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Submission BECKETT-0257 (Online)

Submission By Lara Beckett
AddressPrince George, BC, Canada
Organization
Date20040502
CategoryElectoral system change, Minority representation, Regional representation
Abstract
MMP should be adopted for BC but party lists under an MMP system must be regionally and ethnically diverse, balanced between females and males and across age ranges if they are going to be acceptable to a broad spectrum of voters. [2 pages]

Submission Content
I would like to see our electoral system change to a system of Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMP). This system is the only one specifically designed to directly translate voter wishes into a party's share of seats in the legislature. The benefits of this system include:

  -  Allowing people to vote FOR a party that represents their values, rather than against a party that they are angry with.

  -  Allowing citizens to vote for an individual that may be different than their party of choice because, as a local representative the individual has the voters' trust.

BC is a diverse society, and a proportional system ensures that all viewpoints are included in our legislature. A more diverse legislature will force parties to cooperate on designing legislation, this will give a long term stability to policy that is lacking now. From one election to another, as different ideologies take control, past laws are repealed and new ones put in. If all parties have input on legislation and buy in to the results, then a change in government will not result in the chaos of extreme changes in policy.

MMP allows for party votes, and party lists -- individuals that will get into the legislature if their party has enough of the popular vote. This list must be regionally, and ethnically diverse, it must be balanced between females and males, and across age ranges if it is going to be acceptable to a broad spectrum of voters. If the list does not address these issues, the voters will not support it.

MMP can also provide more representation for rural communities via the party list. This is a very important feature because rural BC is what allows for the large urban centres of BC to exist as they do. Our current system does not recognize the regional impact of policy decisions that are overwhelmingly determined by urban representation.

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