Submission GUDMUNDSON-1207 (Online)

I urge the Citizens' Assembly to propose a simple system of mixed member proportional representation [MMP] that the population will understand, see as fair, and will consider as an improvement over what we have now. [1 page]

I am writing in support of the idea that BC adopt a system of proportional representation [PR] to elect our legislature. Having read about the various systems I feel strongly that the easiest, most straightforward and fairest system we could adopt would be a mixed member proportional representation system.

I personally do not feel that "local representation" is as important to me in our legislature as representation of my values and concerns. How many people in our society have ever called their MLA? How many people even know who their MLA is? But most people know what ideas and values they wish were represented in the legislature. I see proportional representation as a way of making people more interested in politics and government because it is the best way to see that your vote counts and the party that you support will have some representation and influence in the legislature regardless of whether they win the election or not. In this day and age of electronic communications and low-cost transportation, the size of a constituency is not a major concern to most people nor an impediment to effective representation. I would happily be part of a larger riding if I thought my vote would make a difference in every election.

In many areas of our society we have progressed to the point were we value and encourage minority representation, whether it be affirmative action in hiring, or promotion of visible minorities in media and advertising, and so on. Yet when it comes to politics, we still seem to have a system where minority opinions are completely shut out - because they didn't "win". There is virtually no way the "minority" (although they aren't even always the minority of voters) who "lost" the latest election can have any influence if they aren't represented in the legislature where laws are made and "all party" committees review legislation in the process of passing these laws.

I urge the Citizens' Assembly to propose a simple system of mixed member pro rep that the population will understand, see as fair, and will consider as an improvement over what we have now.