Electoral reform is badly needed. This is obvious
when one looks at both the recent Federal election and the last BC
election. In both cases, vast numbers of citizens are
effectively excluded from representation in government. In BC, the
failure of the democratic process is evident in the dictatorial
character of the current government.
The proposal for a New Zealand-like MMP voting system in BC
makes the most sense to me at this time.
Comments in response to the Preliminary Statement to the People
of British Columbia:
A. “The Assembly’s Work to
Date” identifies four benchmarks. The
fourth,” The impact of the voting system on
governance” refers only to “effective
government” and the “working of the
legislature.” I think it imperative to also
take into consideration the civil service. A respected
and valued civil service – now derisively referred to
by those who call for “smaller government”
as “bureaucracy” – is essential
to good governance. In any electoral reform, respect
for a professional civil service responsive to the policy
directives of a democratic government should be recognized. An MMP
system would certainly facilitate this, since no single party could
abuse and demean public employees in the way the current government
of BC has.
B. “The Assembly’s Assessment of
BC’s Current Electoral System” states that
the current system “has served us well” and
is one in which governments and politicians have been accountable.
I do not think such a statement reflects the reality of the current
situation in BC. Certainly my own MLA appears to hold the public in
contempt, and feels no responsibility to even respond to
communications from his constituents. (He will respond that he
acknowledges receipt of letters, but even this is not
true.) There is no accountability in what amounts to a
dictatorship, unless accountability refers to accountability to a
particular wealthy elite.
The “winner-take-all competition”
identified under “Strengths of the Current
System” is extremely undemocratic and has only worked
to serve certain special interests, not the citizens as a whole and
certainly not the future of the province.
I would strongly endorse the three major points concerning the
“Weaknesses of the Current System.” I would
add, under “Government-Dominated
Parliaments,” that the current system permits highly
ideological policies and practices to be followed which were never
voted on, such as the campaign of privatization being inflicted on
BC by its current government.
C. I am in agreement with the suggestions made under point 4,
“Approaches to Alternative Electoral
Systems.”
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