ELECTORIAL REFORM IN BC
MY VIEW
I am delighted that I am being given the opportunity to express
my view on the way we elect those that will represent me in our
provincial government. I am not a wordy person so my proposal will
be brief.
1. I prefer proportional
government
2. I prefer a representative
that is answerable to me.
3. I do not want, as the
Japanese refer to as, a zombie politician, this appointment
politician to me represents the start of what I have heard referred
to as “the old boys club”
MY PROPOSAL
My proposal is that the concept of one seat and one vote is
removed. Rather the legislature will have a total of 1,000 votes;
each elected representative will have the proportional voting power
of his party’s proportional vote from the public. We
the public will continue to vote as before for the candidate of our
choice.
Proposed Legislature Proportional Voting (based on results of
2001)
Party
% popular
vote #
seats #
of
votes/MLA
Party’s total
Liberal
58
77
7
577.8
NDP
22
2
110
220
Green
12
0
120
120
Unity
3
0
30
30
Marijuana
3
0 30
30
Total
977.5
The above may be simplistic but it retains:
• an
uncomplicated voting procedure,
• the regions
choice,
• no zombie
politicians.
The lack of an elected representative from 3 of the parties
could be overcome by giving them a seat at large with the
accompanying vote. As well the lost 2.2 votes of the Liberals could
be added to the leader of the Liberals to give that person 9.7
votes and the party all of its 580 votes.
The split at which a member at large is introduced should be at
the 3 to 5 % point.
BENEFIT
A major benefit is that this system could be introduced directly
after the next election if approved by the
referendum.
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