I am in favour of a Mixed Member
Proportional Representation electoral system in British Columbia.
When I think of the kind of province that I want to live in and
vote in for the next 70 plus years, I think of one where I am
confident that my values are represented within the government. Our
current electoral system fails miserably at fulfilling this
criterion, as the past two elections of false majorities have
demonstrated. In countries like New Zealand and Germany where Mixed
Member Proportional Representation is in place, citizens are
confident that they will be adequately represented based on their
vote. This is not the case in British Columbia. Representation of
popular values is the essence of democracy and by implementing
proportional representation in British Columbia we ensure that this
essence is reestablished as the corner stone of our government.
I favour the mixed system of Proportional Representation because
it includes local representation at the riding level via the first
ballot and proportional representation via the second ballot by
which citizens vote for the party of their choice. Both local
representation and proportional representation strengthen
democracy.
Some may argue that Proportional Representation leads to
fractured and instable governments. This is not the case.
Proportional representation produces cohesion, as parties seek
coalition and support with other parties. The creation of
legislation becomes a process of idea exchange, where
representatives of all ideologies and walks of life come together
to influence policy development. This brings me to the second way
in which proportional representation strengthens government.
Proportional representation increases legitimacy by facilitating
the idea exchange I have mentioned and by allowing minority
influence. Governments are only effective when the citizens have
confidence in the institutions and the process by which they are
formed. In a jurisdiction as diverse as British Columbia, minority
representation and influence is necessary to our
government’s legitimacy. The current democratic deficit
in BC undermines our government legitimacy.
The Westminster model of government under which we live today,
is a relic of the past. It is time to update our governmental
system to reflect the increasing complexity of modern policy
decisions. Modern legislation must not be conceived in black or
white, but rather in shades of gray. Proportional representation
facilitates the creation of policies that reflect the interests of
a larger segment of society than our current first-past the post;
winner takes all, electoral
system.
Proportional representation would be good for this province
because it would strengthen our democracy and increase our
government’s legitimacy. As a citizen of this province
who intends to vote here for the better part of a century, I urge
the citizens’ assembly to recommend electoral reform
that would see Mixed Member Proportional Representation implemented
in British Columbia.
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