to do their job and deliver their report on effective representation without being manipulated and overridden by the Liberals before the process even gets started,” said New Democrat Attorney General critic Leonard Krog. “Once again the Liberals have proven they’re uncomfortable with independent agencies by stepping in and stripping them of that complete independence.”

Krog and New Democrat rural caucus chair Norm Macdonald were responding to the Liberals’ Electoral Boundaries Commission Amendment Act being debated in the legislature this week that constrains the commission by prescribing several outcomes before the commission has even started to develop recommendations for future electoral boundaries and democratic process.

Macdonald said when it comes to independent agencies, the Liberal motto is “you can say and do whatever you want, as long as it’s what we allow you to say and do.”

“We’ve seen them do it with the B.C. Utilities Commission. They did it with Tourism B.C. when they folded them into government. They’re trying to do it with the Agricultural Land Commission. And now they’re doing it with the Electoral Boundary Commission,” said Macdonald. “The Liberals have a complete lack of respect for our independent agencies.”