1) Know your limitations. Do not try and solve all our political
shortcomings with electoral reform. Concentrate on those things
that it is effective in solving.
2) Keep it simple. Voters want something they understand. They want
to know how their vote effects the award of a seat. They will
reject something they don't trust or understand.
3) Do not try anything radical. Voters like the familiar. They will
not jump out of an airplane for the sense of adventure. They will
reject a system which results in continuous minority government.
Just solve the problems with the current system - provide assurance
of a working opposition and give small parties a voice in the
house.
4) Do not consult lawyers before you act. This includes the
Attorney General. There is little in the way or jurisprudence
regarding electoral systems and what little that there is indicates
flexibility. Do what you think is right and fair for B.C. You have
your mandate via the Order in Council. Recommend a change in the
number of ridings and total seats in the house if this is required
for your system to work. Voters will not hesitate to approve this
if they like your system.
5) Recognize our unique regions in your work. This is the key that
will unlock the remedy for reconciling diversive views with the
vagaries of the riding plurality vote. For B.C. this is easy to do.
There is no other province that can be as well characterized by
it's distinctive geographic regions. Of course this is not just
lush valleys, large mountains, and big trees - there is also the
elements of history, culture, and way of life. Take advantage of
this and recognize it in your electoral system. Do not view regions
as just arbitrary groupings of ridings.
If you decide to recognize regions - it follows then that they
should be treated equitably in terms of representation for their
diversive views regardless of size. This is no greater a leap of
logic than ridings of various sizes having representation (the
largest riding in B.C. is three times the size of the smallest).
Take a look at submission
Giza 0199 -
this appears to be your best bet.
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