I wholeheartedly support the citizens' assembly and the work
that all of its members have been doing over the past few months
(and will continue to do in the next while).
I also agree that the current First Past the Post system has many
problems, and while some form of proportional representation will
also have problems, I feel that it will better reflect the needs
and concerns of the average voter. Many people today are concerned
that their vote 'doesn't count' and this is a big failing of the
current system. We need to make the system more inclusive and we
need to get people more committed and more involved. This process
is a very positive step in that direction.
I am not an expert in electoral reform, and so I will not suggest a
particular system as I am not familiar enough with all the details.
I will however support the basic concept of proportional
representation [PR].
It has been my understanding that the Citizens' Assembly process
was meant to be a specifically non-partisan approach to electoral
reform and I am pleased to see that most parties have chosen to
remain politically neutral on this issue. It is therefore very
disturbing to discover how actively the Green Party has been
campaigning and lobbying for one particular system. I have received
the following emails from friends:
1. A forwarded email from 'Free Your Vote,' an arm of the Green
Party, suggests that only 2 systems have been proposed and then
proceeds to outline the positive merits of the MMP system and the
negative aspects of the STV system, concluding by saying that
everyone should submit a statement to the assembly: "Your
submission doesn't have to be long or complicated. A short
statement that you prefer a Mixed Member proportional (MMP) system
like the one they have adopted in New Zealand over the complex STV
systems
that a few individuals are proposing for BC will help. So far there
are only about 1000 submissions that have been sent in to the
Citizens Assembly." (This message is put out by the Free Your Vote
- Pro Rep Society
Mailing address: P.O. Box 130 Gibsons BC V0N 1Y0 email:
info@freeyourvote.bc.ca Website: _www.freeyourvote.bc.ca_)
2. An email from the Green Party in Victoria also pushes for
MMP, pointing out only its positives, while criticising STV,
pointing out only its negatives. Again, interestingly, only two
systems are compared, and only one is offered as a real alternative
to the current system in place. This particular email opens with
the following statement: "We need more submissions from people who
support a Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system for BC and
who do not want a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. The
Citizens' Assembly
(CA) appears to be leaning towards STV despite the much greater
public support expressed for MMP. Your input to the Citizens
Assembly BEFORE the FRIDAY AUGUST 13TH DEADLINE will reinforce the
message that people want a truly fair voting system." (Green Pary
in Victoria)
I am very concerned that a political party appears to be trying to
hijack a specifically non-partisan process.
Good luck with all of this, and many thanks for your commitment to
the process and for your many hours of hard work and thought.
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